Spaghetti to Ramen Noodles?! You HAVE to See This Kitchen Hack!

Hi everyone! Ever had that moment, “Oops! I forgot to buy ramen noodles!”? Well, no worries! Today, I’m sharing an amazing hack to make authentic ramen noodles using just spaghetti.

So, let me get straight to the best part! Simply add a tiny bit of baking soda when you boil your spaghetti. That’s all it takes! It transforms into noodles with that classic ramen flavor and that wonderful, chewy texture.

You might be thinking, “Really?” But trust me, it tastes genuinely delicious!

Wondering how it works? In short, ramen noodles are made with an alkaline ingredient called ‘kansui,’ which gives them their signature chewiness and flavor. Adding baking soda makes your boiling water alkaline too, causing the spaghetti to change just like real ramen!

Alright, so now, let’s make a quick and tasty soy sauce ramen using these almost magical noodles! I’ll show you exactly how to use the baking soda and the right amount.

Let’s get cooking!

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the “Ramen” Noodles:

Spaghetti: 100g (approx. 3.5 oz)
Water for boiling: 1000ml (approx. 4.2 cups, or 1 quart)
Baking Soda: 1 tablespoon
Salt: 0.5 tablespoon
- Note: If you’re doubling the spaghetti to 200g (approx. 7 oz), the amount of water, baking soda, and salt remains the same.

For the Ramen Soup (Serves 1):

Water: 350ml (approx. 1.5 cups)
Soy Sauce: 1.5 tablespoons
Stock Powder (e.g., Shantang, or chicken bouillon powder): 1 teaspoon
Oil (Vegetable or Sesame Oil recommended): 1 teaspoon
Sugar: 0.5 teaspoon
Salt: A pinch
MSG (Ajinomoto): A pinch (optional)

Toppings (Suggestions):

Sliced Ham
Chopped Green Onions (Scallions)

Instructions

Transforming Spaghetti into Ramen Noodles:

Boil Water: In a large pot, bring the 1000ml (approx. 4.2 cups) of water to a rolling boil.
Add Alkaline Agents: Once boiling, carefully turn off the heat. Add the baking soda and salt. Stir well until completely dissolved. Turn the heat back on and bring the water to a rolling boil again.
Cook Spaghetti: Add the spaghetti to the boiling alkaline water. Cook for about 1.4 to 1.5 times the cooking time indicated on the spaghetti package. (For example, if the package suggests 7 minutes for al dente, cook for about 10-11 minutes). The noodles should be tender but still pleasantly chewy.
Drain & Rinse: Once cooked, drain the noodles well. Quickly rinse them under cold running water to remove any excess starch and stop the cooking process.

Making the Ramen Soup & Assembling:

Prepare Soup Base: While the noodles are cooking, combine all the soup ingredients (water, soy sauce, Chinese soup stock powder, oil, sugar, pinch of salt, MSG if using) in a separate small pot. Stir well.
Heat Soup: Bring the soup mixture to a gentle boil, then turn off the heat and keep it warm until the noodles are ready.
Assemble: Just before serving, ensure the soup is hot (reheat if necessary). Place the cooked and rinsed noodles into a serving bowl.
Serve: Pour the hot soup over the noodles. Garnish with your favorite toppings like sliced ham and chopped green onions. Enjoy your delicious homemade ramen immediately!