Instant ramen has a strong nostalgic hold in our hearts.
Its powerful charm is tied not to the dish’s flavor (which, truthfully is not a lot) but rather to the circumstances of its consumption – youth, fun, carefree outlooks, genuine passion and more often than not, a lot of good company! Days when worries of too much sodium, MSG or gluten were nary a pinch… :)
Growing up in India, instant ramen was Maggi with its original curry flavor surprisingly close to the Japanese curry, rich and umami filled. It was advertised as 2 minute noodles, the perfect after-school snack for hungry kids delighted to be home after an exhausting day in school. And schools ended around three. So, it dovetailed nicely as the 3pm snack for adults as well.
Oddly enough, that was not a trend in my house. For one, although my mother was a pretty good cook and whipped an amazing chinese hakka noodles dish from scratch, she always messed up these instant ones. Besides, my snacks were typically more wholesome foods like poha or upma made at home, cakes and puffs from the neighborhood bakery, or, in those rare occasions of friends popping over, a trip to the chaat shop for some street eats!
My nostalgia with instant noodles
began in grad school and the 2am late night cravings. The official reason for up at that time was working on projects and collaborations. But, really, it was 90% general ‘chit-chat’ and 10% work. No matter the excuse, the canteen at that time was the popular hangout, not in the least because of the piping hot Maggi served with mounds of grated cheese! Oh! Yes, there was the 20lb weight gain in the first semester, entirely attributable to this, and, not stress. Oh! but the deliciousness of it..!!!!
Tragically, growing older has its pitfalls. One of which, is a sudden loss of appetite for these crazy junk food that are delightful. These days they are either con-sequenced by physical pain or guilt or not dared thought about at all. But, there is a way to blend the nostalgia with grown-up responsible outlooks – Jazzing it up with proper vegetables and protein! ha! Take That, Adultness!!!
Recipe: Loaded Sesame Instant Noodles
Loaded Sesame Instant Noodles
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Quick, flavorful noodles packed with veggies and a sesame-soy punch. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a satisfying snack.
Ingredients
- 1 packet instant noodles with flavor packet
- 1/4 cup broccoli
- 1/4 cup diced carrots
- 2-3 whole green chillies
- 1 small onion
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce
- green onions or scallions
Instructions
- Cook the noodles al dente (approximately 1 minute less than package directions). Drain and reserve.
- While noodles cook, heat oil in a pan over high heat until almost smoking. Reduce heat to medium-high.
- Add onions, chilies, garlic, carrots, and broccoli. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened but still crunchy.
- Add sesame seeds, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, and noodles; toss to combine.
- Heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve garnished with scallions.
Notes
- To prevent the noodles from sticking, toss them with a little oil after draining.
- For a spicier dish, add more chili or a dash of chili garlic sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a pan or microwave.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 10
Find it online: https://honestcooking.com/loaded-sesame-instant-noodles/
For more nostalgic recipes, check out below
Streets of Asia Fish Curry
Recipe on forkspoonnknife.com
Stuffed Eggplant Confit
Recipe on forkspoonnknife.com
Instant ramen has a strong nostalgic hold in our hearts.
Its powerful charm is tied not to the dish’s flavor (which, truthfully is not a lot) but rather to the circumstances of its consumption – youth, fun, carefree outlooks, genuine passion and more often than not, a lot of good company! Days when worries of too much sodium, MSG or gluten were nary a pinch… :)
Growing up in India, instant ramen was Maggi with its original curry flavor surprisingly close to the Japanese curry, rich and umami filled. It was advertised as 2 minute noodles, the perfect after-school snack for hungry kids delighted to be home after an exhausting day in school. And schools ended around three. So, it dovetailed nicely as the 3pm snack for adults as well.
Oddly enough, that was not a trend in my house. For one, although my mother was a pretty good cook and whipped an amazing chinese hakka noodles dish from scratch, she always messed up these instant ones. Besides, my snacks were typically more wholesome foods like poha or upma made at home, cakes and puffs from the neighborhood bakery, or, in those rare occasions of friends popping over, a trip to the chaat shop for some street eats!
My nostalgia with instant noodles
began in grad school and the 2am late night cravings. The official reason for up at that time was working on projects and collaborations. But, really, it was 90% general ‘chit-chat’ and 10% work. No matter the excuse, the canteen at that time was the popular hangout, not in the least because of the piping hot Maggi served with mounds of grated cheese! Oh! Yes, there was the 20lb weight gain in the first semester, entirely attributable to this, and, not stress. Oh! but the deliciousness of it..!!!!
Tragically, growing older has its pitfalls. One of which, is a sudden loss of appetite for these crazy junk food that are delightful. These days they are either con-sequenced by physical pain or guilt or not dared thought about at all. But, there is a way to blend the nostalgia with grown-up responsible outlooks – Jazzing it up with proper vegetables and protein! ha! Take That, Adultness!!!
Recipe: Loaded Sesame Instant Noodles
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 packet instant noodles with flavor packet
- 1/4 cup broccoli (chopped small)
- 1/4 cup diced carrots
- 2-3 whole green chillies
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 1 clove of garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 T vegetable oil
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce or other Asian hot sauce
- green onions or scallions to finish
Instructions
- Cook the noodles to al-dente (1 minute less than what packet says; its never instant or 2 mins!) without the spice packet. Drain and reserve.
- While the noodles cook, in a pan, heat oil to high and it almost start smoking. Lower heat to medium high, and, add the onions, chillies, garlic, carrots and broccoli.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes until just softening but still crunchy.
- Add sesame seeds, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, and the noodles and toss to combine.
- Heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve garnished with scallions.
- Category: Main, Snack
- Cuisine: Fusion
Find it online: https://honestcooking.com/loaded-sesame-instant-noodles/
For more nostalgic recipes, check out below
Streets of Asia Fish Curry
Recipe on forkspoonnknife.com
Stuffed Eggplant Confit
Recipe on forkspoonnknife.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of instant noodles work best for this recipe?
Any type of instant ramen can work, but those with a thicker noodle will hold up better to the added ingredients and flavors.
How can I adjust the flavor if I find the sesame oil too strong?
You can reduce the amount of sesame oil used or balance it out by adding more soy sauce or a splash of lime juice.
Is it necessary to include vegetables in the loaded sesame instant noodles?
While not necessary, adding vegetables like bell peppers or carrots enhances the texture and nutritional value of the dish.
Wow! It looks so beautiful and delicious.