Kitchen Tip for households that love making Asian-inspired meals on a budget and in a hurry:
Do you love Asian-inspired dinners, but hate buying expensive specialty noodles and multiple sauces and spices? Or, do you simply don’t have the time to make a complicated recipe? Don’t fret! Use Ramen Noodle packs as the basis for soup, stirfry, and satay noodle dinners! I cook the noodles with less of the sodium-rich seasoning, or I simply drain the broth off but keep the noodles! (If you really hate the idea of using any of the spice pack, you could also use the noodles and discard the seasoning pack.) Tonite I made an absolutely delicious Peanut Satay Stirfry using only 4 ingredients: Ramen, soy sauce, peanut butter, and frozen vegetables!
I know, I know….I’ve been eating better-ish (with less processed food), so why go for Ramen right now? Well, sometimes a girl has got to eat Ramen during those low fund times. I am poor! I don’t get paid for a few days, and Ron and I are in a pinch. I also happen to have meetings with professors every day for the next few days, and I defend my Dissertation Prospectus on Wednesday. When the going gets tough, this Pinup eats ramen, tofu, and vegetables!
Off Fanpop.com, “Out of Money”
However, I have to say…..this Vegetarian Satay is a favorite for us right now, and it’s not just because it’s cheap. It’s actually really tasty and filling, especially if you add a ton of vegetables and tofu! Ron and I now consider Ramen packs as a favorite staple for our kitchen. Enjoy!
The Poor Pinup’s Vegetarian Satay
Ingredients:
2 vegetable Ramen packs
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp peanut butter
frozen vegetables
optional: red chili flakes, tofu, chicken, bean sprouts, kale
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, cook two packs of Ramen according to the package instructions and add your desired amount of frozen vegetables into the broth. When the Ramen and vegetables are done, drain the broth from the pan. Add 1 tbsp peanut butter, two tbsp soy sauce, and red chili flakes to the noodles and vegetables. (We used a peanut butter that had a bit of sweetener in it, which means you may find you want to add a little sugar to sweeten your satay!) Mix together and cook for two minutes more. Then serve!
Looks like it works really well
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks for stopping in! Yes, it does work well! We already used up 5 packs in a month! So versatile.
I use the noodles from ramen all the time for stir fry or satay
I never use the season packets, though. They work really well in that capacity. I have to drive alllll the way to the other side of the nearest town to buy any decent ethnic food staples in any store, and you can forget about take-out around here, so I’ve learned to either make it myself or substitute. I can buy rice noodles or lo mein, but ramen really works just as well.
And props to you for getting creative and stretching the food budget! You gotta do what you gotta do!
Oh, yes, I can totally commiserate! We have to drive 20 minutes just to get to a good Asian market! These work so well in a pinch,…and such a cheap substitute! Love it.
Totally agree with Heather! Kudos for creativity in the kitchen!
You just reminded me of everything I ate in college….
Right??? Ha, although, for me…..all I can remember are the post party, late night Mexican food runs. 1 am burritos are so satisfying!!! I also remember one late night during college walking into the local domino’s and heading straight to the back and making a pizza for myself. The workers there were so amused they allowed me to do it!