Ramen for one or for a crowd
A hot bowl of soup is pure comfort on a cold or stressful day. Enter ramen, the endlessly customizable meal that has become a global trend among younger generations.
The Facts
- Ramen combines low cost, long shelf-life, and instant preparation
- It acts as a canvas for experimentation
- It is perfect for single servings
- Ramen bars are crowd pleasers at parties
People like ramen because it combines savory flavour, comforting warmth, and affordable convenience, all in a single meal that is quick to prepare.
Not everybody is sold on ramen, though, because the noodles have a reputation of being less healthy than spaghetti, for example. Much of this can be attributed to the flavour packs that are extremely high in sodium. The noodles themselves also contain saturated fat, which pasta doesn’t.
Pricewise, spaghetti also win, because ramen noodles are almost twice as expensive per weight. However, the dollar amount is insignificantly small: One package of ramen costs $0.15 more than the equivalent 85g of pasta.
Ramen wins on faster cooking time and firmer texture. Since ramen is precooked, a nutritious bowl of soup can be ready in minutes. If the soup is flavoured with pantry herbs and spices, is possibly made from home-made stock, and contains veggies and any leftover meat, the nutrition score goes way up.
Key reasons for ramen's popularity
- ’Umami’ flavor: Authentic ramen broths simmer for hours with ingredients like pork bones, chicken, or miso. Flavour packs try to replicate this taste but are very high in sodium.
- Endless customization: Ramen bowls can be topped with soft-boiled eggs, pork slices, green onions, corn, and many other ingredients.
- Budget-friendly: Instant packets cost very little and additional ingredients can be chosen based on cost.
- Fast: Ramen noodles are pre-cooked and are ready in minutes.
Layout for a ramen bar
Especially for students and young adults, a ramen bar is a fun and low-cost way of feeding a party crowd. Much of the preparation can be done ahead of time, and it’s easy to accommodate various food preferences.
A self-serve ramen bar should have zones for noodles, broths, proteins, and toppings.
- Soup base: Hot water dispenser, electric kettle, or a pot of simmering bone broth or vegetable stock on a portable burner or in a crockpot
- Noodles and Base: Instant ramen packets (with or without flavor seasoning) or pre-cooked fresh ramen noodles
- Protein: Pre-cooked and warmed options like sliced, braised pork belly, shredded pulled pork, grilled or rotisserie chicken, cubed Spam, or pan-fried tofu
- Fresh & Blanched Toppings: Bite-sized blanched broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, corn kernels, bean sprouts, and fresh baby spinach
- Garnishes & Condiments: Soft-boiled eggs, sliced green onions, nori sheets, toasted sesame seeds, chili oil, chili crisp, and black garlic oil
Sources for inspiration
- 24 Ramen Noddle Recipes That Are Easy and Delicious by Good Housekeeping
- 21 Ramen Recipes to Build a Perfect Bowl at Home by serious eats