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Pimp My Kimchi Ramen

Korean

Soothing, comforting and delicious... need I say more? This is the perfect quick bowl for those colder months when you want something warm, spicy and cosy without spending ages in the kitchen. We're taking a humble packet of instant ramen and pimping it up with kimchi, gochujang, tofu, an egg and whatever extras you fancy.

Recipe Stats

Cooking time

15 minutes

Serves

1

Difficulty

Easy

Spice

Medium

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Pimp My Kimchi Ramen

Ingredients

1 serving

for the soup & noodles

for the protein & toppings

optional add-ins

Notes

Some secret knowledge

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Possible Substitutions

  • Shin Ramyun: Use any instant noodles you have. Spicy, non-spicy, Korean or otherwise.
  • Tofu: Use firm or extra-firm tofu so it holds its shape in the broth but soft tofu will still work!
  • Kimchi: Use your favourite kimchi. Older, more fermented kimchi works really well in soups.
  • Dumplings: Add frozen dumplings straight to the broth, you don't need to thaw.
  • Tteok: Use fresh or frozen Korean rice cakes. If using frozen tteok, soak them in cold water beforehand if they're particularly hard.
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Things to Keep in Mind

  • Adjust the amount of ramen seasoning depending on how spicy and salty your packet is.
  • Kimchi can vary in saltiness and spice, so taste your broth before adding more seasoning. It’s okay if it tastes a little salty at this stage, as the noodles and toppings will balance it out.
  • Don't overcook the noodles as they'll continue cooking in the residual heat of the broth.
  • If adding dumplings and tteok, give them enough time to cook before adding the noodles, but remember they'll still continue to cook after adding the noodles.
  • For a richer broth, add a splash of sesame oil at the end.
Fridge

Storage

This is definitely best eaten fresh, especially because instant noodles continue absorbing the broth as they sit.

Method

make the broth

Add the water, minced garlic, gochujang, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar and ½ of the ramen seasoning packet to your ramen pot.

Give everything a good stir and bring to a boil.

add the kimchi

Once the broth is boiling, add the kimchi and stir through.

Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to allow the kimchi to flavour the broth.

add the extras

If you're using dumplings or tteok, add them to the bubbling broth.

Cover and cook for around 4–5 minutes, or until they're almost cooked through.

cook the noodles & tofu

Add the ramen noodles and tofu slices to the pot.

Cover and cook for around 2–3 minutes, or slightly less than the packet instructions. The noodles will continue cooking in the hot broth, so we don't want to take them too far here!

add the egg

Crack the egg directly into the broth.

Cover and cook for another 1–2 minutes, depending on how runny you like your yolk.

finish & serve

Uncover and check that the noodles and egg are cooked to your liking.

Top with plenty of chopped spring onions and serve straight from the pot!

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