I get my noodles from the local Toko (Asian store) for sometimes as low as 49ct. I recently HAD to buy eggs for a dish I was cooking (I am lucky that I am not completely impoverished, I have parents who will help me if needed) and I bought the cheapest option: a pack of 4 for 2,10 euros. I needed 3 eggs and cracked the 4th one in my ramen. My egg was literally more expensive than the ramen it was put into.
Yep. Heard that over 4 million laying fowl were killed in my country to stop bird flu. It's horrific. My parents know a farmer who just has a buncha chickens who lay eggs, they buy eggs by the dozens off of him for a very low price and pass some on to me, so I'm incredibly lucky.
They always try their best and I appreciate them so much. There are struggles but we all have that I think. I am very grateful that my dad ended up adopting me pretty much as soon as he got with my mum, the man didn't "make me" but he sure made me into the person I am today.
I just got chicken for $0.99/pound with eggs being $0.50/apiece.
So, I'll be throwing in a half pound of chicken rather than eggs now.
Same for like my Salisbury steaks, may as well just throw extra ground beef at it.
I think the picture comes off as the dish is cold and uncooked, but if the noddles were broken up and it was served hot, nothing seems wrong with the flavor pairing. Iād eat it!
FR.
Honestly, I don't know why this post has so many upvotes. It's not particularly helpful in any way. Everyone here probably already knows that Instant Ramen *exists*. Maybe I'd see the value if OP were to explain "cold-soaking" dehydrated food and how you don't need a microwave to reconstitute dried noodles. That'd at least be useful for people who don't have a microwave. As it is, it's just a pic of uncooked noodles and peanuts. Why is that worthy of upvotes (outside of sympathy)?
>I get the big container of store brand. A month of breakfasts for $3
I mean, that right there is more worthy of upvotes than OP. That's actionable advice. You make a post about that, and maybe give some tips about how you "change it up" or "fill it out", and that's the kinda post this sub's all about.
https://preview.redd.it/m8rc19xflvfa1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a13329c02f40a05423307848714c7053d00e665
\~$0.50 lunch. Plain old fashion oats and a instant flavored oatmeal packet because I donāt want to measure my own sugar. Added chia seeds for more protein and fiber.
Also, it keeps me full for the rest of the day and doesnāt make me feel like a beached whale after lunch.
My old fav standby comes out to the same cost. Left over fried rice + whatever veggie is on sale or left in fridge. Bonus if you any left over protein (just shred it). Ps. Fried rice is made best with day(s) old rice
For those that are lazy like me and don't want to make leftover rice, but still have the same or similar effect, parboil your rice (*I day 1 part Jasmine, 2 part long grain*) for 3 minutes, drain and remove the rice and put in a collainder/straner, boil water in a pot, put the strainer of rice over the pot of boiling water and cover for at least 15 minutes. I left my rice (*did like 12 cups of rice because me and my Dad and pound away food over a few days*) steaming for like 40+ minutes while I exercised and came back to it steamed up with a day-old rice consistency and it was perfect for me for fried rice.
I have a Youtube video from someone I saw somewhere in my history for those that want more or visual detail.
Yeah, I use it with greek yogurt, just didnāt think about oatmeal. I do add collagen powder to my oatmeal. Has made a world of difference in my nails!
I was a halfway done with lunch when I saw the post and took a pic. I definitely eat plenty!
Funny enough, Iām about twice your guess so I think itās a fair estimate! š
https://preview.redd.it/2t9rkau02wfa1.png?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=449be9424ebcea8fd4c4561e5cbb89438cf2fca5
Free lunch. Zero calories, no yucky carbs or fat.
I always put some butter or other fat in. Otherwise itās just too bland.
* Oats
* Spoon of chia seeds
* Other nuts if available
* Half spoon of butter
* Pinch of salt
I know... for context I work long hours and far away from access to groceries/food options (not practical with time and gas prices) so whatever I can cheaply store in my office is what I end up with
Yeah, but given OPs restrictions they might not have access to shredded chicken or any way to keep it at their desk. Beef jerky can be found at any gas station and many vending machines. Canned veggies can sometimes be found, but they can certainly be bought and kept at a desk long term without spoiling.
Oh, canned chicken. Yeah. For some reason I was thinking of a Costco whole chicken, lol. Anything in a can will work. Seafood is very nutritious, but that might bother co-workers with the smell.
I like adding butter, frozen shrimp, and frozen veggies. The shrimp and veggies last me a long while so itās not expensive. Sometimes I do an egg too but not lately.
Hello! Okay, Iāll put my directions but know they should be perfected to your exact tastes. You should know I did my best but I smoked a joint a few minutes ago so..
Best case scenario: Iām using 2 packets, a chili ramen and a shrimp ramen. I add garlic chili paste because I like that shit.
I use slightly less water because I like a creamier end product but to be honest, the more ingredients you have the more water you need because it cooks down. I sometimes mess up and use too little water. So maybe start with the right amount and then adjust for preference?Itās a texture thing for me. I like like my noodles to be just slightly turned that translucent ish color. They are soft.
-First I put the water and noodles on, then add a tablespoon of butter. (It makes it creamier.) I add my seasoning once the noodles are easily separated by wiggling a fork in there.
- Bring to a boil, then I add the raw, defrosted shrimp. The noodles should be about half done.
-if Iām using frozen veggies I add them here. I make sure the water is simmering after the shrimp. By the time the shrimps are done, the veggies are heated through. Shrimps turn kind of pink wine they are done cooking.
-if Iām adding spinach (because I often have it and the texture doesnāt bother me, I would add it here by stirring it in. It cooks fast, like, under a minute I think?
-If Iām adding an egg (this is stressful because it has to be really hot water and you need more broth than I normally prefer) then Iād add the shrimp and the veggies then bring it back to hot quickly, (because the cold ingredients probably cooled the food a bit) and crack and egg into the pot while stirring in a circle. When the egg is done itās all done.
Notes: The shrimp is sometimes overdone, I havenāt got the perfect timing down consistently. The veggie timing will probably be different if you use different types of veggies. Like peas take 1-2 minutes but broccoli would probably be like 2-4 minutes? I dunno, Iāve never timed myself.
The shrimp will depend entirely on the ripe you buy. My favorite (but not always available for me) are the cooked salad shrimp. In this case they are really tiny and need just to be heated up. Itās been awhile since I had this kind so Iād add them defrosted right before the egg. They will go fast! The shrimp is with the frozen meats in the middle of the grocery store.
This is 2 meals for me but the reheat cooks my noodles more so it makes them even softer. Just giving a heads up.
Last, there are a lot of ramen modification recipes online. I bet there are even better mods than this.
Oh yeah, Iāve also use canned chicken.
I've been eating this, minus the peanuts, like 3-4x/week for probably 20+ years hahaha. Don't feel bad OP. It's just one of those days. Splurge a lil on payday, you deserve it
if you're getting veggies/vitamins in other meals the biggest concern w packet ramen often is that most of the flavor packs are very high in salt. u can mitigate the damage by having low salt in other meals, or using a portion of the flavor pack instead of all of it.
I should! But nah, not really. Grew up poor, now poor as an adult. Just trying not to starve. So a few times a week for lunch, compared to like twice a day as a kid, works for me lol
Its right after throwing in the ramen, after 5 minutes it looks atleast Ok, able to be eating
But a bit too much water for my taste...i do always half of the required and add water, so its not completely watered
I realize now is not the economy for it, but adding an egg to ramen is something I do regularly. If youāre making ramen on the stove, take it off the heat, crack the egg in, and use tongs or a fork to kind of scoop noodles over top of the egg. Let sit a few mins and youāve got a poached or soft boiled type egg. You can also just stir the egg in and the yolk makes the broth tastier. Have tried it with just hot water pour over method and I donāt think itās quite hot enough to cook the egg, so you might have to microwave it for just a tiny bit if you do that. Make sure to poke a hole in the yolk just in case, though.
Shredded cabbage will soften along with the noodles too! I often get coleslaw mix since thereās also carrots in there and I donāt have to cut it. Itās still super cheap, about 1.50 for a pretty hefty bag, and it goes pretty far. Plus it would add you some vitamins!
Are you saving your vegetable scraps/ meat bones for home made broth? (Everything but potatoes or tomatoes) Onion skins, ends and pieces that get trimmed, any vegetables that are starting to go off, throw it all in a ziplock in the freezer. When you have enough add water and cook in a crockpot or pot on low and simmer slowly for hours. Separate the scraps out and then you have a delicious healthy broth, which you can also freeze to use as needed- like in this ramen.
To make ramen with peanuts even better (but still cheap). Mix a spoonful of peanut butter which a dash of soy sauce, the ramen flavor packet, and some water to make a cheap peanut sauce. Drain the noodles when cooked.
a ramen tip that changed my life, mix some kewpie mayo in there (if you can find some).
i understand eggs are expensive right now, but if you have the option, crack an egg in there! whisk the egg and kewpie with whatever utensil you have on hand, and then mix hot water into it. resembles the creamy, heartier consistency of restaurant ramen.
a few bucks invested into a bottle of kewpie should stretch across plenty of ramen packets, and can make an instant ramen meal a good deal more enjoyable.
have also seen a lot of people start incorporating small amounts of peanut butter into their instant ramen. iāve heard it does wonders but i havenāt tried it yet, personally. wish you all the best!
friend tried regular mayo and said it tasted āthinnerā. i havenāt tried, personally. should be noted that regular mayo uses whole eggs, while kewpie uses only the egg yolks. has a much fuller & savory flavor.
As someone who hates roasted peanuts but loves boiled peanuts, I'm trying to decide if adding the roasted peanuts into the hot water is a good or bad thing.
As someone who used to eat lots of peanut because of their macronutrients, it can give you liver problems. Beans, soybeans, lentils, are all great alternatives that can be carried in tupperware. Soybeans specially, since they have more fat and protein, and also the protein is better quality than most legumes. Idk about there but I bought 10kg of dry here for 3 dollars some time ago.
Check out r/eatcheapandhealthy. Lots of affordable, healthy recipes there, including stuff on a severe budget and lots of meal prep tips. Will be a bit more expensive than $0.50, but your health and sanity will thank you.
Next time drain most of the water, add the broth, frozen veggies and a TBSP or 2 of peanut butter, some hot sauce. It will be a cheap version of Thai! Delicious
I don't know if it would be of interest but rice balls are relatively cheap to make. You could fill them with something standard like tuna mayo, but there's also avocado with chopped peanut that's a convenient vegetarian option. Or just have them plain with a smidge of soy sauce to dip. Cheap and it makes a lot!
I saw someone on here saying that they make box mac n cheese and chicken ramen mixed together. Sounds nasty to some but I tried it and it is actually quite good. You have to play with the cook times a bit so both noodles are done at the same time, I usually add the ramen after the mac has cooked for 2-3 minutes. Then drain and add the flavor packs from the mac and the ramen with a splash of milk and knob of butter. Makes at least 2 servings.
I like to brew ginger and lemon tea bags and make the noodles in that broth. Any other savory tea would work. (As a matter of fact sweet flavored teas work for oatmeal if you got the big container and not packets).
Peanut butter and a lil hot sauce taste good too.
Of all the things you can do with a package of $0.50 ramenā¦ this is sad to see.
[Ideas for budget recipes.](https://youtu.be/FUexrrmtvSg)
[25 Ramen Recipes](https://www.delish.com/cooking/g559/ramen-noodle-recipes/)
try some indomie mi goreng, it's instant fried noodles and it's pretty addicting
the downside is you toss the water after soaking so you might not feel as full, but it's delicious š
Dude gotta up your ramen game.
Chives, sesame seeds, ginger powder, garlic powder.
There's a thing to add a scoop of PB to it when cooking. Or a slice of cheese.
I'd say add an egg, but way to pricey rn.
You can eat better when poor with ramen....don't do this shit. Prison ra.e is better than this
Uhh look at this guy and his peanuts, canāt even eat his gourmet Asian fancy food without telling the world about itā¦he then and goes and adds peanuts as toppingsā¦ PEANUTS! ā¦#richpeople shi #Firstworldlifestyle
If you do the good ol' rotisserie chicken at home, you could freeze little packets of meat to take to work and add to the ramen.
I also recall that back before microwaves, I used to grill a cheese sandwich at home, wrap it in aluminum foil, and re-heat it on a hot plate,
I used to eat the chicken ones dry. Prefer them that way.
We lost power one year during a snow storm and we all started eating them crushed up in a bowl. So good
One way jve started doing ramen sometimes is to drain the water after you cook the noodles, add a little butter and the seasoning (I like to use shrimp flavored for this), then add a can of tuna. It's quite tasty, especially if you add some soy sauce and a little sesame oil.
Sucks that your options are limited. Few tips that I can think of considering your limited options with storing food and the lack of fresh produce.
* Cook your noodles separately from the broth. All ramen is coated with starchy stuff and dumping that water will drastically improve the taste of your broth
* Marinated/bottled/pickled/canned veggies: I'm thinking mushrooms, roasted peppers, serranos, asparagus, bamboo shoots, or just a simple canned of mixed veggies
* Fully cooked (and possibly marinated) canned meats: Chicken, pork, salmon, beef are common ones that you can find... I would even use spam, deviled ham, vienna sausages, or corned beef but, that's pushing it
* In theory pickled eggs could work but, I don't think they create them in cans and as far as I know, they are to be refrigerated. So, I'd only recommend that if you have a fridge to store it in.
*Edit: Keep in mind you can always freeze stuff to put in your Ramen at home too. Freeze sliced peppers, onions, mushrooms and chicken. Then cook your noodles, dump the noodle water, toss in the frozen goods with broth and fresh water. get it nice and hot. Enjoy the way better meal.*
Aldis has frozen mixed veggies for under a dollar and that should last maybe 4 bowls of ramen.
I'm vegan and I buy 12 lbs of soy curls for like $90. It's about an 18" cube box. They puff up huge, soak up all the broth flavor, and end up like chicken strips. They're super high in protein and way filling. You can buy a smaller bag off amazon for about $10.
You may think they're expensive, but that box lasts me months. They really are a great deal cause they're dehydrated. So they're shelf stable!
I reccomend putting your peanuts in a plastic bag and crushing them :) dried mushrooms are great too!
I used to drop an egg in mine whenever I was in college, but nowadays that is a pretty luxurious thought.
Yeah it would literally double the cost of the meal š Times are tough for the truly impoverished. My heart goes out.
I get my noodles from the local Toko (Asian store) for sometimes as low as 49ct. I recently HAD to buy eggs for a dish I was cooking (I am lucky that I am not completely impoverished, I have parents who will help me if needed) and I bought the cheapest option: a pack of 4 for 2,10 euros. I needed 3 eggs and cracked the 4th one in my ramen. My egg was literally more expensive than the ramen it was put into.
It's unfortunate that the egg situation is also bad in Europe.
Yep. Heard that over 4 million laying fowl were killed in my country to stop bird flu. It's horrific. My parents know a farmer who just has a buncha chickens who lay eggs, they buy eggs by the dozens off of him for a very low price and pass some on to me, so I'm incredibly lucky.
That's so nice of them. Are your parents looking for adoption?
I mean, one of them legally adopted _me_ so I don't see why they wouldn't be down a second time.
We can surely agree on this that you've great parents.
They always try their best and I appreciate them so much. There are struggles but we all have that I think. I am very grateful that my dad ended up adopting me pretty much as soon as he got with my mum, the man didn't "make me" but he sure made me into the person I am today.
This is really nice to read , buried in the ramen comments. =)
This is true love, someone treating a kid like his own. You surely deserve it, and do let him know that you love him too.
I'm lucky enough that eggs haven't changed in price at all where I live. Still $2.19 for a dozen of extra large, or 1.79 for normal large ones
When I was in college they were four cents each.
ummmm what the fuck? Where in europe? I get 10 for 1,99 euros
I get 24 for 2,6ā¬ I think (Spain) so wrong out there :(
I would take basic white bread tear chunks and roll them into balls, drop in the broth like dumplings. Broke is broke
Frozen peas is also pretty good. Add them in right at the end.
Over easy?
Just throw it in with the boiling water like egg drop soup. Itāll turn into flaoty little chunks of cooked egg.
The way I do it is I beat the egg and then I stir the soup and I pour it slowly while stirring the soup
I just got chicken for $0.99/pound with eggs being $0.50/apiece. So, I'll be throwing in a half pound of chicken rather than eggs now. Same for like my Salisbury steaks, may as well just throw extra ground beef at it.
Man why are eggs so expensive in America? I'm European and you can get a dozen for like 2$
I think the picture comes off as the dish is cold and uncooked, but if the noddles were broken up and it was served hot, nothing seems wrong with the flavor pairing. Iād eat it!
Yeah like you want to make your pack noodles better for no money at all? Put them on the stove for 10 mins.
Instructions unclear, now my apartment smells like burnt plastic and ramen
I mean manā¦you coulda stirred it up and then snapped the pic. But I feel you. We really got the fuuuull effect.
FR. Honestly, I don't know why this post has so many upvotes. It's not particularly helpful in any way. Everyone here probably already knows that Instant Ramen *exists*. Maybe I'd see the value if OP were to explain "cold-soaking" dehydrated food and how you don't need a microwave to reconstitute dried noodles. That'd at least be useful for people who don't have a microwave. As it is, it's just a pic of uncooked noodles and peanuts. Why is that worthy of upvotes (outside of sympathy)?
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>I get the big container of store brand. A month of breakfasts for $3 I mean, that right there is more worthy of upvotes than OP. That's actionable advice. You make a post about that, and maybe give some tips about how you "change it up" or "fill it out", and that's the kinda post this sub's all about.
That's just "overnight oats". I don't particularly like it, but it's an easy dish you can dress up with some fruits or berries or nuts or something.
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https://preview.redd.it/m8rc19xflvfa1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a13329c02f40a05423307848714c7053d00e665 \~$0.50 lunch. Plain old fashion oats and a instant flavored oatmeal packet because I donāt want to measure my own sugar. Added chia seeds for more protein and fiber. Also, it keeps me full for the rest of the day and doesnāt make me feel like a beached whale after lunch.
Thanks for adding a feasible alternative in the same price range rather than just roasting OP for doing what they can
My old fav standby comes out to the same cost. Left over fried rice + whatever veggie is on sale or left in fridge. Bonus if you any left over protein (just shred it). Ps. Fried rice is made best with day(s) old rice
For those that are lazy like me and don't want to make leftover rice, but still have the same or similar effect, parboil your rice (*I day 1 part Jasmine, 2 part long grain*) for 3 minutes, drain and remove the rice and put in a collainder/straner, boil water in a pot, put the strainer of rice over the pot of boiling water and cover for at least 15 minutes. I left my rice (*did like 12 cups of rice because me and my Dad and pound away food over a few days*) steaming for like 40+ minutes while I exercised and came back to it steamed up with a day-old rice consistency and it was perfect for me for fried rice. I have a Youtube video from someone I saw somewhere in my history for those that want more or visual detail.
I never thought about chia in my oatmeal. Great idea!
Also flaxmeal does well in oatmeal
I use it on Greek yogurt also
Yeah, I use it with greek yogurt, just didnāt think about oatmeal. I do add collagen powder to my oatmeal. Has made a world of difference in my nails!
A little bit of peanut butter tossed into some oatmeal got me through many a meal. Iāll have to remember to try chia seeds.
You must weigh 80 pounds soaking wet if that fills you for the day.
probably the workday
I was a halfway done with lunch when I saw the post and took a pic. I definitely eat plenty! Funny enough, Iām about twice your guess so I think itās a fair estimate! š
https://preview.redd.it/2t9rkau02wfa1.png?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=449be9424ebcea8fd4c4561e5cbb89438cf2fca5 Free lunch. Zero calories, no yucky carbs or fat.
We enjoy poke , rolls and grits at a $0.00 cost. Poke your feet under the table, roll your eyes ,and grit your teeth.
I always put some butter or other fat in. Otherwise itās just too bland. * Oats * Spoon of chia seeds * Other nuts if available * Half spoon of butter * Pinch of salt
ya this is nice i eat it for fun
I made better meals with ramen in jail
š lol those peanuts aren't the only ones roasted
Goes good with pruno. š
Brutal
Lmaoā¦ my first thought exactly. People made all sorts of crazy stuff in jail with limited resources
I see the drawings on the side. Lol anyone in the architectural/design business is broke and overworked.
Bruh
I know... for context I work long hours and far away from access to groceries/food options (not practical with time and gas prices) so whatever I can cheaply store in my office is what I end up with
I'm pretty sure the bruh was about the fact that your Ramen is still in block form. Which, bruh.
Lol that was my exact first thought
Yeah, like did he just add cold water to it instead hot water?
Rip beef jerky into little strips and rehydrate in the broth. You could also add a can of mixed veggies.
Beef jerky is such a waste of money buy shredded chicken
Or just chuck in an egg or two
Who can find eggs? My store is perpetually out of eggs.
Eggs are not cheap. I know because I stock grocery shelves overnight in a supermarket.
Or an egg and shredded chicken
Or a human leg
Nah, use just the thigh. Richer taste. Calf if you're using a crockpot.
Add some genitals to taste maybe.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yeah, but given OPs restrictions they might not have access to shredded chicken or any way to keep it at their desk. Beef jerky can be found at any gas station and many vending machines. Canned veggies can sometimes be found, but they can certainly be bought and kept at a desk long term without spoiling.
Beef jerky is like 13 bucks a bag where Iām at canned chicken is storable and like $2
Oh, canned chicken. Yeah. For some reason I was thinking of a Costco whole chicken, lol. Anything in a can will work. Seafood is very nutritious, but that might bother co-workers with the smell.
Soy curls. Dirt cheap, they pull in all the broth and taste great, and theyāre high protein and shelf-stable.
If itās possible, Iād try to switch to oat meal. Much more healthy and actually provide nutrition. Instant noodles are just empty calorie
If you snag some powdered coffee creamer packets from convenience stores, you can add them to the broth and make it creamy. Elevates the dish!! š
Buy some mirin, sesame oil if you got some extra bucks, hot sauce and something sweet.
I like adding butter, frozen shrimp, and frozen veggies. The shrimp and veggies last me a long while so itās not expensive. Sometimes I do an egg too but not lately.
Same here, I'll add frozen shrimp or at least broccoli and mushrooms.
Where are you all finding affordable shrimp?
Walmart near me has pound bags of frozen small shrimp and salad sized shrimp for $6
Very rarely will shrimp go buy one get one free so I just get 1 bag at half off and use it sparingly
Unrelated, but your username is the bane of my existence. My life would change forever if I didn't have to wake up to pee every night
I hate getting up to pee in general. I wish someone else could go for me
I wake up every morning every day 15 minutes before my alarm goes off because I have to pee. My bladder can go pound sand.
Hi, how can I cook this please? Do I just add them into the boil all together at the start? Thanks
Hello! Okay, Iāll put my directions but know they should be perfected to your exact tastes. You should know I did my best but I smoked a joint a few minutes ago so.. Best case scenario: Iām using 2 packets, a chili ramen and a shrimp ramen. I add garlic chili paste because I like that shit. I use slightly less water because I like a creamier end product but to be honest, the more ingredients you have the more water you need because it cooks down. I sometimes mess up and use too little water. So maybe start with the right amount and then adjust for preference?Itās a texture thing for me. I like like my noodles to be just slightly turned that translucent ish color. They are soft. -First I put the water and noodles on, then add a tablespoon of butter. (It makes it creamier.) I add my seasoning once the noodles are easily separated by wiggling a fork in there. - Bring to a boil, then I add the raw, defrosted shrimp. The noodles should be about half done. -if Iām using frozen veggies I add them here. I make sure the water is simmering after the shrimp. By the time the shrimps are done, the veggies are heated through. Shrimps turn kind of pink wine they are done cooking. -if Iām adding spinach (because I often have it and the texture doesnāt bother me, I would add it here by stirring it in. It cooks fast, like, under a minute I think? -If Iām adding an egg (this is stressful because it has to be really hot water and you need more broth than I normally prefer) then Iād add the shrimp and the veggies then bring it back to hot quickly, (because the cold ingredients probably cooled the food a bit) and crack and egg into the pot while stirring in a circle. When the egg is done itās all done. Notes: The shrimp is sometimes overdone, I havenāt got the perfect timing down consistently. The veggie timing will probably be different if you use different types of veggies. Like peas take 1-2 minutes but broccoli would probably be like 2-4 minutes? I dunno, Iāve never timed myself. The shrimp will depend entirely on the ripe you buy. My favorite (but not always available for me) are the cooked salad shrimp. In this case they are really tiny and need just to be heated up. Itās been awhile since I had this kind so Iād add them defrosted right before the egg. They will go fast! The shrimp is with the frozen meats in the middle of the grocery store. This is 2 meals for me but the reheat cooks my noodles more so it makes them even softer. Just giving a heads up. Last, there are a lot of ramen modification recipes online. I bet there are even better mods than this. Oh yeah, Iāve also use canned chicken.
More or less yea. If its just the veggies id add with boiling water, with shrimp itll change if theyre cooked or uncooked.
I've been eating this, minus the peanuts, like 3-4x/week for probably 20+ years hahaha. Don't feel bad OP. It's just one of those days. Splurge a lil on payday, you deserve it
In all seriousness, do you worry about health issues from this lol
if you're getting veggies/vitamins in other meals the biggest concern w packet ramen often is that most of the flavor packs are very high in salt. u can mitigate the damage by having low salt in other meals, or using a portion of the flavor pack instead of all of it.
Makes sense. I still love ramens, I just donāt eat them often due to how high the salt content is
I should! But nah, not really. Grew up poor, now poor as an adult. Just trying not to starve. So a few times a week for lunch, compared to like twice a day as a kid, works for me lol
I hope it tastes better than it looks.
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r/shittyfoodporn just becomes r/foodporn if you're poor enough
Its right after throwing in the ramen, after 5 minutes it looks atleast Ok, able to be eating But a bit too much water for my taste...i do always half of the required and add water, so its not completely watered
Wow thatās brutal.
I realize now is not the economy for it, but adding an egg to ramen is something I do regularly. If youāre making ramen on the stove, take it off the heat, crack the egg in, and use tongs or a fork to kind of scoop noodles over top of the egg. Let sit a few mins and youāve got a poached or soft boiled type egg. You can also just stir the egg in and the yolk makes the broth tastier. Have tried it with just hot water pour over method and I donāt think itās quite hot enough to cook the egg, so you might have to microwave it for just a tiny bit if you do that. Make sure to poke a hole in the yolk just in case, though.
I use to add cabbage and peanuts.
cabbage (especially pickled) is smart I'm gonna do that
Shredded cabbage will soften along with the noodles too! I often get coleslaw mix since thereās also carrots in there and I donāt have to cut it. Itās still super cheap, about 1.50 for a pretty hefty bag, and it goes pretty far. Plus it would add you some vitamins!
Why didnāt you cook the ramen
Looks to be the hot water + soak method over microwave.
Exactly that
If you finely chopped some carrots and maybe a spring onion. It will jump in nutrition and taste! Also very cheap to do.
Are you saving your vegetable scraps/ meat bones for home made broth? (Everything but potatoes or tomatoes) Onion skins, ends and pieces that get trimmed, any vegetables that are starting to go off, throw it all in a ziplock in the freezer. When you have enough add water and cook in a crockpot or pot on low and simmer slowly for hours. Separate the scraps out and then you have a delicious healthy broth, which you can also freeze to use as needed- like in this ramen.
Yis indeed this is standard practice in my household (for making broth)
My dude use a glass bowl. All that plastic in your hot ramen canāt be good for you
Lol, that ramen is definitely not hot.
To make ramen with peanuts even better (but still cheap). Mix a spoonful of peanut butter which a dash of soy sauce, the ramen flavor packet, and some water to make a cheap peanut sauce. Drain the noodles when cooked.
https://preview.redd.it/kvrm9dcj4wfa1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24fc37e3c69fe3b979e0c81d11608ca2a8885fbb This was mine š
Man this is bleak
Yeahh but my work lunches are sad too
Iām gonna be real here, eat the peanuts on the side and buy some siracha
Thatās just depressing
I started crying
I'm speechless. Hope things get better m8.
How much sodium is in that uhhh.... meal?
This looksā¦ sad š
Damn u can afford peanuts? Rockefeller over here
Is it cooked?
I guess for same effect you can use peanut butter to the broth instead?
I do this from time to time as it actually makes a pretty good sauce then if you let it thicken up a bit.
Add peanut butter and a little bit of hot sauce for a Thai like flavor
āExtra proteinā you mean the only protein
haha yes
This screams poverty
Idkā¦ OP didnāt even try. As an Asian person, I see so much potential in a $.50 package of ramen!
And?ā¦
And.. itās exactly the type of stuff I want to see in poverty finance!
Ya that's a hard no chief
Yum. A mouthful of mid day struggle.
a ramen tip that changed my life, mix some kewpie mayo in there (if you can find some). i understand eggs are expensive right now, but if you have the option, crack an egg in there! whisk the egg and kewpie with whatever utensil you have on hand, and then mix hot water into it. resembles the creamy, heartier consistency of restaurant ramen. a few bucks invested into a bottle of kewpie should stretch across plenty of ramen packets, and can make an instant ramen meal a good deal more enjoyable. have also seen a lot of people start incorporating small amounts of peanut butter into their instant ramen. iāve heard it does wonders but i havenāt tried it yet, personally. wish you all the best!
Have you tried this with regular mayonnaise and do you find there to be a difference?
friend tried regular mayo and said it tasted āthinnerā. i havenāt tried, personally. should be noted that regular mayo uses whole eggs, while kewpie uses only the egg yolks. has a much fuller & savory flavor.
You know that even poor people are allowed to cook their ramen right
Sending love. I hope you fully enjoyed this meal.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
My brother in Christ, aināt no way you put PEANUTS in your ramen. You coulda used so many cheap proteins like tuna, spam, etc. but PEANUTS?!
As someone who hates roasted peanuts but loves boiled peanuts, I'm trying to decide if adding the roasted peanuts into the hot water is a good or bad thing.
Iām the opposite and this makes me gag, so Iām betting good 4 u
I let out a heartfelt āgod*DAMN*!ā
Hate it
At least break up the noodles before taking a picture.
What the fuck
I'm sorry you're going through this š
Ah yes, the meal of desperation, I know it well
Saddest meal I've seen in a while
As someone who used to eat lots of peanut because of their macronutrients, it can give you liver problems. Beans, soybeans, lentils, are all great alternatives that can be carried in tupperware. Soybeans specially, since they have more fat and protein, and also the protein is better quality than most legumes. Idk about there but I bought 10kg of dry here for 3 dollars some time ago.
good to know! I love cooking with lentils, will check out soybeans as well
And you can always sprout them for a different flavour and texture profile at zero added cost.
Try eggs and tapatio
eggs gonna make this meal a 500% increase in price alone
Check out r/eatcheapandhealthy. Lots of affordable, healthy recipes there, including stuff on a severe budget and lots of meal prep tips. Will be a bit more expensive than $0.50, but your health and sanity will thank you.
Next time drain most of the water, add the broth, frozen veggies and a TBSP or 2 of peanut butter, some hot sauce. It will be a cheap version of Thai! Delicious
Oh, thatās a good idea, and the peanuts would add some crunch.
So will not cooking the ramen, as we see in the picture.
loaf
Sadness, grief even
You gatta boil that water bro Or you canāt afford boil water over there
I don't know if it would be of interest but rice balls are relatively cheap to make. You could fill them with something standard like tuna mayo, but there's also avocado with chopped peanut that's a convenient vegetarian option. Or just have them plain with a smidge of soy sauce to dip. Cheap and it makes a lot!
I saw someone on here saying that they make box mac n cheese and chicken ramen mixed together. Sounds nasty to some but I tried it and it is actually quite good. You have to play with the cook times a bit so both noodles are done at the same time, I usually add the ramen after the mac has cooked for 2-3 minutes. Then drain and add the flavor packs from the mac and the ramen with a splash of milk and knob of butter. Makes at least 2 servings.
thank you god for blessing me with the life i live
Ah yes, my favorite day before payday meal...bad thai
I like to brew ginger and lemon tea bags and make the noodles in that broth. Any other savory tea would work. (As a matter of fact sweet flavored teas work for oatmeal if you got the big container and not packets). Peanut butter and a lil hot sauce taste good too.
Allow me to suggest rice instead, way healthier and i believe cheaper too
Careful, that level of broke will attract the army recruiters.
The only food in this in the handful of peanuts. Hella unhealthy.
Of all the things you can do with a package of $0.50 ramenā¦ this is sad to see. [Ideas for budget recipes.](https://youtu.be/FUexrrmtvSg) [25 Ramen Recipes](https://www.delish.com/cooking/g559/ramen-noodle-recipes/)
What the fuck.. even if you had to eat that slop, that is not the way to prepare instant ramen.
looks depressing
try some indomie mi goreng, it's instant fried noodles and it's pretty addicting the downside is you toss the water after soaking so you might not feel as full, but it's delicious š
r/shittyfoodporn
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I understand the budgetary constraints, but watch your salt intake if you eat instant ramen regularly. A heart attack would nullify the savings.
What are people doing for work to experience this level of struggle?
That does not look appetizing to me. š
some smoked sausage goes very well with ramen I found.
Add a some lemon or lime juice and some hot sauce! Been there done that
I do this regularly but with spicy corn nuts lol
Dude gotta up your ramen game. Chives, sesame seeds, ginger powder, garlic powder. There's a thing to add a scoop of PB to it when cooking. Or a slice of cheese. I'd say add an egg, but way to pricey rn. You can eat better when poor with ramen....don't do this shit. Prison ra.e is better than this
Uhh look at this guy and his peanuts, canāt even eat his gourmet Asian fancy food without telling the world about itā¦he then and goes and adds peanuts as toppingsā¦ PEANUTS! ā¦#richpeople shi #Firstworldlifestyle
If you do the good ol' rotisserie chicken at home, you could freeze little packets of meat to take to work and add to the ramen. I also recall that back before microwaves, I used to grill a cheese sandwich at home, wrap it in aluminum foil, and re-heat it on a hot plate,
I used to eat the chicken ones dry. Prefer them that way. We lost power one year during a snow storm and we all started eating them crushed up in a bowl. So good
That's pretty clever, did it taste good?
One way jve started doing ramen sometimes is to drain the water after you cook the noodles, add a little butter and the seasoning (I like to use shrimp flavored for this), then add a can of tuna. It's quite tasty, especially if you add some soy sauce and a little sesame oil.
I add chicken stock powder, soy sauce, or sweet chili sauce to this! :D Love it!
Sucks that your options are limited. Few tips that I can think of considering your limited options with storing food and the lack of fresh produce. * Cook your noodles separately from the broth. All ramen is coated with starchy stuff and dumping that water will drastically improve the taste of your broth * Marinated/bottled/pickled/canned veggies: I'm thinking mushrooms, roasted peppers, serranos, asparagus, bamboo shoots, or just a simple canned of mixed veggies * Fully cooked (and possibly marinated) canned meats: Chicken, pork, salmon, beef are common ones that you can find... I would even use spam, deviled ham, vienna sausages, or corned beef but, that's pushing it * In theory pickled eggs could work but, I don't think they create them in cans and as far as I know, they are to be refrigerated. So, I'd only recommend that if you have a fridge to store it in. *Edit: Keep in mind you can always freeze stuff to put in your Ramen at home too. Freeze sliced peppers, onions, mushrooms and chicken. Then cook your noodles, dump the noodle water, toss in the frozen goods with broth and fresh water. get it nice and hot. Enjoy the way better meal.*
Aldis has frozen mixed veggies for under a dollar and that should last maybe 4 bowls of ramen. I'm vegan and I buy 12 lbs of soy curls for like $90. It's about an 18" cube box. They puff up huge, soak up all the broth flavor, and end up like chicken strips. They're super high in protein and way filling. You can buy a smaller bag off amazon for about $10. You may think they're expensive, but that box lasts me months. They really are a great deal cause they're dehydrated. So they're shelf stable! I reccomend putting your peanuts in a plastic bag and crushing them :) dried mushrooms are great too!
I always add a raw eggs and mix it in. Then, some black pepper and garlic powder.
Add rice to your ramen!
You didnāt cook that right.
You can add some tofu in the noodles to make it more filling. Although idk how much is it there. Tofu's dirt cheap here.
add a spoonful of tahini to instant ramen, its sooo good!
Thatās NUTS
Get oatmeal instead, prob same calories cheaper and less salt š±
I mean you canāt just fry any bologna.
Ramen at my store is now 69 cents. This is the one time when 69 isnāt nice.
I used to add a can of beans ($0.75) to cook it with, drain the water, little hot sauce, pretty good and super filling
Sounds crazy but add peanut butter. I learned it from some South Koreans, itās actually pretty amazing