This article was co-authored by Thuong Tan and by wikiHow staff writer, Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD. Thuong Tan is a Noodle Expert and the Founder of Noodelist, a food startup producing plant-based instant noodles. Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from IFA Paris, Polimoda/Shanghai University. Noodelist’s mission is to produce premium plant-based moroheiya noodles that are nutrient-dense, texturally pleasing, and environmentally friendly.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
Buldak ramen is a quick, affordable, and delicious meal. Chewy noodles in a savory and spicy broth— what’s not to love? Everyone has their own preference when it comes to making Buldak ramen, from the traditional stir-fry way to the creamy and creative recipes trending on TikTok. Plus, we’ll offer insights from food experts on how to make your Buldak ramen even more delicious!
How do you make Buldak ramen?
Boil 2 cups (500 ml) of water on the stove. Add in the noodles and stir for 3-5 minutes until they soften. Drain most of the water, leaving 3-4 tablespoons (30 ml). Squeeze in the sauce and add the dried spices. Keep stirring to mix it all together and coat the noodles. Serve and garnish with your favorite toppings.
Steps
How to Make Classic Buldak Ramen
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Boil two cups (500 ml) of water on the stove. For a classic stir-fry noodle preparation, pour about 2 cups of water (500 ml) into a saucepan on the stove. Place it on a high heat and bring it to a boil. It should take 3-5 minutes.- If you want your dish to have some extra protein, you can actually add some in now! Noodle expert Thuong Tan says that you can “crack two eggs” into the boiling water for instant protein.[1]
Meet the wikiHow Experts
Jennifer Lease, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and trained chef who specializes in a plant-forward approach to applying nutrition information to cooking.
Thuong Tan is a noodle expert and the founder of Noodelist, a plant-based instant noodle brand.
Bekah Rife is a certified plant-based chef who specializes in diet consulting and recipe development.
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Add the ramen noodles to the boiling water. Stir your block of noodles into the pot of hot water. Keep stirring for 3-5 minutes or until the noodles begin to soften.Advertisement -
After 3-5 minutes, drain most of the water. Remember: you’re making a stir-fry type of ramen, not a soupy broth-based ramen. Pour out most of the water, leaving behind 3-4 tablespoons (30 ml). This will help create a sauce for your noodles. -
Add the sauce and flavor packets. Depending on the flavor of Buldak, it may come with a spicy sauce packet, a packet of dried vegetables, or a packet of dried seasonings. This is the time to sprinkle and squeeze in those flavors. Stir for about 1 minute until the sauce has thickened and the noodles are fully coated.[2]- How do you make Buldak ramen less spicy? To make Buldak ramen less spicy, use only half of the sauce packet. Adding milk, cream, or cheese can also help to lower the spice level.
- How do you make buldak ramen extra spicy? To make Buldak ramen extra spicy, use every drop of the sauce packet and add in your favorite hot sauce, like the gochujang or Buldak 2x Spicy Hot Sauce.
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Garnish as desired, and serve! Serve your Buldak ramen in a bowl and garnish with your preferred toppings, like eggs, green onions, or chili crunch. Tan recommends that you work with what you’ve already got: “Whatever [you] find leftover from your refrigerator, add it in as a protein booster.” This can include “grilled chicken,” “shrimp,” and “bean sprouts.”[3]
How to Make Stew-Style Buldak Ramen
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Boil two cups (500 ml) of water on the stove. For a soupy ramen, use the Hot Chicken Stew Type Ramen or any other flavor you’d like to eat with a broth. Like you would for any instant noodle, bring two cups of water (500 ml) to a boil on the stove.[4] -
Add the noodles and the sauce packet to the boiling water. Allow the ingredients to cook and mingle for about 3-5 minutes. The sauce flavors both the noodles and the broth, creating a delicious savory soup base. -
Pour the mixture into a bowl, garnish, and serve. The water-spice mixture has turned into your ramen broth, so make sure not to drain any of it for maximum flavor. Pour your noodles and broth into a bowl and enjoy! If desired, you can add some extra toppings or garnishes to your ramen before digging in.- Popular toppings include spam, dried seaweed, fried garlic, and kimchi.[5]
- Registered dietitian and trained chef Jennifer Lease, RD, CDN, suggests that you “add veggies to your ramen” for a “more balanced meal.” Veggies add “lots of nutrients” and fiber, which makes for a more “satisfying meal that keeps you feeling fuller for longer.”[6]
How to Make Creamy Buldak Ramen
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Gather your ramen, an egg yolk, and some milk and cheese. For this creamy and decadent Buldak recipe, you’ll need one Buldak Carbonara Ramen, or any flavor you’d like to make a velvety sauce out of. You’ll also need one egg yolk, ¼ cup (60 mL) of any cheese, and 3-4 tablespoons (44-60 mL) of milk or heavy cream.[7] -
Boil two cups (500 ml) of water and add the noodles. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions, or by boiling two cups of water (500 ml) in a saucepan. Stir the noodles for about 5 minutes until they soften. -
Drain out most of the water and add the sauce and noodles. Once the noodles are cooked, drain out most of the water, leaving behind about 3-4 tablespoons (44-60 ml). You’ll use the leftover liquid for your sauce. Dump the noodles back into the pot with the leftover liquid, and add the sauce packet. Stir for 1-2 minutes until everything combines. -
Stir in 3-4 tablespoons (44-60 ml) of milk or cream and one egg yolk. Stir the noodles, sauce, and cream or milk for another 1-2 minutes, mixing everything together. The temperature will cool down slightly, which is the perfect time for you to add in your egg yolk. Stir the yolk in slowly for about 2 minutes so it doesn’t cook. As you stir, the consistency of the sauce should become smooth and creamy.- If your diet is plant-based, you can skip the milk and egg! Certified plant-based chef Bekah Rife shares that you can “blend tofu to turn it into a liquid” and then add it to the broth to make it “richer and creamier.”[8]
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Sprinkle in the cheese. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) of the cheese of your choice and continue stirring. The sauce will thicken into a delicious, glossy pool, coating your noodles. American cheese, mozzarella cheese, and mixed cheeses like Colby Jack all melt nicely among noodles.[9]- To make this recipe even creamier, consider adding 1-2 tablespoons (15 ml to 30 ml) of Kewpie mayo or the same amount of butter.
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Garnish and serve. Add bacon for a smoky kick or stick to veggies for more texture and flavor. Tan says that some of her favorite add-ons are “shitake mushrooms” and “bok choy.”[10] Once you’re happy with your dish, you can start chowing down!
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ Thuong Tan. Noodle Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://sporked.com/article/every-flavor-of-buldak-noodles-ranked/
- ↑ Thuong Tan. Noodle Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://samyangamerica.com/buldak/stew-type
- ↑ https://san-j.com/blog/best-ramen-toppings/
- ↑ Jennifer Lease, RD, CDN. Registered Dietitian & Trained Chef. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://buldak.com/us/blog/5-ingredients-for-how-to-make-buldak-carbonara/
- ↑ Bekah Rife. Certified Plant-Based Chef. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://mikesmightygood.com/blogs/blog/you-need-to-know-about-cheesy-ramen
- ↑ Thuong Tan. Noodle Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://buldak.com/us/blog/buldak-ramen-microwave-experiment-transparent-noodles-challenge/
- ↑ Thuong Tan. Noodle Expert. Expert Interview
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