Ultimate Ramen
Long strands of twisty noodles, swirled in a garlicky, buttery, sweet/savory sauce that’s dotted with egg and sprinkled with crunchy seasoning! Easy, hearty, and ready in less than 10 minutes!
This recipe was written for the Arizona Republic.
This ramen dish has gone viral because it’s a simple recipe that asserts a multitude of flavors – sweet, buttery, garlicky, savory, and umami. And it’s especially endearing because it’s made with everyday ingredients – instant ramen, garlic, egg, soy sauce, sugar, and everything bagel seasoning. Yes, you read that correctly, everything bagel seasoning. Read on and I’ll explain why each ingredient matters, and how they commingle to create a mouthwatering bowl of noodles.
What type of ramen noodles should you use? The first step in this recipe is to discard the seasoning packet, so use any variety you prefer, including chicken, beef, and shrimp. Pro tip: Don’t overcook your noodles; mushy noodles will ruin the dish. Set a timer and cook the noodles slightly less than the suggested time (they will continue to cook in the sauce).
Why add butter? Churned cream adds sweetness and richness while creating a satiny sauce. I prefer unsalted butter in this recipe since we get saltiness from the soy sauce and bagel seasoning. For a dairy-free meal, you may substitute olive oil or avocado oil.
Add the egg! Eggs add protein, heft, and soft mouthfeel, which partners well with the slick noodles and crisp seasoning.
Why kind of garlic should you use? Aside from the bagel seasoning, which is added just before serving, garlic is a major flavor component in the sauce. It’s aromatic and pungent and adds complexity to the sweet/savory dish. Pro tip: You can use fresh garlic, pre-minced garlic, dried minced garlic, or garlic powder. Use as much or as little as desired. I used dried minced garlic because I love the toasty essence it delivers.
About the crushed red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes in this dish are used to elevate flavor, not add a tremendous amount of heat. You can use as much or as little as you like.
About the brown sugar. Sugar is added for sweetness, to balance the saltiness of the soy sauce. I prefer brown sugar for its caramel-like quality and deep color. You may substitute granulated sugar or honey if desired.
About the soy sauce. Since soy sauce is made with fermented soybeans and salt, it adds great depth of flavor and saltiness. You can use any variety, including low sodium. Pro tip: If you don’t have soy sauce or prefer a gluten-free option, you can use tamari or liquid aminos.
About the everything bagel seasoning. While this might seem like an odd addition, it’s not. The Japanese often top their soups, rice, fish, and other dishes with furikake, a seasoning blend consisting of toasted sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, salt, sugar, and dried fish. Furikake is crunchy, salty, and nutty, and adds a wonderful umami flavor. Everything bagel seasoning is also crunchy, salty, nutty, and made with toasted sesame seeds, so it’s an excellent way to achieve a similar taste and texture experience.
Add protein if desired. To add protein to this ramen (or to stretch it to serve more people), fold in grilled or roasted chicken, shrimp, pork, steak, or tofu. You can also add vegetables!
Ultimate Ramen
Ingredients
- 3- ounce package instant ramen, seasoning packet discarded
- 1 tablespoon butter, preferably unsalted
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic, or 1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic, or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or more/less to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more/less to taste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, regular or low-sodium
- 1 teaspoon light or dark brown sugar, or granulated sugar or honey
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Everything bagel seasoning for serving
- Chopped green onions for serving, optional
Instructions
- Cook the ramen according to the package directions, stopping shortly before the suggested cooking time (stop about 45 seconds early; the noodles will continue to cook in the sauce). Drain and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic is lightly toasted and soft. Add the soy sauce and brown sugar and cook until the sugar dissolves. Add the noodles and stir to coat them with the sauce.
- Push the noodles to one side of the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high.
- Add the egg to the empty side of the pan and cook until scrambled but still moist.
- Fold the egg into the noodles. Top the noodles with the everything bagel seasoning and green onions (if using) and serve.