Everyone loves ramen. Who can resist the scrumptious taste of noodles that take 5 minutes to cook? However, it's more likely that the price of these pre-packaged noodles appeals to broke students all over the world, rather than it's taste. At around 10 cents a package, a dollar can buy you 10 servings.

Granted, by itself ramen may not be the most nutritious meal on the block, but I can recommend some healthy and delicious recipes that incorporate our favorite instant noodles. Here are two of my favorites:
 

Chicken Broccoli Ramen Simmer
Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups frozen broccoli florets
- 4 oz. jar sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1-3/4 cups water
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 (3 oz.) pkgs. chicken flavor ramen soup mix

Preparation:
1. Slice chicken into thin strips.
2. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken.
3. Stir fry until chicken is no longer pink in center.
4. Add broccoli, mushrooms, water, soy sauce and 1 flavoring packet from ramen noodles stir to mix well and bring to a boil.
5. Break noodles in half and add to chicken and vegetables.
6. Stir and bring to a boil again.
7. Reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer 7 to 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender and chicken is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.
 

Ramen Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 1 package of ramen noodles (crushed)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup dried apricot
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil (cooking)

Preparation
The noodles:
1. While the noodles are still in the package, break them in small pieces.
2. Put the vegetable oil in the cooking pan.
3. Turn on the stove and wait for the oil to heat up.
4. Put your noodles in the cooking pan.
5. Since ramen are dehydrated, you have to be careful not to burn them. Always gently shake the cooking pan.
6. Your noodles are ready once they have a nice brownish color.
7. Turn off the stove and put your noodles in a bowl.
The recipe:
8. Add the sliced almonds, dried cranberries and dried apricots.

These recipes are just a hint of what’s out there. Check out ramenlicious.com and about.com for some more cheap, ramen-licious meals.

Happy Cooking!
--Lauren

Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.