Easy Saucy Ramen Noodles

These saucy vegan ramen noodles are a quick, flavorful treat perfect for busy days! Coated in a savory, slightly sweet, and mildly spicy sauce, they’re easy to customize with your favorite vegetables and protein for a satisfying meal in under 20 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Incredibly Flavorful: The noodles are tossed in a thick, umami-packed sauce that you can adjust to your liking.
• Quick and Easy: With just a few ingredients, this recipe comes together in no time.
• Versatile: Add your favorite vegetables or protein like tofu or mushrooms for a complete meal.

How to Prepare the Noodles:

For chewy, perfectly cooked noodles:

1. Slightly undercook the noodles by reducing the boiling time by 2 minutes.
2. Drain the noodles to stop cooking and keep them chewy. You can also rinse with cold water, but transferring them directly into the sauce helps absorb the flavors better.

Choosing the Right Noodles:

• Instant Ramen Noodles: A great option if you can find packets without the seasoning. Koka brand is excellent, or for a gluten-free version, try brown rice ramen.
• Alternative Options: While ramen noodles are ideal, you can experiment with other noodles like soba or udon for a twist.

The Sauce:

This simple, adjustable sauce is the heart of the dish. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Liquid: Water or vegetable broth.
• Soy Sauce: Adds savory depth. Adjust the quantity for saltiness.
• Dark Soy Sauce: Optional for a richer color.
• Cornstarch: For thickening.
• Sweetener: Maple syrup or sugar, adjusted to taste.
• Acid: Rice vinegar or lemon juice for brightness.
• Spice: Chili garlic sauce or your preferred hot sauce for a kick.
• Aromatics: Sesame oil and minced garlic for flavor.

Pro Tip: Double the sauce if adding extra vegetables or protein to ensure everything is well-coated.

Adding Veggies and Protein:

• Tofu and Mushrooms: Sauté fresh oyster mushrooms and diced extra-firm tofu for added texture and protein.
• Other Veggies: Use whatever you have on hand—broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas all work great.

Cooking the Sauce and Noodles:

1. Heat a large non-stick pan and sauté your chosen veggies and protein in a bit of oil.
2. Pour in the prepared sauce and simmer until it thickens.
3. Add the half-cooked noodles and mix well to evenly coat.
4. Cook for a few minutes until the noodles are tender and fully coated in the glossy sauce.

Finishing Touches:

Top the noodles with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, or crushed peanuts for extra crunch. Pair with tofu, mushrooms, or your favorite vegetables for a complete, hearty meal.

Why These Noodles Are a Staple:

These vegan saucy ramen noodles are easy to whip up, endlessly customizable, and utterly satisfying. Perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or even as a cozy midnight snack!

Enjoy your noodles plain or load them up with toppings—either way, they’re bound to be your go-to comfort meal. 🌱🍜

This easy saucy ramen noodle recipe features a thick, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with your favorite veggies, tofu, or mushrooms. The versatile sauce can even be used for stir-fries. Enjoy a delicious, slurp-worthy meal in just 25 minutes!

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Ingredients

Noodles:

• 2 servings of dry instant ramen noodle cakes about 140 g total or your choice of noodles

For Sautéing:

• 10 oz extra-firm tofu mushrooms, or vegetables of choice, sliced

Sauce:

• 1 cup water or vegetable broth
• 5-7 tbsp soy sauce adjust to taste
• 1.5 tsp dark soy sauce optional, for color
• 2-3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1-3 tbsp sugar maple syrup, or liquid sweetener (adjust to desired sweetness)
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar white vinegar, or lemon juice (adjust to desired sourness)
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/2 tbsp chili garlic sauce or hot sauce optional, for spice
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced (optional)

For Serving:

• Chopped scallions
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:

• In a bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients until fully combined. Adjust sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and spice to taste. If you’re using hot sauce, the sauce may have a reddish hue. Double the sauce recipe if you plan to use more veggies or noodles. Set aside.

Cook the Noodles:

• Boil water in a small pot over high heat. Add the noodles and cook until they are half-cooked, chewy, and slightly firm—about 2-3 minutes less than the package instructions.
• Drain the noodles and set aside. For firmer noodles, rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process and remove excess starch.

Sauté the Veggies:

• Heat a pan over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add the tofu, mushrooms, or vegetables, and sauté until cooked to your liking.

Thicken the Sauce:

• Give the sauce mixture a quick stir to ensure the cornstarch hasn’t settled at the bottom. Pour the sauce into the pan and simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes until it begins to thicken.

Combine with Noodles:

• Add the noodles to the pan and toss them in the sauce until evenly coated. Cook for an additional 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the noodles absorb some of the sauce and it thickens further.

Season and Serve:

• Taste the noodles and adjust seasoning with soy sauce, sweetener, or pepper as needed. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!