Upgrade your instant ramen
They may have a reputation as student food and hangover fare, but instant ramen are a favorite in the editorial office, and with a few great additions you can easily turn them into a complete dinner. Who says cooking has to be difficult?
Toppings
The easiest way to turn the contents of that square packet into a complete meal is to prepare the ramen as stated on the package and simply add some toppings. Favorites include bok choy, spinach, broccoli, bean sprouts, cilantro, spring onion and, of course, an egg. Fried or boiled, whatever you feel like. Carbohydrates, protein, vegetables: this meal contains everything you need.
Steak
More in the mood for meat? Add some marinated steak. Make a marinade with cornstarch, sesame oil, soy sauce and garlic, and let cubes of steak sit in it for about 10 minutes. Remove the marinade, stir-fry the meat over high heat in the wok and add it to your noodle soup. Delicious with spring onion, toasted sesame seeds and sriracha.
Stir-frying
Prefer dry noodles without soup? Put various vegetables in the wok; broccoli always works well, but green beans do too, or go for baby corn. Cut tofu into cubes, stir-fry it with the vegetables and add the cooked noodles last. Optionally add a few drops of sesame oil or a spoonful of sambal for extra flavor.
Peanut butter
This also works well for dry noodles: add a spoonful of peanut butter. Combined with the flavors in the packet, it becomes a kind of spicy peanut sauce. Delicious with things you would also eat with gado gado: cabbage, yardlong beans and tofu, for example.
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