Level Up Your Ramen Noodles
— By Alex Gayton, Assistant EFNEP Coordinator & Social Media Coordinator, Expanded Food Nutrition and Education Program (EFNEP), University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Visit the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s recipe website for the Ramen Noodle Skillet recipe and recipe video.
Growing up, ramen noodle soup and grilled cheese was one of my favorite meals, so it’s no surprise that I love this Ramen Noodle Skillet recipe. It’s the ultimate quick comfort food, a budget-friendly and surprisingly satisfying meal. This recipe elevates the basic ramen noodle soup by lowering the sodium, increasing the nutritional value and stretching a single pack into a more substantial meal.
After some testing (and one peppery mistake, which I’ll get to!), I’ll share three simple ways to take your ramen game to the next level.
1. Add Vegetables
- Adding vegetables increases vitamins and fiber in your dish and adds fun textures, color, and flavor.
- Vegetables can be fresh, frozen, or canned. I like using frozen vegetables because it’s quick, no chopping required!
- If you are going to use canned vegetables choose low sodium or no salt added options. For any type of canned vegetables, drain the liquid and and rinse the vegetables before adding to the recipe to reduce sodium.
2. Add Protein
- Ramen on its own is high in saturated fat and carbohydrates, which provides energy, but adding protein to your dish will help you feel more full and provide essential nutrients.
- My protein of choice is tofu which I usually bake or pan-fry cubes of until they’re golden brown and slightly crispy before adding them to the soup.
- Leftover cooked chicken, shrimp, pork, beef or a boiled egg are other ideas. Just remember to be sure any meat or poultry is cooked to a safe internal temperature before adding it to your Ramen skillet.
3. DIY Ramen Seasoning
That little seasoning packet that comes with the Ramen? It’s packed with sodium. For a healthier and more flavorful alternative, try making your own seasoning blend! It’s surprisingly easy, and you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. Here’s my go-to recipe to replace that seasoning packet:
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
This is one of my favorite recipes from the UMaine Extension recipe website, and everytime I cook it, I think of my first experience making it and I have to share. When I was first testing out what should go into the DIY ramen seasoning, I spaced on the measurements. For some reason, I did the math wrong for the black pepper amount and when I added what felt like a mountain of pepper into the skillet I knew I made a mistake. It was a disaster, the pepper taste was so intense it took over everything. I even tried to rescue it by straining the broth and rinsing everything else hoping the pepper would get off the solids, it did not. So, here’s a little tip: always double-check your measurements. I hope you enjoy this recipe!