1 packet of ramen
1/4 cup black beans or pinto beans, drained
1/4 cup corn
2 oz sliced or shredded beef, chicken, or pork
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tbsp cheese (cheddar, queso blanco, “taco blend”, your call)
Hot sauce to taste
The above makes 1 serving for one person; multiply as necessary
Cook the protein and set aside; leftovers and rotisserie chickens work well with this. Add 1 cup of water to the pan, add the ramen, 1/2 the seasoning packet, and bring to a boil. Add the cumin and oregano. When the ramen noodles are about cooked, add the protein and veggies. Ladle into bowls to serve as soup, or drain and serve as a pasta dish. Add hot sauce to taste, and top with cheese.
I use canned beans, with the goop drained off, and frozen corn.
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Since I wrote this, I have made one alteration to the above. When I drained the noodles I saved about a 1/2 cup of the liquid and added a tsp of tomato paste and stirred until it was dissolved. Then I added the noodles back in and tossed until they were coated. It added a nice, dark tomato note without overpowering any of the other flavors, and was very complimentary.