Written by: Jude Bokovoy

If one doesn’t have at least three packets of Top Ramen in one’s cabinet, are they even a college student? Here are a few recipes to switch things up in one’s weekly ramen venture.

TOP OF THE MORNING

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 pack of Top Ramen (discard seasoning packet)

3 cups water

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 egg

2 slices of deli ham

½ teaspoon everything but the bagel seasoning

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon sriracha 

Start by boiling water in a small pot with a lid. Once boiling, add noodles and cook for three minutes. While the noodles are cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet and fry the egg. Once noodles are cooked, strain and set aside. Chop ham into small pieces. Scramble the egg and add seasoning. Place ham into skillet while separating egg into small pieces, this should take about a minute. Add noodles, stir until combined. Plate and add sriracha. 

SUPER SIMPLE

Start to finish: 12 minutes

Yields: 1 serving 

1 pack of Top Ramen 

3 cups water

1 egg

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon sriracha 

1 teaspoon white sesame seeds

Start by boiling water in a small pot, then add the noodles. While noodles are boiling, fry an egg sunny side up with olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. When noodles are cooked, add to a bowl along with the seasoning packet, stir till combined. Place the sunny- side- up egg over top and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha then serve. 

SOUP LOVERS

Start to finish: 12 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 pack of Top Ramen 

3 cups water

1 egg

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chili oil

1 tablespoon green onion, chopped

Start by boiling water in a small pot, then add the noodles. While noodles are boiling, mix together the egg, garlic, mayonnaise, chili oil and green onion in a bowl. When noodles are cooked, add ¼ cup of the water to the mixture to cook the egg. Stir the mixture then immediately add the noodles in and enjoy. 

GETTING FANCY

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

1 pack of Top Ramen (discard seasoning packet)

3 cups water

½ of a shallot, dice 

3 cloves of garlic, minced 

1 ½ tablespoons green onion, chopped

1 tablespoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons of soy sauce

Start by boiling water in a small pot. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the shallot, garlic and green onion. Once the water is boiling, cook noodles for three minutes. Add the shallot, garlic and green onion into a small saucepan along with sesame oil over medium heat. After a minute, add soy sauce. By this time the noodles should be ready. Give the sauce a final stir then add in the noodles. Stir till combined. Plate and serve. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu