Whether you’re car camping with your kids, hiking in the backcountry or relaxing at home after a long day of work, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of ramen to cap off a day in the great outdoors. The best thing about this cheap and easy comfort food is that there’s nearly an infinite number of ways to prepare it, from a simple sachet of instant noodles with hot water to elaborately arranged bowls of ramen with grilled chicken, soft boiled egg, negi and more. The toppings you choose to add can also take your ramen from ordinary to extraordinary.

Ramen is made from a combination of wheat flour, salt and special alkaline water called “kansui.” The noodles come in different shapes and thicknesses and can be eaten in a variety of ways. Many ramen chefs are famous for their ability to create new and inventive combinations of toppings and noodle textures that elevate the simple dish into an art form.

The easiest way to make ramen is to buy one of the many packets of ramen that are sold in paper cups or bowls, which contain dried noodles and soup stock powder that can be cooked in hot water. These are called cup ramen and can be very tasty if you follow the package instructions.

A much more satisfying method is to cook the noodles in a pot of chicken broth, which you can easily create by simmering mirin, less-sodium tamari soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger for at least 30 minutes. You can even add kombu or bonito flakes for extra flavor and umami (savoryness).

Another essential ingredient is soy sauce or tamari, which can be togel hongkong added to the broth as it is cooking to give it more flavor and umami, and to add sodium if you want your ramen to be saltier. Lastly, sesame oil can be added for texture and flavor.

You can also add extra flavor and nutrition to your ramen by adding quick-cooking vegetables, such as baby spinach, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts and thinly sliced cabbage. These can be stirred into the noodle broth and will wilt in just a few seconds.

If you want to give your ramen a protein boost, simply add slices of grilled or roasted chicken. For a vegetarian option, use tofu or tempeh. Soft boiled eggs are another classic addition, and they can be made quickly by boiling water and then letting them sit for 6 – 6.5 minutes. If you have more time, you can also marinate the eggs overnight in a mixture of soy sauce and mirin for an even deeper flavor.