5 Shin Ramen Hacks!
Who doesn’t love an easy instant ramen bowl? No one. This is why I came up with these 5 Shin Ramen Hacks.
I do this to make my favorite ramen more filling and to meet my nutritional needs. In this article, I discuss 5 modifications to try if you want a bomb instant ramen meal.
- Veggies
- Protein
- Aromatic oils
- Fresh flavors
- Ramen broth
These modifications are simple, but the flavors are sublime. Before we dive into my 5 ultimate shin ramen hacks, a little on my favorite instant ramen, Shin Ramen (Ramyun).
Shin Ramyun
Shin Ramyun is a soft and chewy noodle combined with a spicy broth creating the perfect instant ramen. Fair warning, it is a spicy broth, be warned!
The spicy flavor has beef, mushrooms, carrots, and peppers. A Nongshim product, this ramen is increasing in popularity in the US but Korea is one of the largest consumers of Shin Ramyun.
For more about my favorite ramen noodle check out Nongshim’s page all about Shin Ramyun.
Bump Up The Veggies
My favorite shin ramen hack is simple – add vegetables!
Whether it’s a scoop of kimchi, a 1/4 cup of frozen veggies, or a handful of leafy greens, veggies bring beautiful colors and flavors.
In my Vegan Kimchi Instant Ramen recipe, I add both frozen veggies and spicy kimchi. These veggies add green, red, and golden hues to my steaming bowl of noodles and broth. I love how the kimchi adds spicy-sour flavors, while the frozen veggies (peas, corn, and edamame) add buttery and sweet pops to every bite.
Pack in the Protein
Adding protein to your shin ramen bowl is a scientifically proven way to increase that feeling of satiety (or fullness). Getting sufficient protein is also critical if you do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week or are just being an active human.
Some of my favorite protein additions include:
- Roasted Chicken
- Baked or Stir-fried Tempeh
- Baked, Stir-fried, or Silken Tofu
- High-protein veggies such as edamame, peas, and beans
- Grilled Shrimp
- And finally, eggs all of the way! Like scrambled, cooked directly into the broth, or Hard Boiled/Pickled – Check out my recipes for Jammy Soft Boiled Eggs in Air Fryer & Jalapeno Pickled Eggs
More on Protein: Protein Noodles
Another protein option you probably didn’t think of is A protein-packed noodle!
Feeding multiple people with your instant ramen recipe? Add Shin ramen and some other protein-packed noodles all in the same pot! Who says you can’t use 2 different noodles?
Protein noodles are becoming more and more popular. From Barilla PROTEIN+™ Penne to Banza Chickpea Angel Hair Pasta to The Only Bean’s Soybean Spaghetti, we do not need to limit ourselves to wheat or rice noodles anymore!
A Protein Ramen Shout Out!
If you are on a high-protein diet, it does not get much easier than making instant ramen that starts with 20+ of protein per package. Immi Instant Ramen is 100% plant-based and packed with protein.
They have yummy flavors such as Black Garlic “Chicken”, Tom Yum “Shrimp”, and Spicy “Beef”. My favorite flavor is the Tom Yum (Shrimp).
Add Aromatic Oils
Aromatic oil is the finishing oil one might drizzle over hot broth and ramen noodles. The definition of Aromatic oil is an oil that has been cooked with other ingredients and thus takes on those flavors.
Examples of aromatic oils:
- Garlic oil
- Chili oil
- I also like to use toasted sesame oil. While this technically is not an “aromatic oil” it is loaded with a lovely and nutty sesame flavor and is an easy addition to any instant ramen bowl.
Include Fresh Flavors
Now that you have added your aromatic oils, it is time to think about some other aromatics and flavors.
Try adding the following fresh flavors to your instant noodles:
- Fresh herbs & scallions
- Nori
- Soy sauce & fish sauce
- Rice wine vinegar
- Peanut butter
- Ginger
- Citrus
- Kimchi & pickled vegetables
Follow your taste buds and you can’t go wrong.
Bonus flavors: Add a little Kewpie mayo or cheese to your ramen bowl. This shin ramen hack makes super creamy ramen bowls.
The Last Shin Ramen Hack – Ditch the Seasoning Packet
I saved this upgrade for last because, in all honestly, sometimes I do opt for the seasoning packet added to the water. Hey, it’s tasty! Usually, I’ll only use a portion of it and add some other little additions of my own.
Below are some examples of broths you might make for your quick and easy at-home ramen.
- Veggie scraps broth – boiling then straining veggie scraps from your freezer or another meal/dish
- Homemade Chicken broth – using the carcass of a rotisserie chicken with some veggies such as onions, carrots and celery
- And to doctor up store-bought veggie or chicken broth I might:
- Add some miso paste to your instant ramen.
- You can use broth from a box or bouillon, and some grocers even have ramen soup broth ready to go in a box, like this Organic Ramen Broth from Imagine.
- Drop in some peanut and fish sauce for some Thai-inspired slurping.
- Plop some curry paste and coconut milk for a coconut curry broth.
More on Ramen Broth
You can even make a Traditional Japanese Cuisine Ramen Broth. Note that this is a time-consuming process but also a work of art. There are different classifications of broth, Shio (salt) Shoyu (soy sauce), miso (fermented bean paste), and tonkotsu (pork).
For a basic (not traditional) yet quick broth, you can use some chicken or vegetable stock with some garlic, onion, and ginger powder, perhaps a little soy sauce, maybe some peanut butter, or even some chili peppers or hot sauce. You can get creative here.
Interested in a basic ramen broth recipe? Check out this recipe called Basic Ramen Broth by author Shohoko of the Chopstick Chronicles food blog!
Ramen is Love
I hope you enjoyed these Instant Ramen Hacks. Create your personalized ramen masterpiece. Just remember to:
- Bump up veggies
- Add a bit of protein
- Top with some aromatic oils
- Include fresh flavors
- Maybe even make your broth
Enjoy these 5 Shin Ramen Hacks?! Below are a few other articles and recipes you may enjoy.
Follow these steps and you will create a simple, quick, healthy yet satisfying meal.]
Original article from 1/28/23
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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