There is nothing wrong with instant noodles for supper. But when the only topping is the seasoning powder you failed to stir properly, there is room for improvement.
These add-ons bring crunch, colour and something extra to chew on, without requiring you to start a full cooking session in your HDB kitchen at midnight.
CJ Bibigo Roasted Seasoned Seaweed
CJ Bibigo’s roasted seasoned seaweed adds a savoury finish and a little crispness to your noodles. Tear some over the bowl just before eating so it does not immediately disappear into the soup.
For dry noodles, scatter it over after mixing in the sauce. Keeping some pieces larger gives you a more noticeable topping without any chopping or extra cooking.
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AKIRA Menma Seasoned Bamboo Shoots
Menma is seasoned bamboo shoots, the topping you may recognise from a bowl of Japanese ramen. Its firmer bite gives you a change of texture between mouthfuls of soft noodles.
Arrange some AKIRA menma on one side of the bowl instead of stirring everything together. Pair it with seaweed for a ramen-style presentation that requires considerably less commitment than making your own broth.
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Suci Mama Crispy Fried Shallots
Suci Mama’s crispy fried shallots bring a familiar, fragrant crunch to both soup and dry noodles. You get the finishing touch without peeling, slicing and frying shallots for a single serving.
Sprinkle them on after transferring your noodles to the bowl, especially if you want to keep some crunch. They are particularly useful when your supper tastes fine but every mouthful has exactly the same texture.
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Ottogi Roasted Sesame Seeds
Ottogi’s roasted sesame seeds add a nutty flavour and a speckled finish with very little effort. Since they are already roasted, you can use them as a garnish without getting another pan involved.
Scatter them over dry noodles so they cling to the sauce, or sprinkle some onto toppings sitting above the broth. A light scattering is enough to make the bowl look more carefully put together.
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Laoganma Spicy Chilli Crisp
Laoganma spicy chilli crisp adds heat and crunchy bits, making it useful when you want more than another squeeze of chilli sauce. Spoon a little over the finished bowl or toss it through dry noodles.
Start with a small amount and taste before adding more, particularly if your instant noodles already come with spicy seasoning. Supper should not require a supporting glass of water after every bite.
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Seto Fumi Furikake
Furikake is a dry Japanese seasoning that is commonly sprinkled over rice, but noodles can join in too. Seto Fumi gives you a savoury finishing sprinkle when you want a garnish that involves no preparation.
Try it over drained, lightly seasoned noodles, where it stays visible instead of dispersing through a large bowl of soup. Add it gradually, tasting as you go, so it complements the noodle seasoning.
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Dried Green Spring Onion Rings
Dried green spring onion rings are handy when you want a little green in your bowl without washing and chopping fresh spring onions. Stir them into the hot soup and let them soften before eating.
They suit occasional supper cooks who struggle to finish a fresh bunch. You can use a small amount whenever you make noodles, instead of discovering another forgotten bunch in the vegetable drawer.
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OSE Naruto Maki Fish Cake
OSE naruto maki is the Japanese fish cake with the recognisable pink swirl. A few slices add a distinct pattern and a different texture to an otherwise plain bowl of noodles.
Prepare it according to the packet instructions, then arrange the slices on top where you can see them. It is a useful pick if presentation matters to you, even when the only person admiring your supper is you.
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SPAM Luncheon Meat
SPAM luncheon meat gives your noodles a substantial topping you can cut into slices, strips or cubes. Pan-fry it until the outside browns for a firmer edge that contrasts with the noodles.
Use slices for a neatly arranged bowl, or smaller cubes if you prefer mixing everything through dry noodles. This involves an extra pan, but it is a straightforward upgrade when a garnish alone will not satisfy your supper craving.
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BoBo Fresh Fish Balls
BoBo fresh fish balls add a familiar, bouncy bite that works well with soup noodles. They are an easy choice when you want your supper to lean towards fishball noodles without preparing fish paste yourself.
Cook them thoroughly according to the packet instructions, allowing for their cooking time before adding the noodles. Finish with spring onion rings or fried shallots for extra colour and texture.
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