The 9 Best Substitutes For Ramen Noodles
Nearly everyone at some point has scarfed down ramen noodles for a quick meal on the go or a satisfying midnight snack. It’s no surprise since this pantry staple is as delicious as it is versatile!
These noodles have a slurpy and soupy texture that makes them comforting for every age group. Plus, ramen noodles have a very nutritious and flavourful aroma that captures the body and the soul.
But what if you cannot find them in the nearest stores? Well, you can go for the substitutes!
So, what are the best substitutes for ramen noodles? The best substitutes for ramen noodles are gluten-free ramen noodles, soba noodles, glass noodles, shirataki noodles, rice noodles, kelp noodles, veggie noodles, wonton noodles, and chow mein noodles.
To help you select the noodle for you, we have provided all of the details for these delicious alternatives below. So, read on!
What Are Ramen Noodles?
Ramen noodles have a basic recipe of three ingredients: wheat flour, salt, kansui (alkaline salt), and water. They also come in different textures and flavors.
This noodle soup has gathered a huge fanbase, as it’s a very economical dish that’s easily prepared.
All you need to do is add hot water and wait a few minutes for all the ingredients to combine.
Plus, nothing compliments a steaming bowl of ramen noodles like a cold beverage.
9 Best Ramen Noodle Substitutes
Ramen noodles are a quick, satisfying snack that can almost become addictive. In case you find yourself out of stock, here are some seriously great substitutes.
1. Gluten-Free Ramen Noodles
If you cannot eat ramen noodles due to the presence of gluten, go for gluten-free ones!
Many popular brands carry gluten-free versions that taste just like their regular counterparts.
There are specific ingredients found in every gluten-free noodle, such as tapioca, potatoes, beans, brown rice flour, and millet.
Why Are Gluten-Free Noodles A Good Substitute?
Gluten-free ramen is healthy and flavourful. It includes ingredients such as brown rice noodles, purple potato, and forbidden rice noodles.
The extra nuttiness in brown rice noodles is accompanied by high fiber. Plus, they are more likely to taste better than regular ramen noodles.
How To Make Gluten-Free Noodles At Home
To make gluten-free noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Eggs
- Gluten-free noodles
- Salt
Assemble all the ingredients, add them in a stockpot of water to a boil, cook the noodles for 2-5 mins until soft and tender.
2. Soba Noodles
Soba noodles are made of buckwheat and are a common ingredient in Japanese cooking. They are naturally gluten-free.
You can use them in hot and cold dishes and tend to have an earthy and nutty flavor to them!
Why Is Soba Noodles A Good Substitute?
Soba noodles are high in protein and fiber and are readily available in most grocery stores and specialty health food stores.
Many people may have buckwheat allergies, so make sure you go for other substitutes if you’re one of them!
How To Make Soba Noodles At Home
To make soba noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Soba noodles
- Salt
- Garlic oil
- Spring onion
- Water
First, assemble all the ingredients, drain the noodles after boiling them in saltwater. Then, toss the drained noodles in garlic oil along with spring onion.
3. Glass Noodles
Glass noodles are also called cellphone noodles. These are made very intricately by combining sweet potato, mung bean, tapioca, and potato.
Why Are Glass Noodles A Good Substitute?
These translucent noodles are a very popular gluten-free option.
Plus, if you prepare them in the right way, they can definitely become a much healthier version of ramen!
How To Make Glass Noodles At Home
To make glass noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Glass noodles
- Soy sauce
- Vegetable oil
- Brown sugar
- Water
- Sesame seeds
First, soak the noodles in boiling water for 10 minutes and drain. Next, mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, and boiling water and let the noodles next soak in there for a minute or two.
Next, toss the noodles along with the soy sauce mixture. Finally, sprinkle sesame seeds over it while serving!
4. Shirataki Noodles
Shirataki noodles are developed from konjac starch, which is a Japanese root vegetable. Their consistency is thicker than glass noodles and is also transparent.
However, they can substitute ramen noodles well.
Why Are Shirataki Noodles A Good Substitute?
Shirataki noodles are not only insanely low on calories but are also rich in fiber and low in carbohydrates!
They’re easy to cook and impart a similar taste and texture to the dish, like ramen. They’re also readily available in stores and online.
How To Make Shirataki Noodles At Home
To make shirataki noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Water
- Vinegar
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Pepper
First, soak the noodles in boiling water for 10 minutes and drain. Then, add a drop of vinegar to the water so that the noodles don’t stick.
In another skillet, saute garlic in olive oil, then add broth and cream.
Toss the sauce with parmesan cheese and add the noodles. Before serving, add some pepper!
5. Rice Noodles
The famous Vietnamese pho is made of rice noodles! It is a white rice noodle that has a variety of shapes, from vermicelli to spaghetti.
Other options are whole grain brown rice and even black rice noodles.
Why Are Rice Noodles A Good Substitute?
These noodles are high in magnesium and selenium. Additionally, you can add your favorite ingredients to rice noodles and enjoy a ramen-like dish easily!
How To Make Rice Noodles At Home
To make rice noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Rice noodles (vermicelli)
- Water
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Pepper
- Sesame oil
- Sugar
- Fish sauce
First, assemble the ingredients, and drain the boiled rice noodles and separate them so that they do not stick together.
Next, add sesame oil, fish sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, pepper, and water to make a tasty broth.
Finally, add the noodles and garnish them with some raw vegetables.
Kelp Noodles
These basic Korean noodles are made up of kelp, brown algae tangled with a large amount of iodine, iron, vitamin K and calcium.
Why Are Kelp Noodles A Good Substitute?
Kelp noodle is one of the healthiest substitutes, as it is gluten-free and also rich in nutrition. Additionally, they are available online at a reasonable price.
How To Make Kelp Noodles At Home
To make kelp noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Kelp noodles
- Scallion
- Peanut butter
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tamari
- Pure maple syrup
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Sesame seeds
First, mix peanut butter, apple cider vinegar, tamari maple syrup, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
Next, rinse the noodle under cold water in a colander. Then, add the mix and noodles together in a bowl until they are well coated.
Serve with garnished scallions and sesame seeds!
7. Veggie Noodles
Veggie noodles are a super healthy substitute and gluten-free substitute for ramen noodles.
The vegetables that you can extract to prepare these noodles include zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, and squash.
Why Are Veggie Noodles A Good Substitute?
The most readily available and also economical noodles are veggie noodles. All one needs to do is grate them or cut them to get shaped veggies!
Note that these noodles may not taste like traditional ramen noodles, but they can still work as an excellent midnight snack!
How To Make Veggie Noodles At Home
To make veggie noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Zucchini noodles or any vegetable preferred to make noodles
- Olive oil
- Pasta sauce
Grate the vegetable in the form of noodles, toss the noodles in olive oil. Toss them until slightly softened.
Then, heat the sauce and saute the zucchini noodles in 2-3 minutes.
8. Wonton Noodles
Wonton noodles are a very affordable dish and are made of yellow wheat eggs. You can either serve it dry or have it with soup!
Why Are Wonton Noodles A Good Substitute?
Wonton noodles are pretty nutritious. But, the best part is how flavorful they are.
With the richness of various ingredients like pork, shrimp, and veggies, you can expect an equally scrumptious dish like ramen!
How To Make Wonton Noodles At Home
To make wonton noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Wonton noodles
- Pork
- shrimp
- Bok choy sliced
- Green onions
- Chili oil
- Garlic
- Water
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
First, boil your wonton noodles, pork shrimp, and bok choy in water for 5 minutes, and then drain it.
Then, whisk the soup ingredients together in another bowl, like chili oil, garlic, water, sugar, and soy sauce.
Finally, add the boiled ingredients to the soup, and you’re good to go!
9. Chow Mein Noodles
Chow mein noodles are authentic Chinese noodles that are made of wheat flour with egg added to it.
These are widely popular among Asian restaurants and are even easy to make.
Why Is Chow Mein Noodles A Good Substitute?
Even though Chow mein noodles are Chinese fast food, they can become a healthy and delicious option.
These noodles contain various vegetables and sauces that make it worth trying and the perfect substitute for ramen too!
How To Make Chow Mein Noodles At Home
To make chow mein noodles at home, you need the following ingredients:
- Chow mein noodles
- Carrot
- Cabbage
- Green onions
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sesame sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
First, assemble the ingredients, boil the veggies, and wash the noodles in a colander in steamy hot water.
Then, make the sauce in a bowl by mixing sesame oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, and oyster sauce.
Toss the noodles accordingly with sauce and top it with carrot, cabbage, and green onions.
Cook for around two minutes until the noodles are properly covered!
Final Thoughts
Ramen noodles are very popular and tasty and are also prevalent all around the globe. As mentioned earlier, almost every person loves to munch on it!
However, if ramen noodles aren’t available, there are many other substitutes that you can try out.
The best part is that you can prepare all of them at home easily!
