Low sodium ramen can be a flavorful, comforting, and simple choice for creating homemade meals with everyday ingredients. Fresh vegetables, chicken, tofu, eggs, herbs, garlic, ginger, and homemade broth can add plenty of flavor while helping you control the amount of sodium in your bowl.
Making low sodium ramen recipes at home also gives you plenty of choices. You can combine noodles with fresh vegetables, lean chicken, tofu, eggs, mushrooms, herbs, or mild spices depending on what you have in your kitchen.
These 4 low sodium ramen recipes offer simple ingredients, easy steps, serving ideas, drink pairings, and useful substitutions for quick lunches, light dinners, cozy meals, and casual gatherings.
Low Sodium Ramen Recipes and Preparation Time
These low sodium ramen recipes include preparation and total times before each recipe. Check the time listed for each option, then choose the recipe that best fits your schedule and available ingredients before you begin preparing your homemade ramen.
1. Classic Chicken Low Sodium Ramen
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 2
2. Vegetable Low Sodium Ramen
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 2
3. Egg and Spinach Low Sodium Ramen
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2
4. Tofu Mushroom Low Sodium Ramen
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 2
Recipe 1. Classic Chicken Low Sodium Ramen
This classic chicken low sodium ramen combines noodles with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, garlic, ginger, and homemade unsalted broth. It is warm, flavorful, and simple to prepare for an easy homemade meal.
Before starting the recipes, it is helpful to know about the different types of ramen. We are taking guidance from the USA-based Serious Eats website and its article, Guide to Ramen Varieties to understand the main ramen varieties and their unique flavors, broths, noodles, and toppings. This information can help you choose the right style of ramen before trying the recipes.
Ingredients
- 2 servings low sodium ramen noodles
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
- 2 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
1. Prepare the vegetables
Wash and slice the carrots, spinach, garlic, ginger, and green onions before starting the ramen.
2. Heat the broth
Pour the unsalted chicken broth into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
3. Add the aromatics
Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and black pepper to the warm broth. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
4. Cook the carrots
Add the sliced carrots and cook for several minutes until they begin to soften.
5. Add the noodles
Place the low sodium ramen noodles into the broth and cook according to the package directions.
6. Add the chicken
Stir in the cooked shredded chicken and allow it to warm through.
7. Add the spinach
Add fresh spinach during the final minute of cooking and allow it to wilt.
8. Garnish and serve
Add sesame oil and sliced green onions before serving the ramen warm.
Best Drinks
- Lemon water
- Green tea
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Sparkling water
Serving Ideas
Serve classic chicken ramen with fresh cucumber, steamed vegetables, sliced green onions, or a small side salad. You can also add fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon for extra flavor.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Cooked chicken | Cooked turkey |
| Chicken broth | Unsalted vegetable broth |
| Fresh spinach | Bok choy |
| Carrots | Zucchini |
| Green onions | Fresh cilantro |
Recipe 2. Vegetable Low Sodium Ramen
This vegetable low sodium ramen combines noodles with mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, spinach, garlic, ginger, and unsalted vegetable broth. The colorful vegetables create a fresh and satisfying homemade bowl.
Ingredients
- 2 servings low sodium ramen noodles
- 2 cups unsalted vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup small broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
1. Prepare the vegetables
Wash and slice the mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, spinach, garlic, and green onions.
2. Heat the broth
Pour the unsalted vegetable broth into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
3. Add garlic and ginger
Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for 2–3 minutes.
4. Cook the vegetables
Add carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms to the broth. Simmer until the vegetables become tender.
5. Add the noodles
Place the low sodium ramen noodles into the broth and cook until tender.
6. Add the spinach
Stir in fresh spinach and cook for about one minute until it becomes soft.
7. Add fresh flavor
Stir in lemon juice and black pepper to enhance the flavor of the ramen.
8. Garnish and serve
Top the vegetable ramen with sliced green onions and serve immediately.
Best Drinks
- Lemon water
- Green tea
- Sparkling water
- Unsweetened iced tea
Serving Ideas
Serve vegetable ramen with extra fresh vegetables, cucumber slices, steamed broccoli, or a simple side salad. Fresh herbs can also add color and flavor to the bowl.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Mushrooms | Zucchini |
| Broccoli | Cauliflower |
| Fresh spinach | Bok choy |
| Vegetable broth | Unsalted chicken broth |
| Lemon juice | Lime juice |
Recipe 3. Egg and Spinach Low Sodium Ramen
This egg and spinach low sodium ramen combines noodles with a soft egg, fresh spinach, carrots, garlic, ginger, and unsalted broth. It creates a simple and comforting bowl for a quick homemade meal.
Ingredients
- 2 servings low sodium ramen noodles
- 2 cups unsalted vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
1. Prepare the vegetables
Wash the spinach and carrots and prepare the garlic, ginger, and green onions.
2. Heat the broth
Add the unsalted broth to a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
3. Add the aromatics
Stir in garlic, ginger, and black pepper and cook for a few minutes.
4. Cook the carrots
Add the sliced carrots and simmer until they begin to soften.
5. Add the noodles
Place the ramen noodles into the broth and cook until they become tender.
6. Add the eggs
Crack the eggs carefully into the simmering broth. Cook until the egg whites are set and the yolks reach your preferred texture.
7. Add the spinach
Stir in fresh spinach during the final minute of cooking.
8. Garnish and serve
Top the ramen with sliced green onions and serve warm.
Best Drinks
- Green tea
- Lemon water
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Sparkling water
Serving Ideas
Serve egg and spinach ramen with fresh cucumber, steamed vegetables, mushrooms, or a small side salad. A little fresh ginger or lemon can also add extra brightness.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Eggs | Cooked chicken |
| Fresh spinach | Bok choy |
| Carrots | Zucchini |
| Chicken broth | Vegetable broth |
| Green onions | Fresh parsley |
Recipe 4. Tofu Mushroom Low Sodium Ramen
This tofu mushroom low sodium ramen combines soft tofu, mushrooms, noodles, spinach, garlic, ginger, and unsalted vegetable broth. It is a warm and satisfying option for a simple meat-free homemade meal.
Ingredients
- 2 servings low sodium ramen noodles
- 2 cups unsalted vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup firm tofu cubes
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
1. Prepare the tofu
Cut the firm tofu into small cubes and set them aside.
2. Prepare the vegetables
Clean and slice the mushrooms, spinach, garlic, ginger, and green onions.
3. Heat the broth
Pour the unsalted vegetable broth into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
4. Add garlic and ginger
Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for 2–3 minutes.
5. Add the mushrooms and tofu
Place the mushrooms and tofu into the broth and simmer until the mushrooms become tender and the tofu is heated through.
6. Add the noodles
Add the low sodium ramen noodles and cook until tender.
7. Add the spinach
Stir in fresh spinach and cook for about one minute.
8. Garnish and serve
Add lime juice, black pepper, and sliced green onions before serving.
Best Drinks
- Lime water
- Green tea
- Sparkling water
- Unsweetened iced tea
Serving Ideas
Serve tofu mushroom ramen with cucumber slices, steamed vegetables, fresh herbs, or a light side salad. You can also add extra mushrooms or spinach for a more vegetable-filled bowl.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Firm tofu | Cooked chicken |
| Mushrooms | Zucchini |
| Fresh spinach | Bok choy |
| Lime juice | Lemon juice |
| Vegetable broth | Unsalted chicken broth |
Common Low Sodium Ramen Mistakes
Making low sodium ramen recipes is simple, but common mistakes can affect the flavor, texture, and overall result. Using unsalted broth, fresh ingredients, and low sodium noodles while avoiding regular seasoning packets can help create a flavorful homemade bowl.
Broth
Using regular salty broth can quickly increase the sodium in ramen. Choose unsalted broth when possible and build flavor with garlic, ginger, herbs, vegetables, and citrus.
Seasoning Packets
Regular ramen seasoning packets can contain a significant amount of sodium. For a lower-sodium homemade bowl, use fresh aromatics and mild seasonings instead.
Noodles
Check the package when choosing ramen noodles because sodium levels can vary between products. Low sodium noodles can be a useful option for homemade ramen.
Cooking
Overcooking noodles can make them soft and mushy. Add the noodles at the appropriate stage and cook them until they are just tender.
Storage Tips for Low Sodium Ramen
Proper storage helps maintain the flavor, texture, and quality of homemade ramen. Place leftover ramen in a clean airtight container, refrigerate it promptly, and reheat it thoroughly before serving.
Chicken Ramen
Store chicken ramen in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If possible, keep the noodles separate from the broth to help maintain their texture when reheating.
Vegetable Ramen
Keep leftover vegetable ramen covered and refrigerated. Add a small amount of unsalted broth when reheating if the noodles have absorbed too much liquid.
Egg Ramen
Store egg ramen in the refrigerator in a covered container. Reheat gently and add fresh spinach or green onions after warming if desired.
Tofu Mushroom Ramen
Keep tofu mushroom ramen refrigerated in an airtight container. Add a little unsalted broth while reheating if the soup becomes too thick.
FAQs
1. What is low sodium ramen made from?
Low sodium ramen can be made with low sodium noodles, unsalted broth, fresh vegetables, garlic, ginger, lean protein, tofu, eggs, and herbs. These ingredients can provide flavor without relying heavily on salty seasoning.
2. How can I make ramen flavorful without much salt?
Fresh garlic, ginger, lemon or lime juice, black pepper, herbs, mushrooms, vegetables, and unsalted broth can add plenty of flavor without depending on large amounts of salt.
3. Can I add vegetables to low sodium ramen?
Yes. Carrots, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, bok choy, zucchini, and other vegetables can be added to ramen for different flavors, textures, and colors.
4. Can I prepare low sodium ramen ahead of time?
Yes. The broth and toppings can be prepared ahead of time and stored properly in the refrigerator. For better noodle texture, cook the noodles closer to serving time.
Conclusion
These 4 savory low sodium ramen recipes offer simple ways to prepare flavorful homemade bowls with noodles, vegetables, chicken, eggs, tofu, mushrooms, and fresh seasonings. From classic chicken ramen to vegetable, egg, and tofu mushroom options, each recipe provides an easy way to enjoy comforting ramen with simple ingredients.
About the Author
I enjoy creating simple and delicious recipes that are easy to prepare at home. My goal is to share practical meal ideas with clear ingredients, easy instructions, and helpful cooking tips so everyone can enjoy homemade food.