For the Love of Ramen…

When Did I Know Erik Was the One?

Was it when he willingly entered the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience with me and didn’t bat an eye at my encyclopedic knowledge of spells, potions, and Hogwarts house drama? Maybe.

Was it when he asked what my number one dream vacation was and I told him, dead serious, “To Cheetah Girl my way through Barcelona” and he didn’t even flinch? Just nodded like, yeah, that tracks. A real one.

Honestly? It was probably all of that plus the moment he handed me a bowl of his homemade ramen and my soul ascended.

Now, to him, this recipe was just a quick throw-together meal. Something he whipped up when the fridge was looking sad and grocery shopping had been postponed for... an indeterminate amount of time.

But to me? It was a revelation. The kind of dish that makes your eyes go wide mid-bite while you whisper, "What is this magic?!” (Spoiler: it wasn’t Amortentia, but it might as well have been.)

Perfectly spicy, a little oily, and with that chef’s kiss black vinegar kick, it’s the ultimate cozy meal for a cold December night, like the night we met. You know, the kind of warmth that seeps into your bones and makes you feel instantly at home. I crave it weekly. Let’s be honest, daily, if I’m in my feelings or I want something quick, hearty, and comforting.

And today? Erik has graciously agreed to let me share the recipe with you (yes, I got official permission). It’s simple, adaptable with any protein, and basically perfect.

So get cozy, grab a bowl, and prepare to fall in love…with these noodles, obviously.

🍜 Erik’s “I Knew I Loved Him” Ramen

A spicy, slurpy love letter in noodle form.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Nongshim Spicy Shin Noodle Soup

• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

• 1 tsp black vinegar (I usually do a little more because I love myself. You should too.)

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (I never measure garlic. The limit does not exist. But you do you.)

• 1.5–2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 green onion, sliced (for a lil freshness and crunch)

• ½ cup baby bella mushrooms, sliced (optional, but highly encouraged for mushroom lovers)

• 1 strip bacon (also optional, but it adds that smoky magic)

• 1 egg, soft-boiled or fried to your heart’s desire (I’m not here to egg-shame)

🥢 Cooking Instructions:

1. Build your sauce base
   In a small bowl, mix the dried vegetable pack, about ⅓ of the spice packet (go wild if you like it hot), black vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Set it aside like the star it is, its moment is coming.

2. Optional but elite: bacon + mushrooms
   If you’re going the extra mile (we love that for you), fry up your bacon until crispy. Remove and pat off the excess grease with a paper towel. In the same pan, toss in your mushrooms and some chopped green onions if you have them. Sauté everything in that leftover bacon magic for 5–7 minutes, until the mushrooms are browned but still plump and meaty. Set aside and try not to snack.

3. Boil those noods
   In a small pot, cook your ramen noodles according to package instructions. I usually go for about 4 minutes to keep them just shy of too soft. We want bounce, not mush. Drain and set aside.

4. Time for the sizzle
   While your noodles are boiling, heat the olive oil in a small pan. When it starts to shimmer and smells all warm and toasty, it’s ready. Carefully (like, respect the oil carefully), pour the hot oil into your sauce bowl. It’ll sizzle and cackle in the most satisfying way. I’m obsessed. It’s fine. We all have our things.

5. Assemble the magic
   Add your drained noodles to the sauce and oil bowl and toss until every strand is coated in goodness. Top with your sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, and your egg of choice (soft-boiled, fried, whatever speaks to your soul).

6. Make it yours
   Want more protein? Add sliced steak, grilled chicken, tofu, shrimp, whatever your heart (or fridge) desires. This bowl is endlessly customizable and always comforting.

Pro tip: Tastes even better when eaten with chopsticks you’re only kind of good at using. Slippery noodles? Character development. 😌🥢

So there you have it. The ramen that made me fall in love.

It’s spicy, comforting, a little chaotic (just like me), and proof that sometimes the most romantic thing isn’t a grand gesture, it’s someone handing you a steaming bowl of noodles, no questions asked.

Whether you’re cooking for a partner, a friend, or just yourself (because you deserve main character treatment), this bowl brings the kind of joy that lingers long after the last slurp.

Now go forth, make noodles, and maybe fall a little bit in love too. 💛