Instant Ramen

Instant ramen is a type of pre-cooked, dried noodle served with a flavour-packed seasoning packet or broth base. It’s designed for quick preparation, requiring only boiling water, making it a convenient and satisfying meal.

The primary difference is that instant ramen refers specifically to Japanese-style noodle soup served with a rich, flavoured broth, whereas instant noodles is a broader term that includes all types of quick-preparation noodles, such as stir-fry noodles or noodles from other Asian cuisines. Instant ramen focuses on the harmony of noodles with its soup base.

Instant ramen was invented in Japan in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods. His first product, Chicken Ramen, revolutionised quick meals, and the launch of Cup Noodles in 1971 made ramen even more accessible. Today, instant ramen is a global phenomenon with countless flavours and styles.

We love enhancing instant noodles by adding extra ingredients to improve the taste and create a more nutritious, well-balanced meal. Feel free to play around, however here are some tried and tested suggestions:

• Cooked chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, tofu. Alternatively, add a ramen egg, or boil an egg when cooking the noodles.
  
• Spinach, pak-choi, cabbage, seaweed, or mushrooms for extra texture and nutrients.
  
• Soy sauce, sesame oil, hot sauce, or hoisin sauce for extra flavours.
  
• Green onions, sesame seeds, fried shallots, or seaweed to add extra texture.