A delightful deep dive into the versatility of instant ramen, this umami-rich instruction manual with 40+ international recipes will help you become a better chef and get creative in the kitchen using a classic comfort food slurped around the world.
Instant ramen, while a seemingly simple dish straight out of the packet, is the quintessential blank canvas to practice improvising in the kitchen. Ready in ten minutes and a forgiving partner due to its baseline deliciousness, a bowl of tasty noodles results from any experimentation, no matter how far-flung. Author Peter J. Kim breaks down his philosophies on creating perfect harmony in your bowl through 40+ transformative recipes, a fool-proof methodology, an instant ramen flavor wheel, and robust pantry recommendations, plus a field guide to different ramen varieties and flavor profiles.
For those in search of even more ways to think outside the packet, Instant Ramen Kitchen is complete with unique comfort food recipes from all corners of the globe that demonstrate the beloved noodles versatility and flavor-enhancing qualities, including:
Xian-style Cumin Lamb Ramen Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) Ramen alla Marinara Ramen Fideuŕ (Catalan Noodle Paella) B.E.C. Ramen (Bacon, Egg, and Cheese)
After helping you perfect the basics, Kim offers a peek inside his own improvisations that have resulted in nourishing, delicious, and soul-satisfying meals that are great to enjoy any time of day. Following his example, its time to let the flavorful fun begin, creating your own unique ramen masterpieces.
Peter J. Kim is the author of Instant Ramen Kitchen: 40+ Delicious Recipes That Go Beyond the Packet (Chronicle Books, Sept. 2025) and a food entrepreneur who breathes, sleeps, and, above all, eats food culture. He is the founder of The Infinite Table, an immersive experience blending food, storytelling, and 360° video, and was the founding director of the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD), shaping it into a groundbreaking institution that explores the intersection of cuisine, history, science, and culture. He was the former head of Creator Partnerships at Pinterest, where he led culinary and lifestyle content initiatives for over 450 million users. He also hosted and created Counterjam, Food52s acclaimed food and music podcast. Peter has been featured by such media outlets as The New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR, CBS, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and more. He lives with his two kids in New York City, where he eats several bowls of instant ramen per week.
