Delicious Ramen Noodle Variations for Missoula Students

I remember years ago when Ramen noodles made up the bulk of my diet. We’re talking noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I got to the point where just thinking about ramen made me want to gag. Not only did I get tired of the flavor of the noodles, I was beginning to become unhealthy as they really don’t have any nutritional value. So, after awhile I developed a few yummy recipes for ramen to hold me over until I was hired for a full time job. Here are a few of my favorites, which I will still make from time to time because, even now, I will still get a craving for them out of the blue.

Ramen Noodle Breakfast Burrito

Boil ramen noodles and one beaten egg for 3 minutes. Drain all but 1 tablespoon water. Stir in seasoning packet (beef was my favorite for this recipe), shredded cheese and a dash or two of hot sauce. When I had a few peppers and onions I would toss in a few sautéed pieces of those too. Wrap up the mixture in a tortilla with a spoonful of salsa and sour cream. The noodles give this a good texture and a refreshing change up of a regular breakfast burrito.

Post Thanksgiving Fried Ramen

You will be able to try this one within the next month. You will need some leftover turkey and stuffing that your mom is guaranteed to send you back to school with. You will also need a packet of ramen (chicken works best), about 4 oz. of chicken broth and olive or vegetable oil. Start by pouring some oil into a frying pan. Fry up your stuffing and leftover turkey for 2 to 3 minutes. Set the fried ingredients to the side and boil your ramen, saving the flavor packet for a bit later. Then, add more oil to your pan and fry up the boiled ramen noodles (do not fry noodles with your turkey mixture). After frying for about a minute, add in the flavor packet, chicken broth and the fried turkey/stuffing mixture. Mix and enjoy!

Chocolate Ramen

Make this when you need a cheap, quick sugar fix. Boil Ramen in 2 cups water with 1 cup brown sugar added. Drain most of the water and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and about a cup of chocolate syrup. Pour the mixture onto a serving plate and sprinkle it with powdered sugar. It’s also delicious to garnish this with whip cream. Wash down with a tall glass of milk. Don’t forget to brush your teeth after this one, because not only does a college student have a difficult time buying groceries, they can also not afford dental bills to get cavities filled!

Just because you are surviving on ramen noodles, does not mean you can’t ball on a budget. Invite your roommates and fellow students to enjoy these inexpensive, yet satisfying meals.