Reinventing the Two-Minute Noodle

Gone are the days when two-minute noodles make your parents fear that you’ll get scurvy.

These simple, cheap and absolutely delicious two-minute noodle recipes are great for cooking on a budget, or for something quick and easy to grab on the run before, or after class.

Have a Chinese Take- Out Cravings? Sesame Noodles it is.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet noodles- vegetable flavour
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• garlic
• 3 tsp white sugar
• 2 Tbs vinegar
• Sesame seeds (or sesame oil)
• Chilli powder

Method:

• Cook the noodles whatever way you like and set aside.
• Mix together the remainder of the ingredients and pour over warm noodles.
• Add chopped onion, spring onion and carrots for a delicious Asian-style noodle bowl.

Noodles for breakfast? Let’s make pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet two-minute noodles – any flavour
• 2 eggs
• ½ Tsp flour
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tin corn kernels
• Optional extras: bacon, parsley, chives.

Method:

• Allow noodles to stand in boiled water for 5 minutes. Then drain water.
• Stir in the beaten eggs, flour, corn kernels, chives, parsley, flavour sachet and milk. Season to taste.
• Heat a pan, brush with oil, and drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and cook until golden, turn over and cook until set.

 Need a party trick? noodle cupcakes are always a winner.

Ingredients:

• 2 packets of chicken two-minute noodles.
• 3 cups grated vegetables (zucchini, mushroom, corn, spring onion, or carrot)
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chopped ham or bacon
• 1 cup cheese

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 ˚C /160˚C fan-forced.
• Lightly coat a tray of 12 hole muffin pan with olive oil.
• Cook noodles as directed on packet discarding the chicken sachet.
• Drain and rinse under cold water. Place in a bowl.
• Add the chicken stock powder, Dijon mustard, grated vegetables, egg, light sour cream and bacon. Mix to combine.
• Spoon equal portions in muffin pans and top with cheese.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set.

Feeling healthy? Time to make a noodle salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet two minute noodles – vegetable flavour.
• Thinly sliced cabbage
• ½ cup slivered almonds
• ½ cup sunflower seeds
• 3 chopped sping onions

Dressing:

• flavour sachet from noodles with ½ cup water
• ¼ cup oil
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 Tbs vinegar
• 1 Tbs soy sauce

Method:

• Break up the noodles and toast in the oven together with the almonds and seeds, keep an eye on them, and give them a stir so they brown evenly.
• Mix dressing ingredients together.
• Once the noodles, almonds and seeds are cool add to the cabbage and spring onions.
• Pour over the dressing just before serving.

Craving something spicy? Thai noodles make a great dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet two-minute noodles – chicken flavour
• 2 Tbps peanut butter (chunky or smooth, it’s your choice)
• 1 tsp tabasco sauce.
• 2- 3 shakes of soy sauce.
• Chopped peanuts
• Chopped green onion/ spring onion.

Method:

• Prepare ramen as directed on package. Drain all but about ¼ c. of the liquid from the noodles. Add peanut butter, tobasco sauce, and soy sauce. Stir together until well combined. Top with peanuts and/or green onion.
• Boom.
• You’re done.