So many of my blog entries have been about trips and travels. I thought I'd mix things up a little by sharing one of my favorite things in this whole world: Shin ramyun.
Shin ramyun is so easy to cook - even the most domestically-challenged caveman could do it. All one has to do is boil a pot of water and plop in the contents of the package: one spice packet, another of dehydrated veggies, and of course, the noodles themselves. A common mistake is boil too much water, which dilutes the goodness of the spice mix. For every packet of noodles I recommend using about two and a half cups of water.
It's definitely not an every day kind of food. Shin ramyun is like a double cheeseburger: so blatantly terrible for you that it's not even worth trying to justify it as a proper meal with you know, actual nutrients and stuff. One packet contains 440 calories, 88% of one's daily recommended sodium intake, and 40% of the same for saturated fat. In fact, the recommended serving size is only half a packet...which, let's be real, nobody on God's green earth would be able to fill up on.
Aware of its possible shortening effect on my lifespan, I treat myself to Shin ramyun only once in a while. I like to eat mine with a fried egg and keep things cool with a tall glass of milk. Each time it is so, so good. I can't get enough of the flavor - a perfect blend of spicy and seafood goodness that warms the soul and leaves the tongue in a 'hurts-so-good' state of blissful torture. Then there are the noodles - thick and chewy, a perfect vessel for the rich flavors of the broth. For me, it's the ultra comfort-food, so much so that the twenty packets I brought from the US have long ran out and the ten I stuffed into my suitcase during a trip to London have also disappeared, as both the boy and our roommate in Istanbul have become hooked - hence why I used pictures from elsewhere on the internet instead of taking my own.
If you haven't had Shin ramyun, you're most definitely missing out. Run out and try it for yourself this holiday season. Don't be tempted by the convenience of the ones in a cup - go for the packet instead as the latter is much, much better.
Rumor (aka Amazon search suggest) has it that there exists such a thing as Shin ramyun Black, a variant that promises a richer broth and dehydrated beef in addition to the usual mixings, but that sadly lacks the spiciness of the regular ramyun. I haven't tried the black version yet; every time I venture out to buy a packet, I end up caving and reverting back to my spicy ways.
In conclusion: Shin ramyun is my god and I am its prophet.
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| Photo from asianfoodgrocer.com |
Ramyun (sometimes 'ramyeon') is the Korean spelling for the Japanese word 'ramen' - a word that usually inspires images of dehydrated peas floating in Cup Noodles and memories of being a broke-ass college student. But Shin ramyun belongs in a different league. For one, its broth game is on point. The salty, spicy concoction is addicting and ultra satisfying to slurp down. For another, Shin doesn't use any MSG, which makes it a bit better for you than its competitors. And finally, it carries a top-shelf price relative to other ramen. You can find it in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores for around $2 a pack, and once you've seen the light, you can buy it cheaper in bulk.
Shin ramyun is so easy to cook - even the most domestically-challenged caveman could do it. All one has to do is boil a pot of water and plop in the contents of the package: one spice packet, another of dehydrated veggies, and of course, the noodles themselves. A common mistake is boil too much water, which dilutes the goodness of the spice mix. For every packet of noodles I recommend using about two and a half cups of water.
 |
| Photo from Serious Eats |
It's definitely not an every day kind of food. Shin ramyun is like a double cheeseburger: so blatantly terrible for you that it's not even worth trying to justify it as a proper meal with you know, actual nutrients and stuff. One packet contains 440 calories, 88% of one's daily recommended sodium intake, and 40% of the same for saturated fat. In fact, the recommended serving size is only half a packet...which, let's be real, nobody on God's green earth would be able to fill up on.
Aware of its possible shortening effect on my lifespan, I treat myself to Shin ramyun only once in a while. I like to eat mine with a fried egg and keep things cool with a tall glass of milk. Each time it is so, so good. I can't get enough of the flavor - a perfect blend of spicy and seafood goodness that warms the soul and leaves the tongue in a 'hurts-so-good' state of blissful torture. Then there are the noodles - thick and chewy, a perfect vessel for the rich flavors of the broth. For me, it's the ultra comfort-food, so much so that the twenty packets I brought from the US have long ran out and the ten I stuffed into my suitcase during a trip to London have also disappeared, as both the boy and our roommate in Istanbul have become hooked - hence why I used pictures from elsewhere on the internet instead of taking my own.
If you haven't had Shin ramyun, you're most definitely missing out. Run out and try it for yourself this holiday season. Don't be tempted by the convenience of the ones in a cup - go for the packet instead as the latter is much, much better.
Rumor (aka Amazon search suggest) has it that there exists such a thing as Shin ramyun Black, a variant that promises a richer broth and dehydrated beef in addition to the usual mixings, but that sadly lacks the spiciness of the regular ramyun. I haven't tried the black version yet; every time I venture out to buy a packet, I end up caving and reverting back to my spicy ways.
In conclusion: Shin ramyun is my god and I am its prophet.
LOL this post is hilarious and should be added to Shin Ramyun's testimonials. One of the reasons I don't like to go out for ramen is because I compare everything to shin ramyun...and shin ramyun always wins. I can confirm that Shin Ramyun Black does exist but have not tried it either...I have no reason to stray from the original.
ReplyDeleteLet's open up a chain restaurant that just serves shin ramyun... we'll become billionaires.
DeleteOK, I finally tried it. You are right, it is fantastic! It is definitely spicy. Cleared my sinuses on the spot. Will have to have it again some cold winter day. (7 degrees today)
ReplyDeleteagree - the colder it is outside, the tastier it magically becomes!
Delete