Ramen Dudes Big Lebowski Style

DUDE DOES RAMEN

Ramen, another Bedrock of “Dude Cookery.” Ramen, quite a lot has been written, on the subject of Ramen, it’s “One dam Great invention that Millions of College Students over the years would agree with. Ramen is also a favorite of those with limited means, and folks on a tight budget. Ramen wasn’t around that much way back when our hero The Dude was going to college, so he didn’t partake or Abide in “The Ramen” back then. You can bet your sweet bippy though, if Ramen was around and popular back then, Ramen would have been a major player in the Dudes College Diet along with canned Tuna, Chili, and Spaghetti. The Dude however and for the past 15 years or so, has embraced Ramen and its varied uses in quite a big way.

Dude likes Ramen for its Thrifty Cost, Ease and Quickness of preparation. Dude usually whips up a Ramen Meal in about 10 minutes or less. Dude likes that. He also likes the versatility of Ramen and the cool packaging, and the Dude always keeps his cupboard packed with Ramen that he gets at some large discount chain for about 6 packs for $1.00 .. Not Bad!

Dude says besides cans of Tuna, he always has Ramen, Eggs, and a can of Spam on hand, so if the frig and the rest of his cupboard is bare, he can whip up some dry seasoned Ramen, a couple slices of Spam and a Fried Egg or two and he’s set 1, 2, Three!

Dry Ramen with Fried Egg and SPAM

COOKING RAMEN

Cooking Ramen Noodles is one of the simplest things one could ever wish to do, just follow the instructions on the back of the package. Actually there are two main ways to cook and serve Ramen Noodles. One way to cook Ramen Noodles is as a soup, which is the way they are mainly intended. You place a couple cups of water into a pot. Bring the water to the boil, add the seasoning contents from the small flavor packet in the package, add the noodles and let boil for 3 minutes. Your Ramen Noodle Soup is ready to eat. The Ramen is fine like this, but if you want a bit of a better meal, you can throw in any kind of fresh vegetable (Bok Choy, Broccoli, Carrots, etc..) that you have blanched beforehand. The second method is to cook the Ramen Noodles either in seasoned (from the flavor packet) or un-seasoned boiling water for three minutes, then draining the noodles in a colander or wire-basket and serving them dry. Once the noodles have been drained from the water or broth, you put them on a plate and season them to give them flavor. Many will reserve just a little water (2 tablespoons) and toss the water with about half of the seasonings from the flavor packet and they are ready to eat.

Dudes favorite way to prepare and eat Ramen Noodles is to cook the noodles in boiling water that has been seasoned with the whole contents of the flavor packet for 3 minutes, then draining the noodles to dry. The Dude then places the noodles on a plate, sprinkles on a little salt, about a tablespoon of Sesame Oil (Great Flavor), then he hits it with one of his favorite Hot Sauces such as; Sriracha, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Crystal, or Tabasco.

This preparation is absolutely delicious on its own. Dude eats it all the time; 2 or 3 times a week for a breakfast of Ramen and Eggs. The Dude often eats Ramen for lunch with one or two fried eggs that are seasoned with salt and pepper or with Maggie’s Sauce, “Yum!” Besides eating Ramen Noodles for Breakfast or Lunch and occasionally dinner, The Dude often has a serving of Ramen in-between meals when he gets hungry. They are quick (just 3 minutes) and easy and just the right size. A portion of Ramen Noodles on their own with nothing else on the plate is enough to satisfy your hunger so that hungry feeling disappears and you are satisfied, and the portion size is not too much that it will ruin your meal that you plan on eating later and you will be able to eat that meal latter-on.

And we should point out here, being a Californian, The Dude and most of his fellow Californians really love Mexican and all Asian Cuisine Foods, and this is why Dude loves his Ramen with nice fresh green Asian vegetables, like Mustard Greens and especially Baby Bok Choy.

Along with eating dry Ramen Noodles on their own or with a little something on the side, you can have them with a piece of Kielbasa, a couple links of breakfast sausage, with Bacon, or one or two slices of fried Spam or Taylor Ham or any type of Ham you wish, even a Hot Dog or two will do.

So the Dudes really favorite way and one of the more nutritious ways to have his Ramen is when he buys a pound or two of Baby Bok Choy. The Dude simply blanches the Bok Choy in salted boiling water that he cooks the Ramen in. Once the water comes to the boil he throws in 2-3 heads of the Baby Bok Choy that has been washed and split in half. Let the Bok Choy cook in the water for about 2 ½ minutes, take them out of the water with a slotted spoon and place in a colander to let excess water drain. At this point you put your noodles and the contents of the flavor packet in the boiling water. Put the Bok Choy on the plate and sprinkle on a little salt and Sesame Oil.

Drain the Ramen Noodles from the water, place on the plate and season with salt, Sesame Oil, salt, and Hot Sauce. “Voila, you have a quick (6-8 minutes), super economical meal that has tasty noodles and delicious nutritious Baby Bok Choy.

NOTE: You can use many different vegetables of your choice when making Ramen. Harder Green Vegetables such as Green Beans or Broccoli are best. You can also use the larger type of regular Bok Choy as well, but the baby type is preferred, and The Dude says it taste better and looks better on the plate to boot. Dude just loves it!

Ecerpted From GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

RECIPES in The Dude BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

LEARN HOw to COOK RAMEN LIKE THe DUDE

RECIPES in GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

aka The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

ABIDE in IT !

The Dude and Food “Big Lebowski Style”

THE DUDE & FOOD

and How to Use The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK – GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The Dude and Food? Yes the Dude likes his food. Actually, along with Bowling, getting “High,” imbibing in his favorite drink The White Russian, driving around, listening to Creedence, Tai Chi, and “A Little Bit of This a Little Bit of That,” food, cooking, and eating is a major part of The Dudes life, when he’s not getting mixed up in faux kidnappings and acting as a courier, Bowling, or having a coffee at the coffee shop with Walter, discussing life, the World, philosophizing, or what not, “What about The Fucking Toe” ??? The Dude likes to cook.

The Dude has amassed quite a nice collection of recipes over the years. He learned how to cook Home Fries from his dad who gave the little Dude some early wisdom when he told his little Jeffrey, “Son every man needs to know how to cook a few good dishes. You gotta be able to cook yourself some Eggs and Potatoes for Breakfast, how to work the barbecue grill and how to cook a Proper Steak.” Dudes mom and granny showed The Young Dude a thing or two as well. Dude got a few recipes from friends after being at parties or what not, liking a particular dish (like Burritos, Tacos, and what not) and asking the host or whoever made the dish for the recipe. Dude clipped out some recipes from newspapers and food-home and garden magazines, and got a bunch of books at garages sales and Flea Markets, just a Quarter a Pop. He scoured through these and came up with a number of good dishes he uses all the time.

The Dude has a spiral note-book where he has written down recipes or taped in clipped recipes from magazines and newspapers. It’s quite an interesting collection, and gives us a little bit more insight into The Dude, his likes and dislikes.

This collection of The Dudes Recipes, info, and advice on food, and cooking, Life too, and a little bit of Duder philosophy here and there.

This collection of Dudes Recipes, a cookbook, is not set up and written in the normal order that you see most cookbooks written, with appetizers, to start out, then maybe a chapter on soup, followed by main course dishes with fish dishes and recipes leading the way, followed by poultry, then meat, and the cookbook ends with desserts.

The Dude’s Collected Recipes starts out with the most important things first and goes in order of importance with The White Russian being most important and thus the first recipe. There is a handful of Cocktail Recipes and wisdom, then we go into food, starting with some of Dudes favorite, most eaten recipes, like Eggs, Tuna, Chili and related recipes, soups, and on down the line.

Dude wants you to learn first-things-first. Get a handful of recipes and knowledge, build on these, and then learn one or two other things (Dishes), “Taken Her Easy” as the Cowboy Stranger would say. For example, Dude starts out with some basics on cooking Eggs, which are very easy, super quick to prepare, “Tasty,” and cheap too. All major requirements for The Dude, his food, cooking, and the recipes he likes.

So you start out slow, learn the basics, going step-by-step and building on what you learn. You will begin your foundation, making great Home Fries to start, how to make Hard Boiled Eggs, how to Fry an Egg and you’re off to a nice little start. You learn the home fries, fried and scrambled eggs and you can make yourself a plate of potatoes and eggs for breakfast at any time. And once you know how to make yourself some good scrambled and Fried Eggs, then you’ll be able to make a good number of different and varied Egg Sandwiches, like; Ham & Egg, Fried Egg and Cheese, or Ham Egg and Cheese, or whatever. Nothing like a “Tasty” quick and easy Egg Sandwich, they’re not just for breakfast, they make a great lunch, late night snack after Bowling, or anytime of the day, they’re great, and good to know how to make.

When you know how to make hard Boiled Eggs, which is the easiest thing in the world, you can eat them as is or make the laughably simple Egg Salad for tasty and zesty little Egg Salad Sandwiches anytime of the day. Again; quick, easy, tasty, and inexpensive. The Dude likes them, so does Maude, or Maudy, as Knox would say.

Right after learning about Eggs, you’ll learn about Tuna, canned Tuna, not the fresh stuff. The Dude likes his food fresh, especially fruits and vegetables, all his fish, except of course Tuna, which he likes canned man. Yes he likes everything fresh, with two exceptions, Iced Tea and “Tuna.” When it comes to tuna, it’s gotta be canned. And a can of Tuna for The Dude is a longtime old friend that’s tried and true ever since Dudes College Days and helping to author the Port Horon Statement.

Yes The Dude subsisted and lived on canned Tuna, Spaghetti, and the occasional Burger, and leftover pizza. Dude is quite individualistic, and totally unique, but when it came to college days of smoking a lot of Thai Stick and occupying various administration buildings, in these days, the Dudes-Food and eating habits were much like most college age American males, Burgers, Pizza, and canned Tuna. Canned Tuna, a.k.a. a single guys best-friend, and that includes our hero, The Dude.

Make the Dudes Classic Tuna Salad recipe and the wonderful and satisfying Macaroni & Tuna Salad. It’s awesome and especially refreshing thing to eat during hot summer months, and it’s super economical too.

After the Tuna, you’ll move on to one of the Dudes most beloved and quite versatile food items, Chili. Chili and all the things you can do with it, like; Chili con Carne, 3-Way Chili, Beef Burritos or Tacos stuffed with Dudes Chili. These are Dudes favorites of all, Tacos and Burritos made with his Chili and a few other ingredients thrown into the assemblage. Once Dude has his Chili, he just serves it in a bowl with all the necessary condiments, like chopped onions, shredded Cheese, and crackers. And The Dude usually grabs himself a nice cold Beer when sitting down to enjoy a bowl of his specially made Cowboy Chili. Yumm!!!!

Excerpted From GOT ANY KAHLUA The Collected Recipes of The Dude

by Daniel Zwicke