The hardest thing about going vegan is letting go of meals you thought were okay to eat. Most processed meals have so many added ingredients that you might end up with added meats to them. For this reason, you need to be careful when buying already packed foods. If you are vegan, you know just how many noodle dishes you can make.
The main issue comes in when you are unsure of the ingredients used in the noodles. If you are stuck on this issue, worry not. Herein is everything you need to know about pot noodles and whether they are vegan.
Are Pot Noodles Vegan?
Contrary to what you know, pot noodles are 100 % vegan. People are mainly conflicted about these noodles because they have such different flavorings that they might suggest they are not vegan. The main flavor is 100 % vegan and has been that way since pot noodles were created in the 70s.
The meaty taste you get is made from soya, one of the main ingredients used in making plant-based meats for vegans. If you have any dietary restriction that makes it impossible for you to consume any animal products. If the flavoring is not something you like, you can get the other flavoring options that work just as well.
Are Pot Noodles Gluten-Free?
Most brands of pot noodles are not gluten-free, so you will need to be on the lookout for that. Noodles are mainly made from wheat flour which contains a lot of gluten. Gluten is what makes it stretchy when formed into a dough. The good thing is that there are certain brands that make gluten-free pot noodles.
You need to figure out what is in the ingredient list. If you have no idea how to do that, you can choose to eat rice noodles since they have no gluten. These options are endless.
Are Pot Noodles Halal?
Most of the brands of pot noodles are halal. You need to remember what makes food halal is the ingredients that go into it. While they are all vegan, they have flavors like pork which is considered haram by the Islamic community.
If you are unsure what flavors you should go for, you can always look at the labels and see if it has the halal stamp on them. That way, you get to know if you are dealing with authentic flavors. The good news is that most pot noodle flavors are halal, and you can enjoy them without worry.
Are Pot Noodles Ramen?
One of the issues many people have regarding pot noodles is figuring out if they are ramen. There are different types of noodles in the market such that you will be spoilt for choice. Knowing what kind of noodles you need to use in your noodle soup, you get to pick better.
Both ramen and pot noodles are made for wheat and can be used in noodle soup which is confusing. The main difference is in how they are made. Ramen is often made fresh, while pot noodles are made and packaged for later use.
How To Choose The Right Pot Noodles
Now that you know all about the nutritional value of your noodles, the next thing you need to figure out is which brand you are buying. Since there are so many currently in the market, one can easily get carried away and pick a brand you do not like. When it comes to picking noodles, you need to consider your taste. If you love spicy noodles, there are pot noodles that are just that.
On the other hand, if you do not love the chicken or beef flavor, worry not. There are so many flavor profiles in the market, and all you need to do is figure out which of them works for you and your state buds. You might need to go through different flavors and brands, but you will have our steaming pot of noodle soup once you get it right.
How To Make The Best Pot Of Noodles
If you have had a pot of noodles made without any additives, you will feel that it is bland tasting. Many people keep off noodle soups because of this reason. The solution to this is quite simple. You need to figure out what you can add to your noodle soup. Here are a couple of ideas that would come in handy when making the best pot of noodle soup. It will take the normal pot of noodles to another level and make it something you want to eat more often.
Add vegetables
Aside from making the noodle soup healthier, vegetables also add some flavor and a difference in a crunch when it comes to the noodle soup. When it comes to the vegetables, ensure you go all out when it comes to color and textures, as that will make your soup stand out even better. You can also add some of the vegetables as a garnish. It makes it presentable.
Use some sauce
Even though most pot noodles come with season added, this is usually not sufficient. One of the things you can do is add some sauces to the food. There are many different sauces, but most people stick to oyster sauce or soy sauce. You can also look up the other sauces in the market and see if they will work for you. Experiment until you figure out something that works for you.
Pot noodles ingredients
Taking as example the Pot Noodle Bombay Bad Boy, the list of ingredients goes as:
- Noodle mix (96%)
- Dried noodles (62%)
- WHEAT flour (contains calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin)
- sunflower oil
- salt
- firming agents (potassium carbonates, sodium carbonates
- maltodextrin
- WHEAT flour
- curry (cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne pepper, pepper, aniseed, cinnamon, fennel seed, ginger, lovage root, allspice)
- yeast extract
- garlic powder
- sweetcorn
- peas
- sugar
- onion powder
- palm fat
- soy sauce powder
- flavourings
- BARLEY malt extract
- potato starch
- acid (citric acid)
- paprika
- Sauce sachet (4%)
- Chilli sauce
- water
- spirit vinegar
- modified corn starch
- salt
- cumin
- flavourings
- cayenne pepper.
- May contain other cereals containing gluten, celery, egg, milk and mustard.
Last Thoughts
One of the things you can be sure you will get with a pot of noodles is comfort and less time in the kitchen. It is the perfect go-to meal for those days when you just want to sit back and maybe watch some TV instead of living in the kitchen. If you have issues with dietary restrictions, then this article is for you. The tips on making your noodles taste better to make it an even better option for you. Try it out and see the difference!