Description
This Easy Saucy Ramen Noodles recipe delivers irresistibly chewy noodles tossed in a savory, customizable sauce. Enhanced with your choice of tofu, mushrooms, or vegetables, and finished with sesame seeds and scallions, it’s a speedy, versatile dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Whether you love a punch of heat, extra sweetness, or prefer it tangy, you can tailor this vegan-friendly meal to your taste.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Noodles
- 2 servings dry instant ramen noodle cakes or other noodles of choice (around 140 g total)
For Sautéing
- 10 oz extra firm tofu, veggies, or mushrooms of choice, sliced
Sauce
- 1 cup water or vegetable broth
- 5–7 tbsp soy sauce (adjust according to taste)
- 1.5 tsp dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
- 2–3 tbsp corn starch
- 1–3 tbsp sugar, maple syrup, or other liquid sweetener (adjust for sweetness)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar, white vinegar, or lemon juice (adjust for sourness)
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tbsp chili garlic sauce or other hot sauce (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
For Serving
- Chopped scallions, for topping
- Sesame seeds, for topping
Instructions
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, combine all sauce ingredients until well incorporated. Adjust measurements to taste for sweetness, saltiness, sourness, or spice. Set aside. For a redder sauce, use hot sauce. Double the sauce if adding more noodles or veggies.
- Cook the Noodles: Boil water in a small pot over high heat. Add the ramen or noodles and cook until half done, 2-3 minutes less than package instructions to keep them chewy.
- Drain the Noodles: Drain or strain the noodles. Optionally, rinse under cold water to stop cooking and remove excess starch. Set aside.
- Sauté Tofu/Mushrooms/Veggies: While noodles cook, heat a pan over medium-high. Add a little oil. Sauté sliced tofu, mushrooms, or veggies until cooked to your liking.
- Simmer the Sauce: Mix the sauce again so the starch isn’t settled. Pour sauce into the pan and let it simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
- Add Noodles & Coat: Add the noodles to the pan when the sauce has thickened. Mix well to ensure noodles are fully coated.
- Finish Cooking: Cook the noodles and sauce together on medium-high until noodles absorb some sauce and sauce further thickens, about 3 minutes.
- Adjust Seasoning & Serve: Taste and adjust with more soy sauce, sweetener, or pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Notes
- Double the sauce if using more veggies or noodles.
- If using vegetable broth, start with less soy sauce to prevent it from being too salty.
- Corn starch thickens the sauce for better coating; start with 2 tbsp and adjust as needed. Dilute extra cornstarch in water before adding.
- Customize the sauce to your preferences: sweeten, spice, or add more tang as you like.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 bowl)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1720mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
