Easy Harissa Garlic Ramen

Everyone needs a healthy dose of comfort food from time to time, and there’s nothing more comforting than this Easy Harissa Garlic Ramen.

I must confess, I’m addicted to the instant kinda Ramen noodles. Despite the warnings that come with it, I can’t help but keep reaching for it when I’m hungry.  T’was a sad day really, when I had to admit the fact that 
I’m not in my 20s anymore, and I no longer have the excuse (or the body) to continue with guilty pleasure foods anymore. 

But the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wanted my regular ‘instant’ ramen. So I set out to see if I can make my own in under 10 minutes, which is about 5 minutes longer than the kind that comes with it’s own flavor packet, but it’s a trade-off I was willing to make if it meant I can keep slurping these near indefinitely. 

And that was how I stumbled upon this recipe. Now I’m not going to claim that it tastes exactly like the store-bought instant kind. BUT, it is delicious nonetheless, comes with a hearty topping of fresh vegetables and you control what goes into it. 

This is my favorite Harissa recipe (I add 5 cloves of garlic instead of 3 and keep the chilli seeds while grinding) and it works magic to the ramen broth. 

Now, there are TWO ways you can make this: 

1. Boil the noodles separately, make the broth in a separate pot and assemble just before eating, like traditional ramen. 
2. Boil the noodles IN the broth for a more ‘instant packet’ feel, where the sauce is thicker and coats + flavors the noodles. 

In the photos here, I’ve boiled the noodles in the broth, which is why it’s not floating in a bowl of delicious broth, but I’ve made these both ways, and they’re equally delicious. On a nice, cold winter’s day, it is particularly comforting to slurp a bowl of liquid-y ramen, as the air around you is swirling in a steaming pocket of harissa + garlic flavored deliciousness. 

And so, before the Holiday mayhem hits you in the next few days (I have a dreadful amount of baking in store!), take this time to treat yourself to self-care. Starting with a delicious, warm bowl of this Harissa Garlic Ramen. 

You know you want it. 

Note:

This is the kind of Ramen noodles I buy from my local Asian store. One cake is usually enough to serve two, but if you are using other kinds of noodles/pasta, use your judgement to add enough noodles for two servings.

And when you make this delicious Harissa Garlic Ramen (which I really think you SHOULD!), be sure to SHARE YOUR PHOTOS with me through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to see what you cook from here!

Tina Dawson

Easy Harissa Garlic Ramen

Everyone needs a healthy dose of comfort food from time to time, and there’s nothing more comforting than this Easy Harissa Garlic Ramen.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course: Lunch/Dinner

Cuisine: Fusion

Calories: 370

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1/4 c yellow/red onion sliced thinly
• 3 -4 cloves of garlic sliced thinly
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 2 tsp. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. harissa
• 2 c vegetable stock
• dried Ramen noodles see post*

GARNISH

• Vegetables for topping
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 2 tsp. sesame seeds

Method

 

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan and add the sliced garlic and onions. Fry on low heat until golden brown.
2. Add the tomato paste and harissa and saute for a few seconds, then add the vegetable stock and bring to a boil.

METHOD 1

1. Add the dried noodles to the boiling stock and cook the noodles until soft.
2. Divide between two bowls, top with sliced fresh vegetables (sliced radishes, peppers, baby shallots, spring onions, carrots, bok choy, etc), a drizzle of sesame oil, sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve hot.

METHOD 2

1. In a separate pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add salt until it tastes like sea water. Boil the noodles until soft, drain and divide between two bowls.
2. Pour boiling broth over the noodles until they are immersed, top with vegetables (sliced radishes, peppers, baby shallots, spring onions, carrots, bok choy, etc), a drizzle of sesame oil, sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve immediately.