Cold Ramen Noodles

Most people cook Ramen Noodles. In hot weather, cold noodles are very satisfying - and can be “cooked” without heat.

This is great, for a planned emergency . When using all dried ingredients, this can be made any time when needed.

>> See it done!


Ingredients

• 1/2 t Curry Powder.
• 1/8 t Ground Garlic.
• 1/2 t Ground Ginger.
• 1 T Dried Chopped Onion - or 1/4 C Fresh Onion, minced.
• 1/2 t Paprika.
• 1 C Water.
• 1 Package Of Ramen Noodles (Shrimp, for me).
• 1/4 C Cottage Cheese.
• 1 splash of Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce.
• Sprinkle of chopped chives.

Preparation

1. Combine spices, in a large cereal bowl.
2. Mix in onion (chopped or fresh).
3. Open Ramen Noodles package. Separate the noodles, flavour, oil, and vegs packets (Note that packets included will vary)..
4. Mix flavour and vegs packets (as included) into the spices bowl.
5. Crumble noodles into the bowl, mix with spices etc.
6. Add water, mix with contents.
7. Refrigerate noodles mixture, to marinate 2 - 4 hours.
8. Remove from refrigerator, when marinated.
9. Mix in cottage cheese, oil packet (as included), chili sauce.
10. Serve promptly.

See it Done!

Add flavour packet, onion, spices to a large cereal bowl.

Crush Ramen noodles. I use a plastic bag.

Add ramen noodles and water, to the bowl. Mix.

Cover, and marinate.

Mix in chili sauce and cottage cheese, once the noodles have expanded.

Garnish with chopped chives.

Sweet Plantains

This is one of my favourite memories, from my years in Miami - sweet plantains.

Ingredients

• 2 plaintains, black and soft, but not mushy.
• viniagrette salad dressing, 1/4 C.
• Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce, 1/4 C.
• salsa, fresh, 1/2 C.
• ginger, 1/4 t.
• California Taboulli.
• California Hummus.
• Trader Joes Cauliflower Curry Salad.

Preparation

1. Peel, then slice plantains, 1/4 " thick.
2. Add to microwaveable dish.
3. Add salad dressing, chili sauce, salsa, and ginger, toss lightly.
4. Microwave on high, 8 - 10 min.
5. Let it cool, for 5 minutes, as the plantains finish cooking.
6. Add curry salad, hummus, taboulli.
7. Enjoy when ready.

Cold Ramen Salad

Continuing my exploration of the humble Ramen soup mix, I find that, given the right spices, it makes a rather satisfying meal.

Ingredients

• i package Shrimp / your choice flavour Ramen soup
• 1/16 t cayenne pepper
• 1/4 t curry powder
• 1/4 t fish oil (opt)
• 1/8 t garlic flakes
• 1/4 t ginger
• 1/8 t mint
• 1/4 t onion flakes
• 1/4 t sesame seeds
• 1/8 t tarragon
• 1/2 t tomato sauce (opt)
• 1/16 t tumeric
• 6 or so slices of cucumber, quartered
• 1/2 stalk green onion, chopped
• 1/4 bu parsley, chopped
• 1 roma tomato, chopped
• 1 handful mixed salad greens

Preparation

1. Crumble noodles, into bowl.
2. Mix noodle flavour packet, dry herbs, spices, dried vegs, noodles.
3. Add salad greens, mix again.
4. Add boiling water to cover, stir, let it cook.
5. When salad greens are just slightly tender, it's ready.
6. Drain excess liquid, set aside.
7. Add fresh vegs, toss lightly.
8. Decorate with soy sauce, sweet chili sauce (Mae Ploy).
9. Serve cold, with sourdough bread, Thai tea.

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Continuing my experimentation, I observed that ramen noodles do not always require boiling water. Given enough soaking, 15 minutes of soaking in cold water will produce chewy ("al dente") noodles - and a tasty meal.

The longer you soak the noodles, the more water is absorbed - and the less to be drained and set aside.

The idea of adding enough water ("to cover") simply ensures that the noodles on the top get the chance to soften. Water temperature may or may not be important. YMMV.

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Ginger Sesame Green Beans

Quick, easy to make, came right out of the cupboard when I couldn't find anything else.

• 1 can cooked green beans
• 1/2 t chicken bouillon
• 1 p cayenne pepper
• 1/2 t dried, chopped garlic
• 1 t ginger
• 1 t dried, chopped onion
• 1 t sesame seed
• 1 s soy sauce
• 1 d sugar
• 1 p tumeric
• 1 d vinegar
• 2 C dried pasta, cooked, drained, and cooled

1. Combine everything but the beans in a bowl.
2. Drain the beans into the bowl, and mix the bean juice and everything else, well.
3. Add the beans to the bowl, mix again.
4. Cover mixture, put in refrigerator to marinate.
5. Allow an hour or two for the liquid to soak into the veggies (dried, chopped garlic and onion has to reconstitute).
6. When ready, toss the marinade with pasta.
7. Add green beans, toss again.
8. Serve.
9. Substitute cooked rice for pasta, if you wish.
10. In cold weather, the beans could be warmed in a wok.