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I mean, I don't eat it regularly, or even semi-regularly, but sometimes I do get a taste for it. I don't eat it all soupy-like, but rather just the noodles with a bit of broth left in. Yes, I know ramen is pretty bad for you. I guess it's one of my guilty pleasure foods I have once in a blue moon. I wasn't ever in a position where I had to eat it regularly, so perhaps that factors in.
Love it. It's my go-to late-night snack. I always throw away the flavor packets, though. (And I buy the shrimp-flavored ones, because they're the only ones that don't seem to contain chicken or beef base, so it's only shrimps that died for my sins.)
I use about 1-3/4 cups water, add enough soy sauce to make it the right color, a smashed clove of garlic, a teaspoon of grated ginger (which I keep in the freezer, so that it's always on hand), some crushed red pepper flakes, and a dash of sesame oil. Bring to a boil, add noodles.
I often don't have other things to add, but I'll throw in some chopped carrots or cabbage, or frozen peas, if they're around.
Drain, top with lots of fresh ground pepper.
And dammit, via, it's coming on the ramen hour, and I have none. *shakes fist*
I cook the noodles in the water, just enough to cover them in a small saucepan, as the water comes to a boil, with the shrimp packet just dumped right on top, then I mix it up and drop an egg in. Maybe add some onion or sri racha. slerp NOM!
Yeah, I crave it every now and again. I usually boil the noodles, drain them, and mix in about half the flavoring packet (usually chicken). Thankfully I don't have any sodium issues. Yet.
With an egg cracked into the pot right before turning off the heat so it's just barely poached when I finish ladling out the soup. Have been doing so since I was a kid, any bowl feels incomplete without the egg.
I get the noodles that are already cooked... they come sealed up in; you just cut the bag open and throw those in with a stir fry at the last moment. They are FAR superior to ramen... check em out.
I'm ok with it so long as the flavor packet is out and delicious things are put in like veggies. But as I told you before, the idea of standard instant ramen makes my kidneys hurt just thinking about it. Ate it waaaay too many times when I was younger. Blurg. I feel the same way about macaroni and cheese from a box, though.
mudpuppie, I do the same sort of thing, except with peri peri sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, chopped garlic and an oxo cube if I am feeling like it. Mmm!
I don't generally like it, although I do use the noodles for stir fry. But my teenage son is the King of Ramen Chefs - he makes it late at night, usually, and mixes all kinds of wacky things in: curry powder, eggs, pepper jack cheese, whatever's in the fridge. And it's really pretty good, if a little on the bizarre side.
I love ramen. My favorite NYC ramen-ya are Menkui-Tei by Cooper Square and Momofuku on First Ave (the broth's a little better at Momofuku but at Menkui-Tei the Japanese is real and the gyoza kick ass).
Both, though to a higher degree Menkui-Tei, are Tokyo-style ramen-ya where a variety of Chinese food is served; however, like ramen, it's Japanese-style Chinese food. The menu there is top-to-bottom good.
The day I spent at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum (before attending a BayStars game) was one of the best I've had, both for the food and for the company. Fills me with joy to think about it, and that's really something. Thanks.
Not ramen but udon and soba noodles. I live right next to Japan Town in San Jose, which has an excellent Japanese market and lot's of good restaurants.
In my family, we always called it lamyun. I think maybe that's just how Koreans pronounce it.
Anyway, I hardly eat ramen any more -- I think I lived on it too much in college -- but once in awhile I'll have some Nong Shim kimchi ramen with a side of katugi (radish kimchi).
doctor_negative: I like going to Cupertino's 99 Ranch and the shopping center its located in, but where are you talking about? I should explore there...
Love it. It was cheap, back when I was young and we were poor. I'd eat it after school as a snack, packet and all, but I'd pour most of the water out first before stirring in the packet. The shrimp was my favorite flavor. I still have some right now in my cabinet, for something quick and comforting.
AV, Nijiya Market is much smaller than Ranch99, and it's strictly Japanese but is very good. They actually have a better selection of noodles than Ranch 99. That 3 block section of Jackson Street (and the surrounding 2 block radius) is Japantown. From 880 get off on 1st Street and go south to Jackson, then go left. There's 6 or 7 Japanese restaurants, a Buddhist Temple and the San Jose Tofu company all in a couple blocks. It's one of San Jose's little surprises.
photo by splunge
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