I used to be launched to Korean spicy noodles or ramen/ramyeon/ramyun throughout my college days by my South Korean roommate within the UK. Her identify is Hyosun Kim, however she likes to be generally known as – Solar.
She would typically rustle up ramen, her bowl stuffed with greens and eggs more often than not. She used a burnished metallic pot to cook dinner her noodles in and ate proper from it.
It is known as a Naembi, which interprets to ‘casserole’. It is attention-grabbing how ramen has such cultural significance in Korea, that there’s a particular utensil to make it. Anyway, I digress….
Again to Solar, each time we ran into one another within the frequent kitchen of our residence, she would generously supply me a style of her ramen. It was love at first style, as a result of they had been spicy and scrumptious. Not the inexperienced chilly form of sharpness I used to be acquainted with in Indian delicacies however a a lot stronger candy but piercing flavour. She would typically pair her ramen with do-it-yourself kimchi. It was the slurp of noodles and the crunch of nappa cabbage that made the entire meal so tempting, simply to take a look at.
A shared love for ramen introduced us shut, throughout cultures and geography. This was 2017. Even as we speak, each time I take the primary chunk of ramen, these joyful recollections come flooding again.
The best way to make instantaneous ramen?
Solar had mentioned, “Simply comply with the directions on the packet and you will study.” I used to be quickly cooking egg ramen, ramen with greens or just a bowl of soupy ramen by itself. Quickly ramen grew to become my go-to meal, too, particularly as essay deadlines and dissertation dates neared.
It is easy – convey water to a boil, empty the 2 sachets – the soup powder and flakes, add the noodles and cook dinner for 2 minutes. Bear in mind to not break the noodle.
Need some eggs in it? Crack open an egg (at room temperature) proper into the ramen pot when the noodles are practically accomplished. Now go away it lined for two minutes. If you will add meat and greens, sauté in butter in a separate pan and add them to the ramen.
For a non-soupy ramen bowl, cook dinner the noodle and drain away extra water. Add the seasoning solely after it’s cooked and canopy it with a lid for one minute. Seems there isn’t any proper or improper solution to making ramen; it is about the way you prefer it. For this, you’ll have to start by studying the directions on the packet – similar to what Solar mentioned.
Time takes flight
Two years handed, and we had been nearing the completion of our research. It was 2019. As we packed our baggage, Solar was wanting ahead to her dwelling nation, as I used to be for mine. We bade one another goodbye, promising to go to one another quickly, not realizing COVID-19 Can be at our doorstep, quickly.
Nonetheless, earlier than leaving, I made positive my bag had an excellent pack of 5 Nongshim instantaneous ramyeon with me. What if I did not discover it again dwelling in India? What if I may by no means discover an instantaneous noodle pretty much as good as this once more? I didn’t need to threat it! It was a meals disaster of types.
Ramen in Dubai
Two years later, I moved to Dubai for an thrilling new job, and right here I’m writing about my first ramen expertise as a result of I discovered myself in the identical place as my College days – in the hunt for new and thrilling methods to make fast meals.
This time, I discovered myself surrounded by colleagues who’re BTS (Korean band) and Okay-drama (Korean Tv Drama) followers. My editor as soon as bought us jars of do-it-yourself kimchi, which I devoured for days, and one other day she cooked Korean vegetable pancake with candy potato and onions or Yachaejeon and bought it for us. She additionally ordered the metallic pot – Naembi, and I’ve now began consuming ramyeon proper from it, simply as Solar used to.
In any case this, I simply couldn’t resist the Okay-drama craze and began my binge-watching journey with the Netflix present – Begin-up. And, after all, nothing higher than a bowl of scorching soupy ramen to slurp on whereas watching it, particularly as as we speak marks the beginning of worldwide noodle week!
Listed below are just a few totally different sorts of noodles you possibly can attempt:
1. Soba: These noodles are made from buckwheat (soba) that offers it a definite flavour. Some in style soba dishes are – zaru soba, kake soba and kitsune soba to call just a few. Soba noodles have a light brown color that include a dense texture.
2. Yakisoba: These noodles are made with wheat flour and similar to ramen, are a current creation to have first appeared in Japan. Historically they’re served as fried noodles. There may be Yakisoba-pan during which they’re served lengthwise on a scorching canine bun, garnished with pickled ginger and mayonnaise.
3. Somen: That is once more a wheat-based noodle and much like udon noodles however a lot thinner. Somen is usually served as a chilly dish, particularly throughout summers. Other than wheat flour and wheat, they’re made from vegetable oil. Historically they’re served with a dipping sauce known as tsuyu.
4. Udon noodles: These noodles are thick and chewy and the preferred noodles. Udon is constructed from wheat flour and is served chilly in summer season and scorching in winter. It has a impartial taste, making it nice to pair with broths to varied greens. They’re versatile.
Ramen: A ramen is a noodle if is made utilizing wheat flour, salt and alkaline water. The alkaline water offers it a novel style, making it totally different from plain noodles. This water is known as – kansui initially discovered within the lakes of Mongoli
Inform us about your favorite noodles at food@gulfnews.com