Are Ramen Noodles Gluten Free?
Ramen noodles are a staple food item in Japan. They are also very affordable and widely consumed across Asia. In recent years, ramen has become extremely popular in the United States.
More traditional ramen noodles aren’t gluten-free, but they’re easy to make gluten-free if you know how to cook ramen noodles. You’ll find recipes online for cooking ramen noodles from rice flour, cornstarch, and other gluten-free ingredients. Just be sure to read labels carefully before buying any packaged foods.
What Exactly Is Ramen?
Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish consisting of wheat noodles served in meat broth along with various toppings. Traditionally, ramen noodles were made from wheat flour, but today there are several types of gluten-free ramen available. You can find ramen noodles made from rice, potato, and other gluten-free floured options online.
You can also find gluten-free ramen made from rice, potato, or other gluten-free ingredients at your local grocery store. Just look for labels that say “gluten-free”.
Another potential source of gluten in traditional ramen is broth. Many ramen broths are flavored with soy sauce, which is usually made with wheat.
If you’re planning to cook ramen broth at home, be certain that you use a gluten-free soy sauce.
What Are Ramen Noodles Made Of?
There are several types of ramen noodles available today. Traditional ramen noodles are made from wheat, salt, oil, flavoring, and water. However, other types of ramen noodles are made using rice instead of wheat. These include flavored ramen noodles, egg noodles, and instant ramen noodles.
Traditional ramen noodles are usually made from wheat flour, but other types of noodles are made from rice flour. Rice noodles are typically used in Asian dishes, including ramen noodles. Egg noodles are another type of noodle that is made from wheat flour and eggs. Instant ramen noodles are made with seasoning packets that are added directly to boiling water.
There are so many types of ramen noodles out there that it’s hard to keep track of them all. So if you’re wondering whether ramen noodles are gluten-free, the short answer is yes. All of the above types of noodles are gluten-free.
6 Gluten-free Ramen Noodle Substitutes
There are plenty of gluten-free ramen noodle substitutes available today. Some of the most common ones include rice noodles, corn noodles, buckwheat noodles, quinoa noodles, brown rice noodles, and tapioca starch noodles. These types of noodles are usually made from natural ingredients, making them safe for those following a gluten-free diet!
1. Soba Noodles
Soba Noodles can be divided into two main categories: buckwheat noodles and wheat noodles. Buckwheat noodles are made from 100% buckwheat flour, whole wheat noodles are made from a combination of buckwheat flour and wheat flour. Some sodas are made from only buckwheat flour, and some are made from both buckwheat and wheat flour.
Look for soba (buckwheat) noodles that are made using just buckwheat flour to make sure what’s inside is not wheat-based. You can find these at Asian groceries, health food stores, and online retailers.
2. Glass Noodles
Gluten-free glass noodles are great for making Asian-inspired meals at home. They come in various shapes and sizes, including thin rice sticks, thick spaghetti-like strands, and long flat sheets. Some brands include flavorings, such as sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions.
You can find glass noodles in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. Look for packages marked “glutinous rice flour” or “mung bean starch.” These types of noodles are usually sold in boxes of 50 grams.
They are available in several varieties, including white, brown, red, green, yellow, and purple. White ones tend to be thinner and less chewy than others. Brown ones are thicker and chewier. Red ones are sometimes called “red bean noodles” due to their color. Green ones are typically used in soups. Yellow ones are often found in Chinese desserts. Purple ones are commonly used in Japanese cuisine.
3. Shirataki Noodles
Konjac noodles are made from a root vegetable called “konjac”. They are used in Chinese cuisine and are commonly found as an ingredient in soup.
They are very high in fiber and low in calories, making them a healthy alternative to regular pasta. You can find them at most grocery stores and Asian markets.
4. Rice Noodles
Rice noodles come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are long and thin, others are short and thick, and still, others are round. All of these types of rice noodles are gluten-free and can be used as a substitute for regular ramen noodles.
You can find rice noodles at most Asian grocery stores, including Whole Foods Market. You’ll usually find them near the refrigerated section. Look for packages labeled “rice noodles,” “vermicelli,” “stick noodles,” or “chow mein.”
Rice noodles are great alternatives to regular ramen noodles. They’re available in many different shapes and flavors, making them versatile enough to work well in many recipes.
5. Kelp Noodles
Kelp noodles are traditionally made using kelp, which is a seaweed that grows abundantly along the coastlines of Asia. You may not realize it, but kelp noodles are quite delicious. They’re typically served in soups, but they can also be enjoyed as a side dish or used in stir-fry dishes.
You can enjoy kelp noodles as you’d any other ramen dish. Try them in ramen soup, ramen entrees, or even as a side dish.
6. Veggie Noodles
Vegetable noodles are a great option if you’d rather enjoy a healthier version of ramen noodles. These noodles are made from vegetables instead of wheat flour.
Zucchini noodles are probably the most common variety of vegetable noodles. They are usually served cold, but you can also serve them hot. They are typically added to soups, salads, stir-fries, pasta dishes, casseroles, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, quesadillas, pizza toppings, etc.
You can also make pasta out of carrots, beets, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes. Just slice them thinly, then add them to your favorite pasta recipe.
Add these vegetables to your ramen recipes to get a boost in nutrients. They’re made from vegetables so they won’t taste like paper!
Gluten-Free Ramen Brands
You’ll find that several brands of ramen noodles are completely gluten-free without any wheat flour at all. You may not realize it, but many ramen noodles contain gluten. However, if you look closely, you’ll notice that they list “gluten-free” right next to the ingredient label.
Some manufacturers add gluten-free flours to their products to give them a similar texture and taste. Others simply remove the wheat flour entirely. Either way, you should be able to enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen without worrying about cross-contamination.
1. Pamela’s
This is a great option if you’re looking for a quick and healthy alternative to ramen. It’s made with dried rice noodles, a seasoned packet, and a dehydrated vegetable pack. All you have to do is add boiling water and you’ve got yourself a bowl of ramen soup.
Each cup comes with a seasoning packet and a dehydrated veggie packet. Choose between three flavors: Original, Spicy, and Sweet & Sour.
2. Thai Kitchen
Thai Kitchen offers a wide variety of gluten-free options. Their products include ramen noodles, ramen soups, rice bowls, salads, appetizers, desserts, snacks, beverages, and sauces. All of their products are made without wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelled, triticale, corn, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, or any other food ingredients that may cause celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
They also offer a wide variety of flavors including chicken, beef, pork, seafood, vegetable, miso, curry, sweet chili, spicy garlic, teriyaki, ginger, sesame, peanut, and others. You’ll find that there are plenty of choices to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
3. Lotus Foods Rice Ramen
Lotus Foods’ rice ramen is made with millet flour instead of wheat flour. Millet is a gluten-free grain that is high in protein and fiber. It’s also low in calories and cholesterol.
You can find Lotus Foods rice ramen noodles in individual packages, complete with a soup pack. These packs include four 2 oz. servings of ramen noodles, along with a broth packet. There are five different flavors available: Original, Teriyaki, Sesame Ginger, Miso Vegetable, and Spicy Chicken.
Lotus Foods’ millet and brown rice bags are great for making ramen noodles at home. Simply add water and cook according to the package directions.
4. Mr. Lee’s Noodles
Mr. Lee’s Noodle is a great alternative to traditional ramen noodles. These noodles are made with gluten-free brown rice ramen and a wide range of authentic Thai flavors, such as:
Thai basil, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves, mint, onion, red chili flakes, sesame seeds, soy sauce, tamarind paste, and white vinegar.
These noodles are not only free of gluten, but also free of artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors, and use 100% recycled packaging and no plastic seasoning packets.
They come in a convenient single-serving cup, making them ideal for busy lifestyles.
5. Big Green Organic Food
Big Green Organic Foods has a wide selection of ready-to-eat ramen with of gluten-free noodles. Their sorghum ramen is one of their most popular products, and it’s available in four flavors: original, spicy, sweet chili, and teriyaki.
In conclusion, if you have celiac disease, you should avoid wheat products like ramen noodles because they contain gluten. But if you don’t have celiac disease, ramen noodles aren’t going to hurt you. They’re made from rice flour, which doesn’t contain any gluten.
Hey'all I'm Amy, a born foodie and diagnosed with celiac disease 7 years ago. I refused to cave into tasteless, boring gulten free food and create my own!
On my blog you'll find info & cool facts along with recipes, all on gluten free foods!