As an international mom living in Portugal with little support network, I know how essential it is to have easy, nutritious, and family-friendly recipes. Our plant-based ramen is a lifesaver! Made with rice noodles and a homemade veggie broth rich in minerals and iodine, this dish features fun toppings like sweet corn, peas, and powerhouse leafy greens such as Portuguese couve galega and spinach. The best part? Kids get to add their own toppings, making meal prep a fun and engaging activity.
This healthy, kids-approved meal helps you use up leftover veggies and is perfect for making big portions to store in the fridge for later. My son loves adding sweet corn, peas, tempeh, and Portuguese cabbage to his bowl. You can easily adapt it with hard-boiled eggs or meat for a non-vegetarian version. This recipe is a nutritious choice for kids, an easy meal for moms or dads to prep, suitable for pregnant women, and even great for babies starting on solid foods (just omit the salt and cut veggies appropriately). Having such a versatile and delicious meal that the whole family enjoys is a real win, right? And a wonderful surprise meal to celebrate today's father's day!
Ingredients
For the Broth (I used what I had in the fridge, before it got bad. But just use whatever veggies you have at home):
8 cups of water
1 onion, chopped
2 brocoli stems, chopped
1/4 white cabbage head, chopped
1 cup beetroot leafs
1 cup portuguese cabbage stems
1 cup asparagus
1 tablespoon of dulse flakes (a type of seaweed, rich in iodine, you can use kombo or nori instead)
1 tablespoon of miso paste
Toppings:
Pees
Steamed brocolli florets, I steam for 12min, using the same large pot as the broth, while the veggies are cooking)
Steamed carrots (same thing, but steamed till fork tender)
Tempeh
Spinach
Fried Portuguese cabbage (couve galega) strips
Toasted sesame seeds
Sweet corn
Instructions
Making the Broth
In a large pot, combine water and veggies. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until vegetables are soft.
Strain the broth: Pour the broth through a fine-mesh sieve another pot.
Discard the veggies: Remove and discard the vegetables caught in the sieve.
Add miso paste and stir until dissolved. Tip: use a sif to add the paste and dissolve it in the broth.
Preparing the Ramen
Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. You can find them in any organic or bio shops such as Celeiro.
If using tempeh, this is our absolute favorite, seamer the sliced tempeh for 20 min - learned this and more about vegan cooking at nutritionalfacts.org and his book - and then I add shoyo and coco aminos to taste. You can also just use soy sauce instead.
Assembling the Ramen
Divide the noodles among bowls.
Pour the hot broth with veggies over the noodles.
Let the kids choose and add their favorite toppings from the prepared ingredients: sweet corn, peas, tempeh, leafy greens, hard-boiled egg, or meat.
Garnish with toasted white and/or black sesame seeds.
Tips and Tricks
Engage the Kids: Let your children add their own toppings. This involvement can make them more excited about the meal and more likely to eat it.
Meal Prep: Make a large batch of the broth and store it in the fridge. It’s perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Baby-Friendly Version: Omit the salt and soy sauce for babies. Cut the veggies into baby-led weaning-friendly sizes.
Flexibility: Use any leftover veggies you have on hand. This ramen is versatile and can adapt to whatever you have available.
Conclusion
This plant-based ramen is a game-changer for busy families. It's nutritious, easy to make, and a hit with the kids. Plus, it's a great way to ensure everyone gets their greens while having fun with their food. Give it a try and share your experience with us! I’d love to see your creations on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me and use #BirthInPortugal ! Thank you for being here, I appreciate you!
Tenderly,
Iliona
p.s. if you are a mom or garegiver spending hours alone with young children, and want more connection and less tension through simple play activities that need no gear, no prep time, no toys, with simple cheap material that you already have in your home - then check my eBook here, I believe this will transform how you spend your time with your kid(s).
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