If you want to enjoy a delicious ramen dish, then you need to have a few things in mind to create a meal that will impress everyone you know! Of course, personal taste is also a big factor, so therefore you just need to bear in mind that the more you experiment with combinations (there are so many!), the more you are likely to find that ‘perfect combination’!

So, how do you start to experiment? We’ve got you covered here. All you need to do is follow our quick and easy guide to culinary success. Give it a whirl, and see what you discover…

Choosing your noodles

Instant: these are perfect for making lighter-style soups

Straight: this noodle is a great choice to pair with the meat-based options

Curly: go for curly noodles if you want a lovely miso broth

Choosing a protein

Surf: try scallops, shrimp, or crab meat

Turf: give chicken breast, sliced pork belly, or ground beef a go!

Veggie: tofu, tempeh, seitan, or a soft-boiled egg are four great choices

Choosing the aromatics

Garlic, onion and ginger should all be added to heighten the flavours, but leave out anything you don’t like.

Choosing your vegetables

Here’s where you can be liberal, as veggies are pretty much a free for all when it comes to ramen. Here are the best-recommended ones to add, so feel free to try as many or as little as you like:

· Carrots

· Cabbage

· Bok choy

· Mushrooms

· Spinach

· Bean sprouts

· Bean Shoots

· Scallion

Choose the base for your soup

· Shio: this is a salty, clear broth

· Japanese shoyu: a light broth, made with light or dark soy sauce

· Miso: this is a nutty, fermented, bean paste option

· Tonkotsu: offers a rich base of boiled pork bones

Choosing the garnish

· Pickled ginger

· Soft boiled egg

· Scallion (green)

· Niso - a dried seaweed

· Kimchi – fermented cabbage offering a nice punch!

Choosing your seasoning

Mix and match till your heart’s content…

· Mayu

· Sesame seeds

· Soy sauce

· Salt

· Pepper

· Togarashi

· Curry powder

· Chilli paste

· Cold butter

Not that you have all these options, you’ll probably want to get to cooking them, right away. Why not follow our guide to cooking ramen? You’ll be a master of the dish in no time!