This soup is a life-saver when you’re sick, but we enjoy it even in the best of health. It’s a super quick lunch or dinner that will keep you out of the drive-thru!
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Reasons to Avoid Store-Bought Ramen
Ramen noodles are a popular staple in many people’s pantries. This is because ramen is exceptionally inexpensive and also because it’s so easy to make. Your wallet may not suffer from this purchase, but your body will. Here are just a few reasons you should avoid store-bought ramen.
Excess Sodium
One popular brand of ramen noodles contains 830 mg of sodium per serving. (1) There are technically two servings of ramen in each brick, but most people eat an entire package. This means one meal can cost you 70% of your recommended daily sodium intake!
Your body needs a certain amount of salt to thrive, but it needs the right kind. Traditional salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of most nutritional benefits. When you make your own ramen noodle soup, you’re free to use the best quality salt.
Gluten-Filled Noodles
Store-bought ramen contains noodles made with wheat. These noodles often include genetically modified soy and corn. This may work for some people, but it can be detrimental for gluten sensitivities.
Our ramen noodle soup recipe uses brown rice noodles. These noodles are gluten-free and allergy-friendly. They’re also easy on your blood sugar and have a wonderful texture. Traditional ramen tends to get soggy, but brown rice noodles have an incredible “bite” to them.
Minimal Nutritional Value
Store-bought ramen has limited nutritional value. If you’re lucky, you may find a tiny bit of dehydrated vegetables or fake meat, but nothing that will fuel your body correctly. Our ramen recipe contains nourishing veggie broth that includes healing ingredients like honey and turmeric.
We also add as many organic vegetables as possible, including greens! Whether you’re under the weather or feeling on top of the world, your body will thank you for feeding it such fantastic ingredients!
Healthy Soup Ingredients 101
This simple recipe uses a combination of savory ingredients to create a nutritional powerhouse. The best part? All of these ingredients are easy to find! Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
Vegetable Broth: Vegetable broth gives this soup a deep flavor with many added nutrients! I like to use my homemade veggie broth, but you can use any large box of organic broth you can find. You can even use bone broth for extra protein if you’re not vegan.
I usually use Pacific Foods vegetable broth because it’s the closest thing to homemade and doesn’t contain unhealthy oils.
Organic Brown Rice and Millet Ramen: With consumers learning more about their bodies, high-quality products are in demand! Thankfully, there is a healthy alternative for just about everything. I love using ramen noodles that are a mix of organic brown rice and millet.
Health food stores often have a wonderful selection of ramen noodles at a great price. I like Lotus Food brand ramen because it’s high-quality and tasty! Plus, you can purchase smaller packs to make individual servings.
Liquid Aminos or Gluten-Free Tamari Sauce: Soy sauce isn’t an optimal ingredient, so we found a couple of fantastic substitutes. Liquid aminos or gluten-free tamari sauce give your ramen noodle soup a wonderful Asian-inspired flavor without the gross stuff.
We use these ingredients interchangeably and have found great success with both!
Organic Toasted Sesame Oil: Sesame oil is the secret sauce to amazing ramen soup. It adds a light, nutty flavor that you can’t beat! This little-used oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and is terrific for your heart. Studies show it may even prevent cardiovascular disease! (2)
Organic Mixed Vegetables: This is the fun part and where you can let your creativity (and resourcefulness) shine! We usually customize our soup to fit whatever our body is craving that day.
We find this recipe is a great way to use up leftovers or garden produce! Green beans, snow peas, carrots, broccoli, squash, cauliflower, onions, garlic, and even peppers are great ramen ingredients. Frozen vegetables are a good substitute if you don’t have fresh ones.
Sea Salt: Traditional table salt is stripped of most nutritional benefits, so we prefer using sea salt. Colima sea salt is hand-harvested, which leaves the good stuff intact! Plus, it tastes great and adds a gourmet flair to any recipe. You can also use pink Himalayan salt.
Make Ramen Noodle Soup
Life gets busy, and there are times when you completely forget to make dinner preparations. Ramen noodle soup to the rescue! You’ll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less.
- 4 cups organic vegetable broth or homemade vegetable broth
- 2 cakes organic millet and brown rice ramen noodles
- 8 teaspoons Bragg liquid aminos or 4 teaspoons gluten-free tamari sauce
- 2 teaspoons organic toasted sesame oil
- 2 cups organic mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen)
- 2 large handfuls of organic spinach or kale (fresh or frozen) (optional)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon organic ground cayenne pepper*
- Supplies:
- Large pan or wok
- Add the vegetable broth and ramen noodles to a large pan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a quick boil.
- Immediately lower the heat, add the liquid aminos, sesame oil, mixed vegetables, spinach, sea salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper. If using frozen vegetables, add those last so they don’t become overcooked.
- Cover and let cook for 5-10 minutes, or until ramen cakes are thoroughly cooked.
Step One: Bring Broth to a Boil
Add the vegetable broth and ramen cakes to a large pan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a quick boil.
Step Two: Let the Soup Simmer
Turn the heat to low. Add the liquid aminos, sesame oil, mixed vegetables, spinach, sea salt, white pepper, and cayenne. Cover and let cook for 5-10 minutes, or until the ramen cakes are cooked clear through. Enjoy!
Want to learn exactly what we do to keep our home toxic-free and safe for our family? Check out Dr. Z and Mama Z’s Toxic-Free Healthy Home Makeover! This class brings you on a guided tour of our home, showing you how we have removed toxic elements from the kitchen, laundry, pantry, bathroom, and garden to create a healthier home.
Remember, you’re always just one decision away from totally changing your life. We’d love for you to join us and learn how you can take the first steps to a more abundant life for your family and generations to come.
