Dorm Room Ramen: Reloaded

After moving away from home and into a dorm, I seriously started to miss my kitchen. I’m a passionate home cook, so I was heartbroken when I came to the realization that I no longer had 24/7 access to all the pots, pans, utensils, and ingredients that I had at home. Plus, being a student on a tight budget is like having a one-way ticket to the Land of Bland and Boring Food. It's hard to make quick meals with lots of flavor and little money. To help me cope, I called my mom and complained excessively about how I couldn't make dinner on a whim or fit all the food I wanted into my mini-fridge. The next time I went home to visit, she handed me a solution: my very own (homemade!) mini spice set, complete with 28 different spices. A survival kit for the deprived chef, if you will. Naturally, my first course of action was to upgrade plain ol' college-student ramen and make it my own!

I know they say not to mess with a classic, but despite the cheapness and ease of conventional instant ramen, eating it night after night gets pretty blah after a while. And if you're a vegetarian like me, you probably know that there's only one variety that isn't meat-based (and it's pretty tough to find). Enter this dressed-up ramen recipe, with all the noodle love but none of the monotony or the chicken! I invented this spicy curry-flavored version in the name of variety and vegetarianism, and it has since become my signature dorm room creation. Over the course of my first semester, I have grown to love my recipe dearly—and so have my hall mates! If you're a ramen addict in search of something different (and you happen to have lots of spices on hand), this is the recipe for you!

Dorm Room Ramen: Reloaded

• Prep Time:5 mins
• Cook Time:5 mins
• Total Time:10 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 package instant ramen any variety
• 2 cups water
• 1 TBS Madras curry powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
• 1/4 tsp yellow mustard seeds
• 1/8 tsp celery seeds
• 1/8 tsp chili powder to taste

• Step 1

  In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Once the water boils, reduce the heat to medium-high.

  

• Step 2

  (Optional step): For extra flavor, you can toast the spices in a small frying pan on medium-low heat. Toast for 2-4 minutes or until you can smell the aroma. Be sure to move the spices around to prevent burning!

  

• Step 3

  Add the spices to the water to make the broth for the noodles. Stir to combine.

  

• Step 4

  Open the package of ramen. Be sure to remove and discard the included seasoning packet. Add the dry ramen noodles to the broth and stir.

  

• Step 5

  Allow 10 minutes for the noodles to cook, stirring and separating noodles occasionally.

  

• Step 6

  Remove from heat, pour into a bowl and enjoy hot.

  

Tip:

Occasionally, I like to add frozen mixed vegetables and/or silken tofu for a little more nutrition.

For more easy dorm room recipes, check out this article: 

https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/recipes-you-can-make-in-your-dorm-room