Skip down to the list at the bottom or listen to Sam blabber on for a bit about nothing first:
It may be no surprise that dealing with instant noodles can often require trips to the oriental supermarket. This is where you will find the best brands of noodle, and is also where you can stock up on the little extras that make the noodles so much more special. However if you are like me, you will go to the oriental supermarket, buy 5 packs of instant noodles and have eaten them all within 3 days. If you are also like me, you can be lazy, and the oriental supermarket is probably quite far away (a 20 minute walk in my case, lord forbid it may be further for any of you).
Now a situation arises... All of a sudden the instant noodle snack cravings come about, but I'm out of good noodles and the oriental supermarket is simply too far away for me to even consider visiting. All I can do is settle for the 35p (about 22 cents to any Americans) crummy pack of instant noodles from the local general foods store, but I don't want to because I know that they'll be awful...
WAIT... No they won't! Because I only bloody have a full supply of extra ingredients and sauces to make them completely amazing, which I ALWAYS remember to stock up on whenever I make my bi-weekly visits to the oriental supermarket.
So I go home and make the noodles, and they are fantastic.
I go to bed happy, and wake the next morning to face another day and whatever problems it may throw at me.
...So I hoped you enjoyed that little fable, now let's get to the moral of the tale:
You won't always be wanting to go to the oriental supermarket to replenish your noodles, but if you keep yourself stocked on the things listed below, you will have the power to do anything with any pack of noodles. anything...
Essentials From Asian Supermarket For Proper Culinary Conduct In Reference To Instant Noodle Making. Thesis by Sam Lynn-Evans
1. Soya sauce - no explanation required. Can be found in pretty much any shop now anyway.
2. Teriyaki sauce - makes nearly everything better, I'd put it in cereal.
3. Oyster Sauce - traditional chinese cooking sauce, mix with soya for best results
4. Fish Sauce - For more of a Thai/Vietnamese/Fishy flavour.
5. Sesame Oil - Very recognisable chinese flavour.
Extras
6. Chilli sauce or Chilli Oil - Whichever you prefer. I always have both. If you don't like spice...
7. Bag of Chillies - ...then don't get this either.
8. Lemongrass stalks - Fantastic for soups
9. Rice Cakes - Good extra for many soups
10. Kimchi - Also good side for soup or dry noodles
11. Spring Onions/Scallions - Fantastic garnish
12. Chinese greens - Such as pak choi, fry them up then mix with the noodles
13. Dim sum dumplings - Put in a soup... delicious
I believe the first 5 items to be essential, I always buy large bottles of these sauces, and they last a very long time. If you have those sauces, you can buy a pack of noodles, some eggs, vegetables, garlic, chilli (if you like it hot), some meat, and some whatever, all from your local store, and make a fantastic little dish. The recipes for this are on other pages. Additionally, Lemongrass stalks can also be very important for a good soup.
The extras are more optional and yours may differ from mine, but I think the above is a good start.
So if your planning on making anything you've seen here on Instant Noodle Masters, jot down this list, go out to the asian supermarket, and you should be able to make pretty much anything here.
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