Last Minute Ramen
Cooking For When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking
The magic of Last Minute Ramen is in the quick homemade broth, the peppery veggie mixture, and that hit of chili onion crunch that makes the whole thing feel warm, cozy, and special. Prep ingredients ahead of time so that this can be thrown together in a pinch.
There are nights when I am absolutely starving but I have been cooking all day for the blog and don’t feel like eating what I was working on and have no interest in ordering takeout. That is exactly how this Last Minute Ramen was born.
It’s one of my favorite “I’m hungry and over it” meals because it uses the very cheap ramen noodles we all have in the pantry but turns them into a bowl that tastes like you put in a surprising amount of effort. It’s a cheap shortcut to a meal that tastes like $30 takeout.
What I love most is that you can customize it to whatever mood you’re in. Keep it simple with celery, spinach, and green onions or fancy it up with toasted sesame, hard-boiled eggs, or even a few slices of deli roast beef.
I keep little containers of the minced veggies in my refrigerator so that I can throw this together faster than I could order DoorDash. It’s comforting, inexpensive, and always hits the spot.
The Noods
The recipe calls for these noodle squares from the cheap packets of ramen. I save the seasoning packets for popcorn topping and I also use them to make a dipping sauce for my crispy, oven baked wings.
I also use these noodles for a salad if you can believe it. If you have never had my Ramen Noodle Salad, you are missing out.
It is a throwback recipe from the eighties.
Chili Onion Crunch
Wow this ingredient always throws people off. I forget that not everyone lives on the internet like I do.
This is a pretty popular ingredient that many use as a condiment. You can find this at almost every grocery store now.
The most famous one is from Trader Joe’s. If you do not have a TJ’s you can even find this at Walmart or on Amazon.
Crunchy Veggies
I love the crunch of these veggies in the hot soup. I do recommend adding the soup to the bowl when it is VERY hot so that the hot broth softens the veggies just a tiny bit.
The hot broth will also help extract some of the flavor from the veggies and infuse the broth with it. You will really enjoy the different textures of this soup.
Last Minute Ramen Recipe
This quick and cozy ramen comes together in minutes with everyday pantry ingredients, fresh veggies, and a broth that tastes way fancier than the 50 cent noodles it’s made from. It’s warm, peppery, and perfect for those moments when you want comfort food without actually cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 packets cheap ramen noodles (discard seasoning; save packets for popcorn)
- 6 to 8 cups water (eyeball it)
- 1/2 tablespoon tomato bouillon powder
- 1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon (I use Better Than Bouillon; adjust to taste)
- 1 celery stalk, very finely minced
- A handful of fresh spinach, stems removed, finely minced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- Optional: a little minced shallot
- Optional: toasted sesame seeds or a splash of toasted sesame oil
- 1 to 2 teaspoons chili onion crunch *if you are not familiar this is pictured in the post
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional add-ins: sliced hard-boiled egg, deli roast beef strips
Instructions
- Start the broth: Add 6–8 cups of water to a pot (no need to be precise). Bring to a boil.
- Season the broth: Add the tomato bouillon and vegetable bouillon a little at a time, tasting as you go so it doesn’t get too salty. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Cook the noodles: Add the two ramen noodle squares to the broth. Bring back to a boil and cook until the noodles are al dente. Turn off the heat.
- Prep the veggie bowl: While the broth cooks, add the minced celery to a large bowl. Season with black pepper and a pinch of white pepper if you like.
- Flavor base: Stir in the chili onion crunch and let it sit a minute.
- Add the greens: Add the minced spinach, sliced green onions, and optional shallot. Mix in toasted sesame seeds or a splash of sesame oil if using. Let everything sit so the flavors mingle.
- Assemble: Pour the hot broth and noodles over the veggie mixture. Top with lots of black pepper. Serve immediately.
- Optional protein: Add sliced hard boiled eggs or deli roast beef for extra protein.
- Meal prep tip: Prep the minced veggies ahead of time and store them in the fridge so you can whip this up in minutes whenever hunger hits.