What’s in Ramen Salad?

Ramen salad is a delicious and easy dish that you can make in minutes. It’s perfect for potlucks, barbecues, picnics, or any occasion where you need a quick and tasty side dish. What’s in Ramen Salad? is made with crunchy ramen noodles, fresh vegetables, nuts, and a flavorful dressing. It’s a crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.

I’ll tell you everything you need to know about ramen salad, including its history, health benefits, and how to make it. I’ll also share some of my favorite ramen salad dressing recipes and serving suggestions. Let’s get started!

What is Ramen Salad?

Ramen salad is a type of cold noodle salad that uses instant ramen noodles as the main ingredient. The noodles are usually broken up and tossed with a dressing, along with various vegetables, nuts, seeds, or meat. Some of the most common additions are cabbage, carrots, green onions, almonds, sunflower seeds, chicken, or bacon.

There are many variations of ramen salad, depending on your preferences and what you have on hand. You can use different types of ramen noodles, such as chicken, beef, or vegetarian. Also You can use different types of vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, or edamame. You can even add fruits, such as mandarin oranges, pineapple, or grapes, for a sweet and tangy twist.

History of Ramen Salad

Ramen salad is a relatively new dish that emerged in the late 20th century. It’s not clear who invented it, but it’s likely that it was inspired by Asian noodle salads, such as Chinese chicken salad or Japanese somen salad. Ramen salad became popular in the United States, especially in the Midwest and South, where it was often served at church potlucks, family reunions, or community gatherings.

Ramen salad is also known by other names, such as crunchy noodle salad, oriental salad, or coleslaw salad. It’s a versatile dish that can be adapted to different cuisines and occasions. For example, some people add taco seasoning, cheese, and corn to make a Mexican-style ramen salad. Others add curry powder, raisins, and cashews to make an Indian-style ramen salad.

Health Benefits of Ramen Salad

Ramen salad may not seem like the healthiest dish, but it actually has some nutritional value. Ramen noodles are low in fat and high in carbohydrates, which provide energy and fuel for your body. They also contain some protein, fiber, iron, and B vitamins, which are essential for your metabolism and immune system.

The vegetables in ramen salad are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, which can protect your cells from damage and inflammation. They also add fiber, which can help you feel full and regulate your digestion. The nuts and seeds in ramen salad are good sources of healthy fats, protein, and minerals, such as magnesium, zinc, and selenium. They can also lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, and improve your brain function.

Of course, ramen salad also has some drawbacks, such as high sodium, sugar, and calories. The dressing, especially the store-bought ones, can contain a lot of salt, sugar, oil, and preservatives, which can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The ramen noodles themselves are also processed and refined, which can reduce their nutritional quality and increase their glycemic index.

To make your ramen salad healthier, you can do some simple modifications, such as:

• Use low-sodium or organic ramen noodles, or substitute them with whole wheat, brown rice, or quinoa noodles.
• Use fresh or frozen vegetables, or organic canned ones, and avoid ones that are high in sugar or salt, such as sweetened cranberries or pickled ginger.
• Use homemade dressing, or low-fat, low-sugar, or organic store-bought ones, and use them sparingly.
• Add more protein, such as chicken, turkey, tofu, or beans, to balance out the carbohydrates and make your salad more filling.
• Add more herbs and spices, such as garlic, ginger, cilantro, or sesame seeds, to enhance the flavor and add more health benefits.

How to Make Ramen Salad

Making ramen salad is very easy and quick. You only need a few ingredients and a large bowl. Here are the basic steps:

1. Break up the ramen noodles into small pieces. You can use your hands, a knife, or a food processor. You don’t need to cook the noodles, as they will soften with the dressing and the vegetables.
2. Chop up the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. You can use any vegetables you like, such as cabbage, carrots, green onions, broccoli, kale, spinach, edamame, etc. You can also add fruits, such as mandarin oranges, pineapple, or grapes, for a sweet and tangy twist.
3. Toast the nuts and seeds in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. You can use any nuts and seeds you like, such as almonds, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, etc. You can also add some seasonings, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, or paprika, for extra flavor.
4. Make the dressing by whisking together the ingredients in a small bowl. You can use any dressing you like, such as mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, etc. You can also add some herbs and spices, such as garlic, ginger, cilantro, or sesame seeds, for extra flavor.
5. Combine the noodles, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dressing in a large bowl. Toss well to coat everything evenly. You can also add some meat, such as chicken, bacon, or ham, for extra protein.
6. Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour, or overnight, to let the flavors meld and the noodles soften. You can also serve it right away, if you prefer a crunchier texture.
7. Enjoy your ramen salad as a side dish, or as a main course. You can also garnish it with some more green onions, cilantro, or sesame seeds, for extra color and flavor.

Ramen Salad Dressing Recipes

One of the best things about ramen salad is that you can customize it with different dressings. Here are some of my favorite ramen salad dressing recipes that you can try:

• Classic Ramen Salad Dressing: This is the most common and simple dressing for ramen salad. It’s creamy, tangy, and sweet, and goes well with any vegetables, nuts, or meat. To make it, you’ll need:
  • 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup of sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

  Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth and well-combined.

• Asian Ramen Salad Dressing: This is a more flavorful and exotic dressing for ramen salad. It’s savory, spicy, and nutty, and adds a lot of depth and complexity to your salad. To make it, you’ll need:
  • 1/4 cup of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of honey
  • 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon of sriracha sauce
  • 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons of minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds

  Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, whisk until smooth and well incorporated.

• Greek Ramen Salad Dressing: This is a more refreshing and light dressing for ramen salad. It’s zesty, herby, and creamy, and adds a lot of freshness and brightness to your salad. To make it, you’ll need:
  • 1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint

  Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until they form a smooth and well-combined mixture.

Serving Suggestions

Ramen salad is a versatile dish that can be served in different ways. Here are some of my favorite serving suggestions for ramen salad:

• Serve it as a side dish for grilled or roasted meat, such as chicken, pork, beef, or lamb. The crunchy and tangy salad will complement the juicy and tender meat perfectly.
• Serve it as a main course for a light and satisfying meal. You can add more protein, such as chicken, turkey, tofu, or beans, to make it more filling and balanced.
• Serve it as a snack or appetizer for a party or a picnic. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve. You can also make it in individual portions and serve it in mason jars or plastic cups for easy transport and serving.