If you're looking for a new and delicious way to jazz up your ramen noodles, then you're in for a treat with this Fried Cabbage Ramen recipe! With the addition of smoky bacon, savory onions, and salty Parmesan cheese, these noodles are bursting with flavor. This enhanced ramen will quickly become a new favorite in your recipe collection!
BACON AND ONION: Begin by dicing the bacon and thinly slicing the onion.Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the diced bacon and cook. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes before adding in the sliced onion. Cook the bacon and onion, stirring often, until the onion is tender and the bacon is golden brown and fully cooked.
CABBAGE: Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the center of the skillet. Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and season everything to taste with fine sea salt & pepper (I add ½ teaspoon each).Add the bag of coleslaw to the skillet and stir until it is tender and wilted-- about 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat.
RAMEN: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt. Add in all three packages of ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets) and cook, stirring frequently, for only 2 minutes (or 1 minute less than indicated on package). Immediately drain the noodles, but do not run them under cold water.
COMBINE: Add drained, cooked ramen to the skillet. Switch to tongs, and toss ingredients well, gradually adding in the Parmesan cheese, about 1½ tablespoons at a time, until nicely and smoothly melted. Season again, I add ½ up to 1 more tsp pepper (we love the subtle heat here--similar to a Cacio de Pepe!) and sometimes ¼ tsp salt depending on how salty things are tasting. Flavors should sing!
ENJOY: Serve with fresh parsley if desired. Scoop into plates and use a microplane to grate a touch more Parmesan cheese on top. Serve lemon wedges on the side--a squeeze of lemon is so delicious if you're into that.
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Notes
Note 1: Angel hair coleslaw: This ingredient is easy to find in the produce section of your local grocery store, near other packaged salad mixes. When buying coleslaw mix, be sure to check the ingredient list and choose a mix that only contains green cabbage. Of course, you can slice your own green cabbage, but this will add to overall prep time. You'll need about 6 cups, very thinly sliced.Note 2: Ramen noodles: Any brand of instant ramen noodles will work, but it's important to get the right amount. For this recipe, you'll need 9 ounces of ramen noodles, which is three packages of standard-sized ramen soup mix. Discard (or save for another recipe) the seasoning packets and just use the noodles. Otherwise, the dish will be too salty and the flavor will be off.Note 3: Parmesan cheese: Use a block of Parmesan and grate it on the small holes of a grater and pack it into the measuring cup for the right measurement. Alternatively, use finely grated Parmesan cheese. Parmesan from the can will be too salty and won't integrate well.