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!
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!