Instant noodle was invented for convenience because it is easy to cook and it is affordable too. Nowadays, there are many kinds of instant noodles to choose from. There are simple flavored ones and also the slightly more expensive ones because they try to recreate the flavors of noodles that can take hours to make to be easily prepared in minutes.
For example, there is Thai Delight’s Hokkien noodle that helps you make Hokkien noodles in a few minutes. It is a savory stir-fried noodle that uses thick egg noodles and the sauces depend on the area. Despite its name, it is said that it was created by a man named Ong Kim Lian in Kuala Lumpur. He told his customers it is called “Hokkien mee” simply because he was Hokkien.
And there is also Nongshim Chapagetti that tastes like jjajangmyeon, a sweet and salty Korean noodle with fermented black soybean paste. Some variants of it use meat such as pork and beef for the meat, and onions, cabbages, or pickled yellow radish for the vegetables.
The same Chapagetti even got really popular because of its appearance in the Korean movie Parasite, which is known as “ramdon” in the English speaking community.
But you don’t always have to rely on pre-made flavors to create other kinds of flavors at home! With the internet easily connecting us globally, it takes only a few seconds to find many ‘hacks’ out there.
Starting from a decent one by adding mayonnaise to your noodles. Incredibly simple yet it makes your noodles taste richer, creamier, as if there is some dairy in it. Mix in a bowl one egg, one grated garlic, and one tablespoon of mayonnaise as you boil your noodle. After your noodle is done cooking, slowly pour the boiled water into the bowl little by little. Don’t forget to mix to prevent the egg from curdling.
Garnish the noodle with chopped chives and enjoy your mayo noodle!
Yet there is another kind of noodle you can make easily that some people even call it instant carbonara noodle! Not every flavor of instant noodles will be suitable for this, usually it is recommended to use simple flavored noodles like onion flavored, chicken flavored, or even the spicy ones like hot samyang noodles.
One of the methods is using milk instead of water to cook the noodles. Boil your noodles as usual, make sure the milk doesn’t overflow, then serve it in a bowl that already has the noodle’s seasoning. Some people also add in cheese like cheddar, parmesan, or mozzarella for the taste.
Another method is by cooking your noodles first then straining the water, but don’t forget to save the water for later use! Then add a raw egg in the noodles, grated cheese, and a little bit of the water that was saved. You can add in some chili flakes for extra heat!
For this next one, you need a microwave to make it happen. Eat any cup noodles as you normally would, but don’t drink all of the soup yet! Mix in one raw egg in the cup then microwave it for a few minutes. And a steamed egg with all the flavors of the soup is done! It is soft, savory, easy, and delicious!
There are some cup noodle flavors you can try, like Nongshim spicy noodle, Oyakata curry noodle, Mi-cup Nivo beef noodle, or Indomie chicken noodle. See which one suits you the best!
For meat lovers out there, bacon, sausages, tuna, or canned meat can be fried and added to your noodles to make it even more appealing! If you want it to be more healthy, then add some chopped vegetables in. Don’t be afraid to modify the cooking method and add toppings in your noodles, you have to make your meal even more appetizing!