Let me preface this with the fact that I love ramen. Yes, I know it’s not the healthiest choice for food out there & I don’t recommend you eat it for every single meal. But oh my gosh, I love it all. Another beautiful thing that has happened since I first wrote this post is that ramen has become more and more popular in America! (updated October 2021).

Why do I love ramen so much?

Well, first off it is cheap so it’s great for a small budget. I’m looking at you Top Brand! Even the ‘fancier’ ones are still only about two dollars per pack. Here’s my absolute favorite brand. Second, it is good & quick to make on its own for a meal but there are so many ways to make it a GREAT meal with a few easy additions.

For this particularly simple meal I used:

• 1 pack ramen
• 1 egg
• 1 slice of cheese – the cheap kind!

Other Ingredients You Can Add:

• sliced fresh mushrooms
• chopped bok choy
• shreds of seaweed (nori)
• chopped peppers
• hard boiled eggs
• chopped celery
• leftover pork, beef, chicken, or fish
• cooked tofu
• Dashi (for added flavor)
• fish cake

Recipe:

Step one is to boil your water. Like I said, this is a super easy meal to make. HA! Some packets come with just a soup base and some come with extra seasonings, so follow the directions on the package.

I never actually measure my water, but most packages say something along the lines of 450mL or almost 2 cups.

If you want to add dashi, put it in with the water before boiling.

For any fresh, raw veggies like mushrooms or peppers, add them before putting in the noodles because they will need a little linger to cook.

Add in your noodles & extras (except cheese!) once the water is boiling. If you add a raw egg, do it now. If you’re using hard boiled, garnish in the bowl after cooking.

Once the noodles are done, remove from heat. I let it sit a few minutes to continue to cool down.

Transfer to a bowl, then top with a slice of cheese. The cheap, American cheese slices are the best and meltiest, in my opinion.

Stir & enjoy the gooey goodness!