Description
This Garlic Noodles recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender ramen noodles tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with umami-packed oyster, fish, and Maggi seasonings, finished with freshly grated Parmesan and green onions. Perfect for a satisfying meal in just 11 minutes, it’s ideal served immediately with optional sides like fried egg and broccolini.
Ingredients
Noodles
- 140g / 5oz dried ramen or noodle cakes (2 cakes)
Sauce
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp (6 cloves) garlic, finely minced
- 2 tsp oyster sauce (substitute vegetarian oyster sauce if desired)
- 2 tsp fish sauce (substitute soy sauce if desired)
- 1 1/2 tsp Maggi seasoning (substitute soy sauce if needed)
- 1/4 cup noodle cooking water (plus more if needed)
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup (tightly packed) finely grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced (~1 stem)
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: In a large saucepan, cook the ramen or noodle cakes according to the package directions. Before draining, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Prepare Sauce: Using the same saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the finely minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant but not browned. Stir in the oyster sauce, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning, and 1/4 cup of the reserved noodle cooking water. Mix well to combine all flavors.
- Toss Noodles: Return the cooked noodles to the saucepan with the sauce. Add the finely grated Parmesan cheese and thinly sliced green onions. Toss thoroughly to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce and cheese. If the noodles seem dry or the sauce is pooling at the bottom, gradually add more of the reserved cooking water, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve Immediately: Plate the garlic noodles while warm. The noodles are best enjoyed right away to maintain their texture and flavor.
- Optional Serving Suggestion: For a complete meal, serve with a fried egg and broccolini. To prepare, cook broccolini in the noodle boiling water for about 3 minutes, either before, after, or alongside the noodles depending on cooking time. Toss the broccolini with the noodles and finish with a drizzle of Asian sesame dressing for added flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute the 2 dried ramen or noodle cakes with about 140-150g of any similar dried noodles like egg noodles or thin spaghetti.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetarian oyster sauce and replace fish sauce with soy sauce.
- Maggi seasoning adds a unique umami depth but can be substituted with additional soy sauce if unavailable.
- Save some of the noodle cooking water as it helps loosen and emulsify the sauce, ensuring the noodles are perfectly coated.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is essential for best flavor and texture; pre-grated cheese may not melt as smoothly.
- Broccolini cooks quickly (around 3 minutes), so time its addition to the boiling water depending on the noodle cooking time for convenience.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
