Ramen

- Through very little effort
  I'd like to introduce you to depressed people
You doing okay bud?
- He’s been malnourished for 20 years, does that sound okay to you?
- You know what is even cheaper? Not adding all of that shit to it.
- Dehydrated onion goes a long way too. Frozen dumplings too, if you can find them cheap.
- You can also try some modifications from this culinary mastermind: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JsB57FtaxXQ

I know this is memes, but instant noodles weren't invented to prevent starvation. On launch they were actually many times more expensive than fresh noodles.

https://youtu.be/S2CD3bIBaY0?si=OPauMATbrc4Qab9w

How did you get hot water at the airport?
- Last time I passed through Taipei they had a water dispenser by the restrooms that had options for searing hot and "cold" water (it was lukewarm at best). I'd imagine Japan would have something similar.
- Some of the premium ones are self heating so you just can add bottled water

Good thing I’m a nutrient consuming robot who just needs fuel to power my circuits and not a human who has to taste things.
Frankly I don’t know why the grocery store has anything other than just beans. It would save so much time.
Because it's easier to make, easy to clean up, and NOODLES!
Maybe they don't like beans. I don't generally like beans unless they're in something else.
Ground beef and flour. If I weren't allergic to wheat and all carbs didn't give me diarrhea then i could make a million meals out of those.
One of my favorite meals is beans, sausage, and rice with some hot sauce mixed in. It's such a nice comfort food, and it's incredibly cheap and pretty nutritious.
do you have any noob-friendly recipes for beans? More specifically, some western style (US or Europe)?
- Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.
  But actually though. Spicy Red beans and rice is delicious, black bean burgers, anything with chick peas like hummus wraps or chick pea fritters, vegetable tacos and burritos with black beans... there are loads of things.
  I very much like red beans and rice when it's particularly spicy. Can add some sausage for heartiness too
- Tomato soup with kidney beans can make it way more filling and gives the taste more body. Other less-western combinations with tomato work as well; like rice / beans, some sweet pepper, onion / tomato mixed sauce (perhaps even add apple or banana).
  Otherwise stuff like Burritos and Chili recipes are always great.
Because beans don't offer as good nutrition compared to instant ramen

I've had truly instant ramen when my friend's brother came back from Japan. Dude brought a bunch of cool shit back, including a few cases of self heating ramen and a carton of self lighting cigarettes. Japan is like 500 years in the future.

The future as imagined 30 years ago.
- Back when it was something to look forward to
- The correct future. Not this corpro-dystopian bullshit
I sincerely hope people aren't still smoking cigarettes in 500 years.
- Humanity will always find a way to harm itself.
- They're gonna be those reverse ones from The 5th Element and the government limits how many you can have a day.
  Or maybe cancer itself is eradicated and smoking isn't dangerous anymore 🤷🏻‍♂️
self heating ramen
wat??
- The are existing self heating ramens by using the same tech USA army warms their MRE "just add water" no matter temperature
- Exothermic chemical reaction heats the food, like modern military MREs
- There is a chemical heating element at the bottom of the cup. You add water, pull a string, and it will boil the water without a stove/microwave.
- It's a thing, I just looked it up

What's your favorite instant ramen?

Mine has to be Nissin Raoh. It's so god damn delicious. It's the closest thing to a real Japanese ramen shop experience.

Indomie. This stuff cooks up more like a lo mein than the normal instant ramen (noodles floating in broth), but if you want to try something different:
https://www.amazon.com/Indomie-Instant-Noodles-Chicken-Flavor/dp/B000VSDCH4
Barbeque Chicken is the good one (it's like Korean BBQ)
Comes with 3 separate sauce packs, dry seasoning, and fried onion - boil the noodles, strain all the water out, mix all the packets together except the onion, then add them to the noodles. Mix the onion in right before serving (it'll get squishy otherwise).
Add meat/veggies/egg if you're feeling fancy.
By far the best instant ramen I've found.
- Oh yeah. That sounds delish!
That looks great, I'll have to try it.
My faves are nong shin: Red and Black
I think black is probably similar to your Raoh.
- I've had it and it's not the same. I recommend you try the Raoh. It's a true Japanese tonkotsu broth. Or as true as you can get in an instant ramen anyway.
The Cup Noodles stir fry line has been my favorite recently. It’s not anything fancy, but I like how you don’t end up with a broth when you’re done with the noodles.
- Ooooh those look very yummy
Shin Black is a treat for me, but I'm usually rocking Jin Spicy.
Lately I've been having Paldo Spicy Kokomen ramen, it's clean tasting and lovely with some green onion and egg.
EDIT: Honorable mentions
Nongshim Mupama (spicy hearty veg)
Nongshim Neoguri (spicy seafood udon style)
Samyang Nagasaki ramen (spicy seafood, white)
I really like Hikari Miso.
Um... oriental flavor?

Pro tip for ramen with a packet of seasoning. Only use like 1/4 of that seasoning. It will still taste awesome and you wont feel like shit after you eat it.

I recommend using the whole packet and just using slightly less water so you actually have some flavor left that isn't watered down.
- And add a dash of sesame oil
Aye you taking about hot seasoning? We do this is we're not wanting it too hot. It's also great keeping the left over seasoning for other meals.
That's the opposite of a pro tip. Guess you are one of those people who water down coffee.