3 Ways To Spice up Your Instant Ramen

It's a dorm cuisine staple, but how about switching things up for a change? Here are three simple ways to level up your ramen game and impress your roommates next time it's your turn to cook. I used Shin Ramyun for all of these recipes, but feel free to substitute with different brands of your choice!

1. Rabokki (라볶이)

If you're into spicy, this one's for you. Cooking the noodles right in the sauce itself gives them an extra kick, and the hotness will remind you of tteokbokki, also known as Korean spicy rice cakes. A handful of mozzarella cheese tops off this dish excellently, but it's also an opportunity to get creative with your own favorite toppings like green onions or sesame seeds.

Rabokki

• Prep Time:5 mins
• Cook Time:10 mins
• Total Time:15 mins
• Servings:2
• Easy

Ingredients

• 2 packs instant ramen noodles
• 1 packet instant ramen soup
• 3 cups water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp red chili powder
• 1.5 tbsp sugar
• ground black pepper
• sesame seeds/chopped green onion/mozzarella cheese for garnish

• Step 1

  In a pot, add water, soy sauce, sugar, chili powder, and ramen soup. Stir and heat until boiling.

  

• Step 2

  Add ramen noodles and boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  

• Step 3

  Add a pinch of black pepper, sesame seeds, and stir. Take noodles off heat.

  

• Step 4

  Serve topped with mozzarella cheese and green onion.

  

2. Ramen Pancakes (라면전) by Baek Jong-won

After searching high and low for new ramen recipes, I landed on this one by popular Korean chef Baek Jong-won on his cooking show and needed to try it out for myself! It's now one of my favorite ramen upgrades—crispy, chewy, and highly addictive. 

#Spoon tip: Make sure to cook the first side of your pancake fully until golden brown before flipping to get that perfect shape!

Ramen Pancakes

• Prep Time:5 mins
• Cook Time:15 mins
• Total Time:20 mins
• Servings:1
• Medium

Ingredients

• 1 pack instant ramen noodles
• 2/3 packet instant ramen soup
• 3 tbsp sliced green onion
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Honey or agave syrup for dipping

• Step 1

  Cook noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes.

  

• Step 2

  Rinse noodles under cold, running water, then place them in a medium-sized mixing bowl.

  

• Step 3

  Add ramen soup and green onions. Stir until well coated.

  

• Step 4

  In a frying pan, heat cooking oil over medium heat. Add noodles and flatten into a pancake shape. Cook noodles until golden-brown on both sides (about 3-5 minutes per side).

  

• Step 5

  Serve pancake warm with honey or agave syrup for dipping.

  

3. Tuna Mayo Ramen (참치 마요 라면)

Want pasta but only have ramen in the pantry? Look no further. This tangy dish is quick to make and boasts a creamy taste that's hard to forget. The corn brings a subtle sweetness as well, balancing out the savory ramen flavor and introducing a creative twist to instant ramen you'll want to try out for your next meal. 

Tuna Mayo Ramen

• Prep Time:10 mins
• Cook Time:5 mins
• Total Time:15 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 pack instant ramen noodles
• 1/2 packet instant ramen soup
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp canned corn
• 3 tbsp canned tuna
• black pepper

• Step 1

  Boil ramen noodles for 4 minutes, then rinse with cold water. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the noodles and ramen soup and stir until well coated.

  

• Step 2

  In a separate bowl, add corn, mayonnaise, tuna, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir until well-combined.

  

• Step 3

  Place noodles in a serving dish and top with mayonnaise mixture. Garnish with parsley or add toppings as preferred.

  

With the new year comes a host of opportunities to be adventurous with your cooking. And with the help of these recipes, hopefully this will be a resolution we can all keep!