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5 Easy Ramen Hacks To Keep You Cozy All Winter Long
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When you hear the word ramen, you likely think of one of two things — some of you picture a microwavable cup o' noodles, and some of you picture a steaming bowl of gourmet Japanese soup with thick, tangy broth and loads of toppings. Because the ingredients for authentic ramen are difficult to source for even the foodiest foodies (trust me, I've tried), I've assembled a list of easy ramen hacks to keep you warm this winter, and get your instant noodles tasting a little bit closer to the real thing.
In Los Angeles where I live and eat, to get even average ramen at a restaurant during winter, you're gonna be waiting outside in the cold (yes, I know) desert night for at least an hour, so learning how to make something to satisfy your cravings at home is a good idea on every imaginable level. Plus, it's a neat party trick if you're entertaining people for dinner. As an added bonus, you can even use your slow cooker to make your broth while you work, play, and do the rest of your living outside of your kitchen.
So here are some genius tweaks that you can incorporate into your ramen repertoire to make your soup game strong.
1. Get on the soft boiled egg bandwagon
If you've never tried this, make this one your first ramen hack priority. It will make your presentation pop while adding an otherwise unattainable savory flavor to your soup.
Images: Half-Baked Harvest
2. Add coconut milk to your broth
I can't stress this one enough. This trick will make your broth thick and creamy while saving you hours of grossing out over gelatinous pork fat.
3. Add something crunchy
The texture of a ramen soup, regardless of its complexity, is going to be mostly mushy, so to set that off, add something with a little crunch. Green onions, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts are all authentic and delicious options.
4. Use an already cooked rotisserie chicken for protein
You don't have to make everything from scratch. Pick up a juicy rotisserie chicken from the store, and pull some of the meat off the bone and into your soup. Voila! Dinner is served.
5. Make it a fusion feast
Just because you can't find the proper Japanese ingredients in your local markets doesn't mean that your ramen has to be void of all culture. Go rogue and add harissa and basil, or Thai curry paste and hot peppers. Ever tried carne asada fajita ramen? Me neither, but I bet it's delicious.
