Makaning - Instant Noodles

Instant noodles, you might hear people around you always telling you that instant noodles are carcinogenic and unhealthy. However, think about it, how would life be like without instant noodles? If ever you have one of those days that you just woke up late and have no idea what you would want for brunch, and at the same time you feel lazy as hell to just walk a few feet outside to your car, instant noodles are always the saviour in such emergency situations. Pop the bag, boil some water and 5 minutes later you have chicken soup noodles in front of you. It is no doubt that instant noodles are one of mankind's most brilliant creations and one of the most underlooked.

    In Malaysia, instant noodles are no doubt a hit, a staple diet among locals. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack, you can find people eating instant noodles at anytime of the day, even 3am in the morning at the mamak stall. Unhealthy? Who cares?

    Instant noodles also form a base to brush up our cooking skills. The first step in cooking every Malaysian child has to take is to learn how to cook "Maggi mee". They also serve as a base for food experimenting, you can fry instant noodles, boil'em and eat'em with home cooked soup, add any leftovers to them for added "nutrition" and nowadays some can even be eaten out of the pack when you feel too heavy to move more than 6 inches. Ask any Malaysian and they'll all have their personal preference how their instant noodles should be like and what ingredients are to be added. Same story with every mamak stall, they all have their different styles of Maggi goreng.

    Personally, I like to add my ingredients according to what is shown on the picture on the packet. I don't like to add seafood to chicken noodles or meat to seafood noodles. You might think that I'm mad but I don't care. Here, I am to share with you one of my favourite style of cooking instant noodles.

    I like seafood noodles and on this particular packet of instant noodles I had today, I see prawns in the picture. Furthermore, it's a Thai product and it's Tom Yam flavoured and Tom Yam always goes well with prawns. Dug out some massive prawns from the freezer and defrost them. Peel them and devein.

    Keep the prawn shells and head for seafood broth. Throw them into the pot with some fish bone and ikan bilis(dried anchovies) and boil them for at least 20 minutes.

    Orangey red broth will form. Drain the broth into another pot and throw away the shells and shit.

    Add some water to broth and cook instant noodles. Add any seafood, for today(prawn, scallop and fish). You can also add vege but I ran out of vege today. Thank God.

    Done and serve. Might look like a bowl of rubbish but trust me it's fine fine food.