Boil Water with Baking Soda: Start by adding about 1 tablespoon of baking soda to a large pot of water. Bring it to a boil. This helps create an alkaline environment, similar to what ramen noodles undergo during their preparation.
Cook the Pasta: Once the water with baking soda is boiling, add your pasta. You can use spaghetti, egg noodles, or any other type of pasta you like. The alkaline water helps the pasta become firmer and chewier, more like ramen noodles.
Cook for Less Time: Because the alkaline water speeds up the cooking process, reduce the cooking time of your pasta by about 1-2 minutes compared to the normal instructions.
Rinse with Cold Water: After the pasta is cooked, drain it and quickly rinse it under cold water. This stops the cooking process and helps set the texture similar to ramen noodles.
Use a Broth: Ramen noodles are typically served in a flavorful broth. Prepare your favorite broth (like chicken, pork, or vegetable), and add the transformed pasta to it.
Enhance the Flavor: Add traditional ramen seasonings, like soy sauce, miso, sesame oil, or chili oil, to the broth for that signature ramen taste.
Top with Toppings: Complete your ramen dish with classic toppings like soft-boiled eggs, green onions, nori, and cooked meats (pork belly, chicken, etc.) to make it feel like a true ramen bowl.