Description
79 topping ideas to take everyday instant ramen to the next level! Organized by Spicy, Sweet, Sour/Tangy, Salty/Umami/, Crunchy, Creamy, Broth Options, Proteins, Greens, and Vegetables.
Ingredients
Make sure you listen to Suwanee's episode of The Storied Recipe Podcast, "We Were Not Leprosy" while you make her amazing Spicy Ramen recipe.
SPICY
- Raw ginger
- Thai chili flakes
- Shichimi Togarashi - Japanese blend of chili peppers, orange peel, and other seasoning
- Vegan Chili Oil Sauce with Sichuan Peppers
- Dried Japones Peppers
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Hot sauce
- Gochujang (Red chili paste)
- Traditional Korean Kimchi
- Spicy Shaoxing Chinese Cooking Wine
SWEET
- Hoisin sauce
- Kecap Manis (Indonesian Soy Sauce)
- Brown Sugar
- Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce
- Mirin (Sweet Japanese Cooking Wine)
SOUR/TANGY
- Lime juice
- Rice wine vinegar
- Pickled vegetables
- Tamarind paste
- Lemongrass
- Plum powder
- Yuzu juice (or powder or paste)
SALTY/UMAMI
- Nori (seaweed)
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Miso paste
- White fish paste
- Black garlic oil
- Worcestershire Sauce (Thanks to reader augieboose!)
CRUNCHY
- Sesame seeds
- Fresh green onions
- Bonito Flakes
- Crispy fried onions
- Crunchy Fried Shrimp Sambal
- Chopped peanuts
BROTHS
- Vegetable Broth (or Mushroom Broth)
- Chicken broth
- Beef broth
- Seafood broth
CREAMY
- Peanut butter
- Coconut Milk
- Tahini sauce (in Japanese style bowls)
- Kewpie Mayo
PROTEINS
- Beautiful Narutomaki (Fish paste)
- Crab sticks (also made from fish paste)
- Soft-boiled egg (4-5 minutes)
- Hard-boiled egg (up to 10 minutes)
- Poached, scrambled, or fried egg
- Pork belly
- Chicken breast / Chicken thigh
- Shrimp
- Tofu
- Black lentils
- Mongolian beef
- Ground beef, turkey, or pork
- Chicken - thinly sliced breasts or grilled thighs
GREENS & HERBS
- Baby bok choy
- Pak choi
- Mustard Greens
- Broccolini
- Spinach
- Cilantro
- Napa Cabbage
- Watercress
FRESH VEGETABLES
- Bean sprouts
- Radishes
- Bamboo shoots
- Bell pepper
- Green beans
- Mushrooms
- Cherry tomatoes
- Corn
- Carrots - cut into matchsticks or julienned
- Celery
- Snow peas/Snap peas
- Lotus root - for an eye-catching display plus nutrients
- Super huge hurry? - Pop in a 1/2 cup of frozen veggies and let the boiling water cook them
Instructions
Choose One of Each
- Add ONE thing from each of these 4 categories - Spicy, Sweet, Sour (and/or acidic), and Salty (and/or umami).
Go Crazy with Add-ins
- Add as much as you'd like from each of the protein, vegetable, leafy greens, crunchy, and creamy categories. Mix and match the add-ins to YOUR liking - it's impossible to go wrong!