College Kitchen: Gourmet Ramen to Spice Up Your Dinner

Is there plenty of ramen taking up space in your pantry? Does the smell of those flavor imitation packets make you nauseated? Would you rather greet death than microwave another bowl of noodles? I know I would. Versatility can be a student’s best friend. Fortunately, even a basic dish like ramen noodles can be spruced up with the right ingredients. Recently, I discovered the delicious world of Thai cuisine, and this Ramen Red Curry dish will satisfy your soul. This recipe is a one-pot dish, so minimal cleanup is required! Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Makes 4 servings.

The Ramen You really can’t mess this up. Boil some water and throw in the noodles. Cook for approximately 2.5 minutes or until soft. The Red Curry Bring a large pot to medium heat. I recommend cooking with a flame stovetop, but electric is fine. Add olive oil and diced onions to the pot. Cook the onions until they are clear, and then add minced garlic, minced ginger, and salt. Stir these ingredients together until the garlic and ginger become aromatic. Next, add your vegetables, curry paste, shredded chicken, and lime juice (for a super spicy ramen, throw in extra jalapenos and a teaspoon of red pepper flakes). Stir for 3-4 minutes until the paste is well distributed and the veggies start to soften. Add a tablespoon of water to deglaze the pot, then turn the heat up to high and throw in the coconut milk, chopped basil, and brown sugar. Stir the ingredients together until the color darkens and the curry starts to boil. Let boil for about 3 minutes and taste periodically. Serve over ramen noodles and voila!