Description
A quick and flavorful recipe for Easy Saucy Ramen Noodles featuring tender noodles coated in a rich, savory, and slightly sweet sauce, complemented by sautéed tofu or vegetables. Perfect for a comforting meal ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 2 servings dry instant ramen noodle cakes (around 140 g total)
Sautéing
- 10 oz extra-firm tofu, veggies, or mushrooms of choice, sliced
- 1-2 tbsp cooking oil (vegetable or sesame oil recommended)
Sauce
- 1 cup water or vegetable broth
- 5-7 tbsp soy sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1.5 tsp dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
- 2-3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1-3 tbsp sugar, maple syrup, or other liquid sweetener (adjust for sweetness)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar, white vinegar, or lemon juice (adjust for sourness)
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tbsp chili garlic sauce or other hot sauce (optional for spice)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
For Serving
- Chopped scallions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, thoroughly mix water or vegetable broth, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cornstarch, sweetener, vinegar or lemon juice, ground pepper, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and minced garlic until well combined. Adjust the levels of sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and spice according to your preference. Set the sauce mixture aside.
- Cook the Noodles: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the instant ramen noodles and cook them until they are half-done, usually 2-3 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch, then set aside.
- Sauté the Veggies or Protein: Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add some cooking oil. Add the sliced tofu, vegetables, or mushrooms and sauté them until they are cooked to your preferred texture and tenderness.
- Cook the Sauce: Stir the prepared sauce mixture again to ensure the cornstarch hasn’t settled. Pour the sauce into the pan with the sautéed ingredients. Simmer the mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Combine with Noodles: Add the half-cooked noodles into the pan with the thickened sauce and sautéed ingredients. Toss or stir well to coat the noodles evenly in the sauce. Cook for an additional 3 minutes, allowing the noodles to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the noodles and adjust seasoning by adding more soy sauce, sweetener, or pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped scallions and sesame seeds. Serve the ramen noodles immediately while hot and flavorful.
Notes
- You can substitute the protein or vegetables with your preferred choice such as chicken, shrimp, or mixed vegetables.
- Adjust the sweetness and sourness in the sauce gradually to suit your taste.
- Use vegetable broth instead of water for a more flavorful sauce.
- To make this dish spicier, increase the amount of chili garlic sauce or add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes.
- For gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free ramen noodles.
- Leftover noodles can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days but are best enjoyed fresh.
