It is popular among college students to want a meal that is quick and affordable. This is why many colleges, including California Baptist University, implement meal plans.
An additional option to the traditional and popular on-campus meal plan is to prepare a home-cooked meal. However, this is oftentimes overlooked because of the natural tight schedules that many students have.
However, many food options are quick to prepare and easy to personalize. Ramen is a popular dish for people of all ages because of its affordability and accessibility. Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup that has many variations depending on the noodle, flavor and spice level.
Ramen can be bought in packages that contain the dried ramen noodles and seasoning packets. This food can be found in virtually any store including Target, Ralphs and Stater Brothers. More expansive options of ramen can be found in specialty Asian markets such as 99 Ranch Market.
This meal is notable for its ease of customization. The noodle soup packages have directions on how to prepare it, usually on the back of the packaging. Typically, a specific amount of water is directed to be boiled in a pot. However, the amount of water boiled can be altered depending on how much broth is desired in the soup.
The amount of time that the noodles cook is also customizable because a longer cook time will result in a softer noodle texture. Additionally, one of the most customizable aspects of ramen is the ingredients that can be added to the soup.
Some ingredients that can be added to ramen include spinach, green onions, cheese, bacon, ham, egg, bamboo shoots and mustard stems.
Egg preparation for ramen varies depending on personal preference. For a boiled egg, boil water, then lower the stove heat to let the water simmer. Carefully lower a washed egg into the simmering water and cook for approximately 6 to 9 minutes. A longer cook time will result in a more custard-like consistency of the egg yolk, a shorter cook time will result in a more runny consistency for the yolk.
Another popular option for adding an egg to the ramen is frying the egg. To perfectly fry an egg to garnish your ramen, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil (vegetable, sesame, etc.) on a skillet over medium heat. Carefully crack the egg over the heated oil and let the egg whites bubble. If desired, spoon over excess oil over the cooking egg. Cook for about two to three minutes.
Lastly, garnish your ramen with condiments you like. This can be chili oil, sesame oil, Sriracha sauce, soy sauce, etc.
Try your chopsticks skills and dig into your very own prepared ramen meal. Take photos of your ramen and tag @cbulancermedia to be featured.
