Spicy Thai Chili Pepper Ramen with Shrimp

If you've followed my blog for any amount of time you've probably learned that I love spicy things. I also love noodles. But this is the first time I'm posting a spicy noodle recipe to my blog featuring ramen!

Ramen originates from Asia, however ramen dishes have become more and more popular in the US over the past decade. I am a big fan of all types of Asian food, so I've tried many of these from the most authentic restaurants I can find and I just love them. I created my own ramen recipe based on my favorite flavor profiles from a few Thai restaurants I've frequented in particular. Of course that means full of spice and flavor! This version is not served in broth like a lot of ramen recipes typically are. It's more of a pasta-dish.

My inspiration for this recipe came from these gorgeous Thai Chili Peppers. I saw them at my local grocery store and thought, I have to incorporate those into a dish! Now for this recipe I legit used the 30 cent ramen noodles we all know and love. You can definitely use a better quality, but this kind works fine for the recipe! I also used red bell pepper (mini version shown here), shallot, garlic, mushrooms, sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, lime juice, brown sugar, butter and shrimp.

**What is mirin? An Asian rice wine which you can add to sauces to deliver some sweetness. This sauce is spicy and the mirin helps balance it out. Look for it in the International section of your grocery store or at Asian markets. You can also order it online.**

**What can I use instead of mirin? I'd recommend sherry or a sweet marsala wine for this recipe as the goal is to add some sweetness. You might be tempted to add rice vinegar, which you can, but in that case you want to add additional brown sugar to make up for it since rice vinegar isn't sweet.**

Start by heating a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add some butter and melt. Add garlic and saute a couple minutes. Add your shrimp and cook about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a bowl and keep warm.

Next you'll add sesame oil to the same skillet and heat. Add shallot and Thai chilies and a cook a few minutes. Add mushrooms and red pepper and saute about 5 more.

Stir in soy sauce, mirin and lime juice. The lime juice also helps to cut through the spicy sauce to give it a little citrus balance. Bring just to a boil then turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar, again to help balance the spice. Once sugar has dissolved turn off the heat.

Add cooked ramen noodles (discard spice packet) and shrimp to pan and toss well in sauce.

Plate up and serve!

I hope you enjoy it!

If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

Ahi Tuna Tacos

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Stir-Fry

Spicy Thai Chili Pepper Ramen with Shrimp

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 packages of ramen noodles (discard season packets)
• 1½ tablespoon butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 10-12 shrimp (or about 1 lb), peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (more if needed)
• 1 small shallot, minced
• ½ teaspoon Thai Chili Peppers, diced
• ½ cup Baby Bella (or similar) mushrooms, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• ½ cup soy sauce (I use reduced sodium)
• 1 teaspoon mirin
• juice from one lime
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

1. Prepare ramen according to package directions but discard season. Drain once cooked.
2. Heat butter in a large pan or skillet over medium heat.
3. Once melted add garlic and saute for a couple mins.
4. Add shrimp and cook 3 minutes per side. Remove to a bowl and keep warm.
5. In same pan add sesame oil and heat.
6. Add shallot and Thai Chilies and saute for a couple mins.
7. Add mushrooms and red pepper and saute about 5 more.
8. Stir in soy sauce, mirin and lime juice. Bring to a slight boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 mins.
9. Stir in brown sugar. Turn off heat once dissolved.
10. Add ramen and shrimp to sauce and toss well.

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