Description
This Easy Saucy Ramen Noodles recipe delivers a flavorful, quick meal perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring tender instant ramen noodles tossed with a savory, tangy sauce and your choice of sautéed tofu or vegetables, this dish balances sweet, spicy, and umami notes. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a delightful blend of textures and tastes garnished with sesame seeds and scallions for an extra burst of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 2 servings dry instant ramen noodles (about 140 g)
Protein/Vegetables
- 10 oz extra firm tofu or veggies/mushrooms (sliced)
Sauce
- 1 cup water or vegetable broth
- 5-7 tbsp soy sauce
- 2-3 tbsp corn starch
- 2-3 tbsp sugar (or maple syrup)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp chili garlic sauce
Garnish
- Sesame oil (for sautéing)
- Minced garlic (to taste)
- Scallions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, combine water or vegetable broth, soy sauce, corn starch, sugar or maple syrup, rice vinegar, and chili garlic sauce. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Cook the noodles: Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the instant ramen noodles according to the package instructions but reduce the cooking time by a few minutes to keep them slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté tofu or vegetables: Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a drizzle of sesame oil. Add sliced tofu or your choice of vegetables and sauté with minced garlic until fully cooked and lightly browned, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Simmer with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the pan with the sautéed tofu or vegetables. Allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients nicely.
- Combine noodles and sauce: Add the cooked noodles into the pan with the sauce and tofu or veggies. Toss everything together and cook for another 3 minutes to ensure the noodles are well coated and heated through.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds before serving to add freshness and a nutty finish.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar to balance saltiness and sweetness according to your preference.
- Use vegetable broth instead of water for a richer flavor.
- Extra firm tofu is preferred for better texture and so it holds up well during sautéing.
- For a spicier dish, increase chili garlic sauce quantity slightly.
- Can substitute maple syrup with honey or brown sugar for alternative sweetness.
