Who doesn’t love a comforting bowl of Japanese ramen? And with the Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste, you can whip up a delicious umami-rich broth in a matter of minutes.
Stir the paste into hot water and you’ll have a light but flavourful broth in a flash. Then all you’ll need to do is add your noodles, your choice of protein and some veggies – oh, and a garnish of chopped nori or sesame seeds, if you’re feeling particularly fancy. Read on to discover some of the other ways you could make dinnertime magic with this superstar paste...
Weekday
One-tray baked spicy rice
EASY
If you’re after a delicious dinner in a hurry, this is it! Adding the Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste to the rice gives it an extra hit of flavour, while the fresh spring onions and zesty limes perfectly balance the spice.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
2 peppers, finely diced (we used red and yellow)
6 spring onions, finely chopped, plus extra to serve
3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
400g Essential Waitrose Mixed Bean Salad, drained and rinsed
250g white basmati rice
4 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 red chilli, finely chopped
Method
1. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Add the olive oil to a small, lidded casserole dish (alternatively, use a roasting tin covered with foil) over a medium heat. Once hot, add the peppers and fry for 4 mins until starting to soften. Tip in the spring onions and garlic and cook for 30 secs until the aromas are released. Pour in the mixed beans and basmati rice and stir to coat.
2. Add the Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste to 500ml boiling water and pour into the casserole dish along with the soy sauce. Bring to the boil and cover with the lid. Heat in the oven for 20 mins until the rice is soft and cooked through and all the water has been absorbed.
3. To serve, divide between plates and top with the spring onions, sesame seeds, lime wedges and chilli.
Special Occasion
Chicken & spring onion couscous
EASY
If you’re after a delicious dinner in a hurry, this is it! The addition of the Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste gives this delicious dish an umami kick in minutes – your guests will think you've spent hours on it!
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 courgettes, finely sliced
1 red onion, halved and finely sliced
380g Essential Waitrose Chicken Breast Fillets, cut into 3cm chunks
3 tbsp soy sauce
200g Essential Waitrose Couscous
4 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen paste
1 large bunch spring onions, finely sliced, plus extra to serve
pinch chilli flakes, to serve
Method
1. Put 1 tbsp olive oil into a large, shallow casserole dish or frying pan (just make sure it has a lid) over a medium heat. Add the courgettes and onions and cook for 8-10 mins until softened and most of the water released has evaporated. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same pan, add 1 tbsp oil and the chicken breasts. Fry for 10 mins until golden and cooked through, then tip in the onions and courgettes, soy sauce, couscous, Cooks’ Ingredients Easy Ramen Paste and 250ml boiling water. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper and stir to combine.
3. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with the lid and leave to sit for 5 mins until the couscous has absorbed all the liquid. Fluff up the couscous with a fork, and stir through the spring onions. Divide between bowls and serve with extra spring onions, sesame seeds and chilli flakes.