Description
Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles is a savory and easy-to-make dish featuring instant ramen cooked with ground beef, a flavorful sauce made from dark soy, oyster and hoisin sauces, mirin, and garnished with fresh bean sprouts, green onions, and sesame seeds. Perfect for a speedy weeknight meal with rich umami flavors and satisfying textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 packets ramen or other instant noodles, discard seasoning
- 1 tsp oil
- 2 tsp sesame oil (or more oil)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 200g / 7oz beef mince (ground beef)
- 1 1/4 cups (315 ml) water, plus more as needed
- Big handful bean sprouts
Sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (or hoisin)
- 2 tsp hoisin sauce (or more oyster sauce)
- 1 tbsp mirin
Garnishes (optional)
- Finely sliced green onion / shallots
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix Sauce: Combine the dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and mirin in a small bowl and set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic: Heat the oil and sesame oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add the sliced onion and minced garlic, cooking for 1 1/2 minutes until starting to turn golden and fragrant.
- Cook beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks, until the beef changes from pink to light brown.
- Caramelise beef: Pour in the prepared sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the beef is well coated and the sauce caramelizes, enhancing the flavor and color.
- Add water and noodles: Push the beef mixture to the side of the skillet to create space. Pour in 1 1/4 cups of water and place the ramen noodles in the water to begin cooking.
- Cook ramen: Let the noodles cook undisturbed for about 45 seconds, then flip them over. After an additional 30 seconds, untangle the noodles with chopsticks or a fork and toss them through the beef mixture to combine.
- Add beansprouts and finish cooking: Toss the big handful of bean sprouts into the skillet and continue cooking for 1 minute or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly to coat the noodles and the noodles are fully cooked. Add more water if needed to achieve the right noodle texture and sauce consistency.
- Serve: Immediately plate the ramen and garnish with finely sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy hot for the best taste.
Notes
- Use any brand or type of ramen or instant noodles but avoid extra-large packets unless you break the noodles to fit the pan.
- If using fresh or dried noodles (rice or wheat), prepare according to the packet instructions and use approximately 2 packed cups, then toss through caramelised beef with a splash of water.
- Toasted sesame oil provides a richer flavor but untoasted sesame oil is an acceptable substitute.
- Ground beef can be substituted with other ground meats like chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, kangaroo, or veal.
- If dark soy sauce is unavailable, use light soy sauce or all-purpose soy sauce with the note that the color and flavor will be lighter.
- Vegetarian oyster sauce is available as a substitute for oyster sauce to accommodate dietary preferences.
- Mirin can be substituted with Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry. For a non-alcoholic alternative, use 1/2 cup water plus 3/4 cup low sodium chicken stock and omit the mirin.
- Adjust water quantity as needed to cook noodles per the packet instructions to avoid over or undercooking.
- To prepare larger servings, use a larger skillet and break noodle cakes if needed to fit.
- To reduce sodium, use low sodium soy sauce which can lower sodium by about 175 mg per serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
