Ramen Noodles

If you have known me for long (as in, before I was into healthy eating and vegetarianism), you know that I have had a love-hate relationship with ramen (pronounced ray'-min or rah'-min, depending on your roots) noodles for a very long time. I love them: I can eat three packs at a time, lick the inside of the spice pack, and who can resist the price? I hate them: they are loaded with MSG (which I am mildly allergic to) and sodium, the best flavors are meat flavors, and they make me dehydrated and nauseous after eating. Starting in college, I would actually go on "ramen noodle fasts" for weeks or even months, to keep myself from making them my primary food group. I have even been known to have a symbolic burning of the ramen (or trashing of the ramen) in the front yard.

These years, I have Muruchan (my favorite) ramen about once a year, maybe. I have tried various other, more healthy, brands (that don't make me nauseous, at least), and have come up with a small list of much more expensive packages, that do not taste near as good as the fake, salt-laden crap that I love. At the top of my alternatives list? Thai Kitchen, at 99 cents and not really even a similar taste. Kevin does enjoy them for a cheap, easy, lunch, however.

This is my solution, which pretty much works okey for me in a pinch (that is, a time, money, and craving pinch).

RECIPE

1-2 squares Chinese egg noodles from your local Asian grocer
mock-chicken, chicken, or other boullion powder
soy sauce
salt

I boil the noodles, because I have never found that Asian-soaking-noodles thing to work well. Then I add the rest to taste. The soy sauce gives it a little depth, the salt, that characteristic saltiness.

Then, depending on time and resources, embellish any of the following ways:

-Serve with sambal (Chinese chili-paste/sauce)
-Serve with kimchi
-Stir in peanut butter (dissolved in a little water) and/or peanuts
-Serve with a lime wedge
-Serve topped with cilantro and/or scallions
-Garnish with raw veggies, like shaved carrots or thin-sliced bell peppers
-Stir in sauteed garlic and/or ginger
-Add tamari instead of soy sauce
-Add teriyaki instead of soy sauce
-Stir in white miso
-Boil in frozen veggies, like peas or edamame
-Serve with peanut sauce
-Add cooked protein of choice (like shredded chicken or beef, or golden tofu, etc.)

It pretty much works. And sometimes you realize that there are ways in which real noodles with some chopped herbs and veggies actually tastes better. Enjoy!

Maybe next time I'll post my 100 Thing You Can Do With Mac-n-Cheese. :)