“Rowdy Ramen Recipes”

c. 2018 Rod Ice

All rights reserved

(10-18)

Dissident Chef. A title to wear with pride.

One of the habits I learned during childhood was to make food on my own, when hungry. Despite the fact that our family enjoyed delicious and satisfying meals, every day. Dad had acquired a reckless familiarity with the kitchen, while helping to raise his younger brothers and sisters in Columbus, Ohio. So that boldness in preparing off-schedule snacks was passed down to me, with great zeal.

While still in grade school, I tried tossing together a skillet of fried fish sticks, eggs, and liquid smoke seasoning. My creations were experimental in nature. Often lacking any sound basis in culinary discipline. But I learned at the stove. Like Thomas Edison, my failures led to greater enlightenment. Eventually, things began to coalesce into a style that was both budget-friendly and unique.

An early favorite was using Ramen in various forms, because this staple item could be had for a pittance. I tended to prepare it as a soup, with Tabasco, chopped onion, peas, bean sprouts or tuna added for flavor. Later, my mind wandered toward using the noodles as a medium for other dishes, like in an omelet with eggs, or as a filling for tacos.

Being a wordsmith, Ramen recipes have persisted to inspire columns for past newspaper employers, and here in ‘WOTL.’ Typically, I find the best are either related to those incarcerated for miscreant behavior, or students working their way through college. What follows are a few examples:

Orange Porkies (www.bbc.com)

Ingredients:

1 pack Ramen (any flavor)

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cooked white rice

About 3 tablespoons unsweetened orange flavor Kool-Aid

1 bag (about 6 ounces) pork skins or rinds

Directions:

Crush the Ramen in the wrapper and empty into a large bowl. Save the seasoning packet for another use. Add the water, cover, and let sit for 8 minutes. Drain off excess water. Add the rice and stir well. Set aside. Pour the Kool-Aid into a large microwavable bowl and add a tablespoon or two of hot water. Stir until it has a syrupy consistency. Toss a handful of pork skins into the syrup and stir. Repeat until all pork skins are coated. Cover and microwave the pork skins for about 5 minutes, until they puff. Serve the pork skins on top of the Ramen and rice.

Note: for a spicier flavor, try a dash of hot sauce on top of the porkies.

Prison Nachos (www.ranker.com)

Ingredients:

1 package of Ramen

1 summer sausage

1 chili without beans

1 nacho tortilla chips

1 onion

1 squeeze cheese

Directions:

First, boil the noodles, drain and set aside. Chop summer sausage and onion, mix together, then add Ramen seasoning. Place onion and summer sausage mixture in the microwave for 4 minutes on high. Afterwards, take out and place to the side. Take tortilla chips and place a large amount in a bowl. Mix water (or milk) with cheese, after warming the cheese until it melts, and blend until smooth and creamy. (Put) meat and onion mixture over tortilla chips. Next take your chili and cooked noodles and pour over your chips. Lastly spread your melted cheese over your chips. Voila, nachos delight.

Chili Cheese Dog Ramen (https://corporatetarget.com)

Ingredients:

1 package of Ramen

1 hot dog, cooked

shredded cheese

canned chili

Directions:

Prepare the Ramen as directed. Cut up the hot dog and stir into noodles. Top with chili and cheese. Heat until warm.

Easy Ramen Breakfast for College Students (www.budget101.com)

Ingredients:

1 package of Ramen, any flavor

1-2 eggs

½ onion, thinly sliced

1 small tomato, thinly sliced

Directions:

Put the unbroken block of Ramen in a pot with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the water begins to boil, add seasoning & a layer of tomato slices, (then) layer of onion slices. Pour the egg(s) on top, put on a lid, cook for 1 minute or so. Serve!

Spicy Sausage Ramen Toss (www.mattfischer.com)

Ingredients:

2 packages Ramen, chicken or chili flavor

¼ cup of onion, diced

½ cup of green pepper, sliced or diced

½ cup of green peas

2-3 links (approximately 1 pound) of cooked and sliced Italian sausage

1 teaspoon minced garlic (fresh preferable)

1 can of Rotel Original diced tomatoes with green chili peppers

Directions:

Cook the sausage, slice after cooking and set aside. Cut and saute onion and garlic in a pan. Pour the liquid only from the Rotel diced tomatoes into a pot, and add 2 1/2 cups water and flavor packets. Boil the water. Place noodles in pot with onion, garlic, peas, peppers. Cook until noodles are soft. Transfer to serving bowl, add diced tomatoes and sausage – TOSS! Voila… just hot enough to maybe make you sweat. Substitute regular diced tomatoes for a less spicy rendition.

Compiling this recipe list made me remember that I recently saw a 12-count case of Ramen on sale at our local Walmart for $1.97. Armed with these delectable choices, I reckon on visiting again soon, to grab my own for these and other culinary experiments.

As they say in China: “Chi chi chi!” (Eat, eat, eat!)

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