TikTok Is Giving Instant Noodles A Gourmet Spin
By
3 months ago
Upgrade the store cupboard staple with these chef-approved hacks
Instant noodles are having a rebrand. No longer resigned to uni students looking for cheap post-pub carbs, they’ve undergone a gourmet makeover courtesy of TikTokers, who are giving ramen noodles a ‘fancy’ spin by throwing in fun extras.
The platform is awash with videos of people upgrading shop-bought noodles with condiments, oils, sauces and vegetables to add flavour, texture and nutritional benefits. Under the hashtag #ramenhacks you’ll find thousands of ideas, from adding eggs to stirring in a spoonful of Marmite and sprinkling sesame seeds on top.
This new social media trend has sparked a surge in popularity for the Asian food staple: according to Ocado, online sales of instant noodles have grown by 50 percent year on year, while searches for ramen noodles have increased by 35 percent. Alongside this, the grocery store has noticed an increase in searches for ingredients like chilli oil (up 48 percent) and crispy onions (up 27 percent).
Keen to give it a go? With the weather getting chillier, now is the perfect time to jump aboard the instant noodle hype. Below we share some tips on how to do it like the pros.
How To Upgrade Your Instant Noodles
Ingredients To Add
- Oils like chilli or sesame
- Vegetables like spring onions, peas or mushrooms
- Peanut or almond butter
- A protein like tofu or chicken
- Fresh coriander
- Sesame seeds
- Eggs
Chef Tips
Jack Stein, Chef Director of Rick Stein Restaurants
‘You can’t beat instant ramen packet noodles; they’re so versatile and there are lots of ways to elevate them. Add broccoli and fresh veg to a broth, plus anything left over in the fridge (a great way to limit food waste) and grab some peas from the freezer. Mix with soy sauce, Chinese vinegar and some tofu. A spoonful of marmite in the broth adds a secret umami kick, plus a good homemade sambal on the side and a dash of sriracha to finish! Pop a fried egg on top for the ultimate home comfort dish.’
Vivek Singh, Executive Chef and CEO of The Cinnamon Collection
‘My instant noodles of choice are masala flavoured maggi noodles (Indian origin). I enjoy pimping them up with scrambled eggs, crisp chilli, ketchup and soy sauce – the perfect pick me up and easy-going snack any time of day.’
Eran Tibi, Founder and Chef of Kapara and Bala Baya
‘Leftovers are great to incorporate into instant noodles to give them an elevated twist. I like to use chicken or veggies like bok choy or spinach and fry them up with soy sauce, Asian chilli paste, onion, garlic and coriander – all store cupboard essentials to have on hand for these kinds of meals! Fry everything up and add instant noodles and broth of choice and you’ve created an amazing ramen while clearing out your fridge.’
kapara.co.uk and balabaya.co.uk
