Instant Ramen

Craig Lee for the New York Times

from The NewYork Times

submitted by Wells Whitney

preparation time: 5 minutes

serves 1 or 2

1 pack ramen noodles with flavor packet

1 large egg

½ teaspoon butter

2 slices American cheese

¼ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

½ scallion, green part only, thinly sliced on the bias, optional

Bring 2½ cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes. Add the flavor packet, stir, and continue to cook for another 30 seconds.

Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the egg. Do not stir; pull the noodles over the egg and let sit for one minute to poach.

Carefully transfer everything to a serving bowl, add the butter, cheese and sesame seeds and mix. Garnish with the scallions if desired.

The butter, egg, and cheese help coat the ramen noodles and deepen their flavor. Chef Roy Choi, who gave this to the Times in 2014 said, “this is our Korean-American snack; it’s our peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it’s our bowl of cereal.”