Forget everything you thought you knew about instant ramen! This recipe transforms those humble noodles into a surprisingly delicious and craveable chow mein dish, packed with fresh veggies and your choice of protein.
Get ready to ditch the boring broth and unlock a new world of ramen possibilities; the secret to flavor-packed noodles is just a scroll away!
Ingredients
Alright, let's gather your ingredients for this awesome cheese log—it's gonna be a flavor explosion! You'll need about 500g of softened cream cheese; the block kind works best, trust me.
Next up, grab 1/3 cup of sour cream—or yogurt if you're feeling fancy. Don't forget your spices: 1/2 tsp each of thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, and pepper OR 1 tsp of Italian seasoning if you're cutting corners—kidding! Add 1 tsp each of garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes.
Now, for the fun part! You'll want 2 cups of freshly grated cheddar cheese—or any cheese you love, just skip mozzarella. Get 280g of chopped roasted peppers, 180g of chopped salami, 3/4 cup of chopped green olives, and 1/3 cup of minced green onion.
Lastly, for topping magic, snag 220g of sun-dried tomato strips and 1/4 cup of parsley. We can't forget rosemary sprigs and Jatz!
Instructions
Let's turn all of our hard work prepping ingredients into a stunning cheese log! I want you to start by spraying a loaf pan with oil – don't skimp! Now, line that pan with cling wrap, making sure it overhangs; trust me, you'll thank me later!
Okay, this is the fun part. Mix all those cheese log ingredients together in a big bowl. Give it a taste! Does it need more salt? Adjust it, remembering those crackers we're serving with are salty already.
Next, scrape the cheesy mixture into the loaf pan. Spread it out evenly and press down – get rid of those sneaky air pockets. A smaller pan means a taller loaf – fancy, right?
Now, cover it with the cling wrap overhang and pop it in the fridge! I like to chill it for at least 4 hours, but you could leave it for a week.
Recipe Notes
Once it's chilled, get ready to flip this cheesy masterpiece! If you're using Philadelphia cream cheese blocks, you're good to go. Now, if you've only got the spreadable kind, ditch the sour cream – it gets too soft otherwise!
For the cheese, cheddar, tasty, Swiss – whatever melts well and tickles your fancy works. But, skip mozzarella, okay? It just doesn't have enough pizzazz! Freshly grated cheese is best, trust me, it blends better!
Speaking of salami, I go for the hot stuff, but hey, you do you! If you want to make it meatless, skip the salami and toss in ½ cup of grated parmesan. It'll still pack a punch!
Got leftover artichokes or olives? Chop 'em up and throw 'em in! Consider chorizo, bacon, and ham too! This thing is a blank canvas—go wild!
Nutrition Information
Now, let's talk about what's inside this flavor-packed cheese log – the nutrition facts! I've crunched the numbers, and here's the scoop!
Each serving packs about 278 calories but don't let that scare you. We've also got 6 grams of carbs, 9 grams of protein – not bad, huh? You will get 24 grams of fat, with 12 grams of saturated kind, which might make your doctor raise an eyebrow.
Cholesterol? Around 64mg. Sodium clocks in at 876mg – so maybe go easy on the added salt, okay? There's also 384mg of potassium, and a tiny bit of fiber, just 1 gram!
Sugar is surprisingly low at 1 gram, Vitamin A hits 1050 IU, and we get a good dose of Vitamin C – 25.3mg! Calcium is 170mg, and iron is 1.1mg; those small bits count!
Short Recipe Version
Chow Mein Ramen Noodles****
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serving Size: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 package ramen noodles
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 cup mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cabbage)
- 1/4 cup cooked protein (chicken, tofu, shrimp)
- Optional: salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook ramen noodles according to package directions. Do not overcook.
- While noodles are cooking, stir-fry vegetables and protein in sesame oil until heated through.
- Drain noodles and add to the vegetable mixture.
- Stir in soy sauce and mix well.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving – Estimated):
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 15g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 40g