How To Use Ramen Seasoning Packets
You'll always be a college student at heart
Sure, you can upgrade a bowl of ramen with a poached egg or slice of cheese if you're feeling fancy, but a true noodle purist will tell you that cup o' ramen tastes best when its shiny seasoning packet is left to do all the work.
Savory, umami-packed and basically the equivalent of culinary fairy dust (sans the obnoxious unicorn coloring), these foil sachets consist of nothing more than dried herbs, stock granules and maybe a little MSG, making them as versatile as any other spice blend sitting in your cabinet. So the next time you have half a prized packet left after satisfying your midnight noodle craving, don't throw it away. Here are six genius ways to make use of this ultra-tasty seasoning.
① Fry Up Lip-Smacking Chicken
The next time you're deep-frying a Southern feast, add ramen seasoning to your flour dredge; an additional post-fry dusting of the powder in place of salt makes for extra-succulent, lip-smacking chicken.
② Make the Best Movie Night Popcorn Ever
Before heaping on extra melted butter, toss your popped kernels with a few packets—we guarantee you'll be microwaving another batch before you've made it halfway through the first Chef's Table episode.
③ Punch Up Salad Dressings
Lowbrow as they may be, crunchy ramen slaws are the underrated hero of any picnic table. Take a cue from this potluck favorite by using instant noodle seasoning to amp up your salad dressings and vinaigrettes.
④ Turn Bland Rice into a Side Dish Superstar
Your ramen flavoring is basically a bouillon cube after all. Add a packet into your rice's cooking liquid, and it'll have more than enough oomph to escape its dreaded "token side dish" status.
⑤ Stir Up an Ultra-Savory Dip
Swirl a few pouches into a bowl of sour cream or Greek yogurt, and your ruffled, thick-cut potato chips will never meet a better dunking companion.
⑥ Roast Extra-Flavorful Potatoes
Ready for the best roast potatoes you'll ever have? In lieu of salt, toss your spuds in this all-purpose spice blend, and you'll forget about that sizzling roast chicken on the dinner table.