The Ingredient Swap That Will Majorly Upgrade Your Ramen

Ramen has so many faces. Eat it on the cheap out of styrofoam cup and you are probably a college student, up late, studying for finals or working on a paper. Dress it up with some lobster, pork bones, jammy eggs, bamboo shoots, spring onions, and golden nori seaweed, you are probably dining at a restaurant in Sydney, Australia and paying an eye popping $400 a bowl (via Man of Many). Ramen is pretty versatile. Do an internet search and you will find plenty of recipes including everything from a basic ramen recipe to the likes of pumpkin spice ramen, but it really doesn't take much to take ramen to the next level. Redditors turn to sesame oil when they want to show off their ramen skills, while others add in vegetables and meats (via Spice the Plate).

Well, we have another ingredient swap that will not only upgrade your ramen packets and turn these wavy noodles into a meal, but will also add that umami of flavor we so love to boast about. According to Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen, if you want to really make your instant noodles into a show-stopping meal that lights up your taste buds, you may want to consider adding a little bit of this creamy fat.

Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen explains that butter is a fat and fat is flavor, making it the perfect ingredient to change up the taste of your go-to noodles. The food site goes on to explain that butter adds sweetness to your ramen and it can be added in several ways. The first of which begins with simply adding a pat or two to your boiling water. If you want a little more punch for your taste buds, the site suggests pairing the butter with some miso. However, per a recipe review for Martha Stewart, miso is a savory ingredient. If you plan on using salted butter, it might be better to use less miso so you don't end up with something too salty to eat.

Like your ramen spicy — or at least you think you like it spicy? The good news for those who like a little kick is if you change your mind, a little butter can cut the heat. You can also add some garlic into the mix to create a deliciously satisfying garlic butter ramen. Butter's power is great indeed. Even Kylie Jenner, per Spoon University, has a penchant for ramen with a little "butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and an egg." If Kylie likes it, you know it must be good.