Robin Ha’s Cook Korean! is one of my favorite cookbooks, so I leapt at an opportunity to read an advance copy of Instant Noodles & Beyond. As I expected, Instant Noodles & Beyond is friendly, creative, and useful. My one single issue with it, and this may be an arc issue and not a problem in the final product, there is no table of contents. My plan to address this issue if it exists in my physical copy is sticky tabs. I will be getting a physical copy. I love Ha’s art work too much not to.
At the end of her introduction, Robin Ha hopes that the reader will be inspired to find new ways to personalize and elevate the humble dehydrated noodle. From soups to snacks, she gives readers many opportunities to be creative. I have been personalizing instant noodles for years, and she has opened new doors for me. It never occurred to me to make scallion pancakes or okonomiyaki with ramyeon. I’m planning to try both, but must wait for a night when I’m cooking for just me.
Instant noodles are a wonderful treat with some significant warnings for sodium. Ha addresses the sodium concerns directly and in addition to emphasizing that ramyeon is not a suggested daily meal, she offers solutions for reducing the sodium without compromising the flavor. I’m intrigued by her alternative broth seasoning recipe.
I received this as an advance reader copy from William Morrow and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
