11 Quick, Tasty Instant Noodle Recipes for a Feast
Instant noodles are a staple in Asian cuisine, renowned for their versatility and convenience. Each quality pack of instant noodles is bursting with authentic flavours and textures.
Why not start cooking your own Asian feasts with a few simple instant noodle recipes? The best thing about instant noodle recipes is that they are excellent starting points for your culinary creativity.
In this article, we share 11 exciting instant noodle recipes that transform instant noodles into gourmet feasts. We encourage you to play around to make each recipe uniquely yours. Feel free to add or remove anything, including your favourite ramen toppings and flavours.
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#1 Classic Meatballs with Instant Noodles
A hearty blend of homemade meatballs and noodles, perfect for a wholesome, comforting meal.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), ground meat (500g), garlic (1 clove), ginger (1 teaspoon), cornflour (2 tablespoons), soy sauce (1 tablespoon), chicken or pork broth (500ml), pak choi (1, chopped), spring onion (1, finely sliced)
Recipe Steps:
- In a bowl, mix minced garlic, grated ginger, cornflour, and soy sauce with the ground meat.
- Form the mixture into small, round meatballs.
- In a pot, bring chicken or pork broth to a simmer and add the meatballs. Cook until they're firm and cooked through.
- Add the instant noodles to the broth and cook as per packet instructions.
- A minute before the noodles are finished, stir in the chopped pak choi and sliced spring onion.
#2 Soy Sauce and Vinegar Noodles
Dive into a tangy and savoury experience with this simple yet flavour-packed noodle dish. The combination of soy sauce and vinegar gives these noodles a unique kick, making it a perfect option for a quick meal.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), Soy sauce (2 tablespoons), Vinegar (1 tablespoon), Garlic (1 clove, minced), Spring onions (optional, finely chopped), Sesame oil (1 tablespoon), Chilli oil (for extra heat), Toasted sesame seeds (1 teaspoon, for garnish)
Recipe Steps:
- Boil the instant noodles according to the packet instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan at medium oil, then add minced garlic and veggies. Stir well.
- Transfer the noodles to a serving bowl, and garnish with soy sauce and vinegar. chopped spring onions (optional), chilli oil, and toasted sesame seeds for an added crunch.
#3 Mie Goreng Magic
Explore the vibrant flavours of Indonesia with this classic stir-fried noodle dish, a perfect blend of textures and aromas.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), garlic (1 clove), egg (1, boiled), prawns (100g, peeled) cabbage (1 cup), tofu (100g), 1 birds-eye chilli (finely chopped), 1 lime (cut in wedges).
Recipe Steps:
- Boil the instant noodles until they are half-cooked, then drain and set aside.
- In a pan, heat a little oil and sauté the minced garlic until it becomes aromatic.
- Push the garlic to one side, then add a beaten egg and prawns. Cook until the prawns turn pink and the egg is scrambled.
- Add chopped cabbage and cubed tofu to the pan. Cook until the cabbage is slightly soft.
- Mix in the half-cooked noodles, ensuring they are thoroughly combined with the other ingredients.
- Once everything is cooked, take the pan off the heat. Serve the Mie Goreng with a wedge of lime or lemon on the side to be squeezed over the noodles.
#4 Veggie Lovers' Delight
A healthy instant noodle recipe to make way for a vegan feast. This recipe combines a medley of vegetables, mushrooms and other ramen toppings with noodles.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), various vegetables (like Chinese cabbage, pak choi, daikon, lotus root, carrots, and beansprouts), tofu (100g), shiitake mushrooms (1 cup, sliced).
Recipe Steps:
- Select a variety of vegetables (like Chinese cabbage, pak choi, daikon, lotus root, carrots, and bean sprouts). Wash and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Cut tofu into small cubes and slice shiitake mushrooms.
- Boil the instant noodles in a separate pot until they are almost cooked, then drain and set aside.
- In a large pan or wok, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the tofu and mushrooms, and sauté until they start to brown.
- Add the chopped vegetables to the pan. Stir and cook until they are tender but still crisp.
- Mix in the almost-cooked noodles with the vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms. Cook together for a few more minutes, ensuring everything is heated through and combined well.
- Once everything is cooked and mixed, take the pan off the heat. Serve the Veggie Lovers' Delight in bowls, ready to be enjoyed.
#5 Korean Spicy Ramen
Experience the fiery and rich flavours of Korea with this spicy and savoury ramen dish.
Ingredients:
Instant ramen noodles (1 pack), gochujang (2 tablespoons), kimchi (1/2 cup, chopped), 2 green onions (finely sliced), sesame seeds (1 tablespoon), 1 egg (for boiling).
Recipe Steps:
- Cook the ramen noodles in a pot of boiling water as per the packet's instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
- In a separate pot, mix around 1 cup of the ramen's cooking water with gochujang (Korean chilli paste). Stir until the paste dissolves and creates a spicy broth.
- Add the chopped kimchi to the broth and bring it to a gentle simmer for a few minutes to infuse the flavours.
- Add the cooked ramen noodles to the broth. Stir gently to combine with the kimchi and gochujang mixture.
- Serve the ramen in a bowl. Slice a soft-boiled egg in half and place it on top of the ramen.
- Garnish the dish with sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
#6 Thai Tom Yum Noodle Soup
Enjoy this iconic soup that's a staple in Thai cuisine, celebrated for its distinctive hot and sour flavours.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), tom yum paste (3 tablespoons), prawns (100g, peeled and deveined), mushrooms (1 cup, sliced), lemongrass (1 stalk, finely chopped), lime leaves (3-4 leaves), fish sauce (2 tablespoons), fresh lime juice (2 tablespoons), 1 bird's-eye chilli finely chopped), fresh coriander (a handful, chopped for garnish)
Recipe Steps:
- Start by preparing the Tom Yum broth. In a pot, add about 500ml of water, and bring it to a boil.
- Stir in the tom yum paste until well dissolved in the boiling water.
- Add the finely chopped lemongrass and lime leaves to the broth, allowing them to infuse their flavours.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and peeled prawn to the broth. Cook until the prawns are pink and the mushrooms are tender.
- In another pot, cook the instant noodles according to the packet's instructions, then drain them and set aside.
- Once the prawns and mushrooms are cooked, add fish sauce and fresh lime juice to the broth, adjusting the quantities to taste.
- Add the cooked noodles to the soup and stir gently to combine.
- Serve the Tom Yum Noodle Soup hot, garnished with chopped fresh coriander, bird's-eye chilli, and a wedge of lime on the side.
#7 Japanese Miso Ramen
Enjoy the depth of traditional Japanese cuisine with this miso-based ramen. This is a delightful bowl full of umami flavours that is both comforting and nourishing.
Ingredients:
Instant ramen noodles (1 pack), miso paste (2 tablespoons), dashi stock (500ml), firm tofu (100g, cut into cubes), sweetcorn (1/2 cup), 2 nori sheets (torn into small pieces), 2 spring onions (finely sliced)
Recipe Steps:
- Prepare the dashi stock according to its packet instructions or use pre-made stock. Heat the stock in a pot until it's simmering.
- In a small bowl, blend the miso paste with a bit of the warm dashi stock to create a smooth mixture.
- Slowly add the miso mixture back into the pot of simmering dashi. Stir well to ensure it's fully integrated and the broth becomes consistent.
- Add the tofu cubes and sweetcorn to the miso broth. Let them cook gently in the broth for a few minutes until heated through.
- Cook the instant ramen noodles in a separate pot according to the packet's instructions, then drain and divide them into bowls.
- Pour the hot miso broth with tofu and corn over the noodles in each bowl.
- Garnish the ramen with torn pieces of nori and sprinkle with finely sliced spring onions.
#8 Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles
Embark on a spicy journey with this Sichuan Dan Dan noodles recipe, a signature dish from the Sichuan province of China known for its bold flavours.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), ground pork (200g), Sichuan peppercorns (1 teaspoon, crushed), 2 cloves of garlic (minced), soy sauce (2 tablespoons), sesame paste (2 tablespoons), 2 green onions (finely sliced), peanuts (1/4 cup, crushed)
Recipe Steps:
- Cook the noodles according to the packet's instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a frying pan, heat a bit of oil over medium heat. Add the crushed Sichuan peppercorns (or substitute with black peppercorns for less heat) and minced garlic. Stir-fry until the garlic is golden and fragrant.
- Add the ground pork to the pan. Break it apart with a spatula and stir-fry until it's fully cooked and starting to crisp.
- In a small bowl, mix soy sauce and sesame paste to create a sesame-soy sauce.
- Pour the sesame-soy sauce over the cooked pork and mix well, ensuring the pork is evenly coated.
- Divide the cooked noodles into bowls.
- Spoon the pork mixture over the noodles in each bowl.
- Top each serving with crushed peanuts and sprinkle with sliced green onions.
#9 Malaysian Laksa
Immerse yourself in the flavours of Malaysia with this rich and spicy Laksa, a beloved noodle soup that's a staple in Malaysian cuisine.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), coconut milk (400ml), laksa paste (3 tablespoons), prawns (100g, peeled and deveined), fish cakes (100g, sliced), bean sprouts (1 cup), fresh coriander (cilantro, a handful, chopped), 1 lime (cut into wedges)
Recipe Steps:
- In a large pot, combine the coconut milk and laksa paste. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Let the laksa broth simmer for a few minutes to develop the flavours.
- Add the prawns and sliced fish cakes to the broth. Cook until the prawns are pink and cooked through.
- While the seafood is cooking, prepare the noodles as per the packet's instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Once the seafood is cooked, add the cooked noodles to the laksa broth. Stir gently to combine.
- Serve the laksa in bowls, ensuring each serving has a good mix of noodles, seafood, and broth.
- Garnish each bowl with a generous amount of bean sprouts, chopped fresh coriander, and a wedge of lime on the side.
#10 Indonesian Satay Noodles
Indulge in the unique fusion of satay-inspired flavours combined with the comfort of stir-fried noodles. This dish brings a taste of Indonesia to your table.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), peanut butter (2 tablespoons), soy sauce (1 tablespoon), lime juice (1 tablespoon), chicken strips (200g), bell peppers (1, sliced into strips), chopped peanuts (for garnish)
Recipe Steps:
- Cook the noodles according to the packet's instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice to create a smooth peanut sauce. Add a splash of water if the sauce is too thick.
- In a frying pan, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the chicken strips and stir-fry until they are cooked through and slightly browned.
- Add the sliced bell peppers to the pan with the chicken. Stir-fry until the peppers are just tender.
- Lower the heat and add the cooked noodles to the pan. Drizzle the peanut sauce over the noodles and chicken.
- Toss everything together in the pan, ensuring the noodles and chicken are well coated with the peanut sauce.
- Serve the noodles hot, garnished with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts.
#11 Singapore Seafood Noodles
Experience the vibrant and diverse tastes of Singapore. This curry-infused seafood noodle dish is a true reflection of Singaporean culinary culture.
Ingredients:
Instant noodles (1 pack), prawns (100g, peeled and deveined), squid (100g, cleaned and sliced), fish cake (100g, sliced), bell pepper (1, sliced into strips), egg (1, lightly beaten), curry powder (2 tablespoons, or according to preference), sambal (optional, for serving and extra heat)
Recipe Steps:
- Cook the noodles as per the packet's instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a pan, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the curry powder and stir for a minute until fragrant.
- Increase the heat slightly and add the prawns, squid, and fish cake to the pan. Stir-fry until the seafood is cooked through.
- Add the sliced bell pepper to the pan. Stir and cook for a couple of minutes until the pepper is slightly softened.
- Push the ingredients to one side of the pan. Pour the beaten egg into the pan and scramble it. Once cooked, mix it with the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the cooked noodles to the pan with the seafood and vegetables. Toss everything together, ensuring the noodles are well coated with the curry flavour.
- Serve the noodles hot. Optionally, offer sambal on the side for those who prefer an extra kick of heat.
Final Word
These recipes showcase the versatility of Asian instant noodles. They transform them into gourmet dishes inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Asia. Whether you're a fan of spicy, umami, or tangy flavours, there's the best instant noodle recipe on this list for everyone. So, grab a pack of instant noodles, get started and experiment!