3 Ways To Spice Up Your Instant Noodles

There’s this trend these days on TikTok and Instagram reels and YouTube shorts on how to ‘hack’ your instant noodles. Ways to dress up the straight-forward and make something new out of the same old.

As someone who was tired of the instant noodles she was having – someone who stopped eating instant noodles almost completely – this interested me. What sort of suggestions were there? What could I adapt for myself?

And then I saw these videos and – I mean, I’m sure they’re great. I’m sure they’re tasty. But a lot of these hacks involve a lot of prep work, and when I want to eat instant noodles, I want it easy, you know?

For me, leftovers, or already prepped things that I always have in my refrigerator are the way to go. And that is how this idea came about. These are ways you can adapt your instant noodles quickly and easily, with things you already have**.

** Of course you can adapt these suggestions with your own ideas. I am vegetarian, so you get lots of veggies and tofu, and all the spices used are garlic free.

Simple, easy, fresh – this curry based instant noodles is spiced up with even more chilli (chopped, if you would like, or any chilli oil or flakes or powder you may have on hand) and veggies. Cook the veggies in the soup for a one pot dish!

Another curry instant noodles because I am all about that spicy life. Throw in some leftover tofu or other alternative, treplace some of that starchy water with some milk, and then add a dollop of sambal or other chilli. Easy and so yummy!

This one might take a little bit more work if you do not have your veggies on hand. It came about in a dream, literally. Stir some frozen thai phanaeng curry paste** with some milk and some of that starchy water until dissolved, add in your tofu and veggies and throw in your cooked noodles! I went a little less soupy with this one, but you can adjust accordingly.

** This would work with probably any curry paste you like!

I am definitely making these again. And again. And playing around with more chilli and more tofu because those are things I adore. There’s no such thing as too much spice!