Momofuku Ando died on January 6, 2007, of a Heart attack. He was 96 years old. Now, when I say the name Momofuku Ando, you may not know to whom I refer. If I were to say Ramen Noodles, then every poor college student thinks of a cheap staple that subsidizes their diet for a few cents a day. Mr Ando was famous, vicariously through his invention, though no one really knew him by name.
Mr Ando founded the company Nissen Food in 1948 at the age of 38. He started the company using funds from his humble family clothing business. He was faced with the task of running a food company during the food shortages of post-war Japan. Mr Ando realized that a quality, convenient ramen product would help to feed the masses.
His goal was to create a ramen noodle that could be eaten anywhere, anytime. It was rumored that Mr Ando was inspired to create a cheap noodle that could be stored like rice, and reconstituted at home, so the poor could carry a lunch with them to the city, instead of paying high prices at the food vendors. It is also said that Mr. Ando was inspired to develop the instant noodle after coming upon a long line of people on a cold night shortly after World War II. They were waiting to buy freshly made ramen at a black market food stall. The experience convinced him that “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat,” according to http://www.nissinfoods.com/. Momofuko Ando was the man that introduced the world to the instant soup “Chicken Ramen”, the first instant noodle, in 1958 and later the cup of Ramen, which made its way onto the scene in 1971. In a minor irony of time, Ramen noodles were initially considered a luxury item, since Japanese grocery stores sold fresh Japanese noodles (Udon) at one-sixth the cost of Mr. Ando’s new food concept. It is rather funny, when you consider that the Ramen noodle that was a luxury item in Japan in 1958, became the staple of the poor all over America in the 1970’s.
It is not uncommon to find indvidual packets of Ramen noodles at your local grocery store for less than ten cents a piece. There have been entire recipe books dedicated to ways to prepare Ramen noodles. There are even some that break apart the noodles, spread peanut butter upon them, and eat the noodles as though they were a cracker. I have heard of having soup with crackers, but this is a first as to how to eat your soup as a cracker.
“The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum” was founded to honor Mr Ando, and his inventions, in 1999 in Ikeda City, Western Japan. The museum is an official means of honoring the man that invented the instant noodle, but to me, the true honor is the number of college students who eat his invention every day. This helps to perpetuate the original goal of Mr Ando, to feed the poor.
There are many recipes incorporating Ramen noodles, and here I will share a few.
*Beef Ramen
1 package Beef Ramen Noodles
2 cups water
½. Use the seasoning packet from the Ramen and season to taste (1/4 – ½ seasoning packet) Prepare the noodles according to package directions, then mix and serve. If you like cheese, just add one slice of american cheese to make this a cheeseburger noodle casserole.
Taco Ramen Salad
1 package beef ramen noodles
½ pound ground beef
1 small tomato, chopped
½ cup onion, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Thousand Island dressing to taste
What to do:
Cook noodles according to package directions, and drain. Brown beef, and drain. Stir in ½ seasoning packet. Mix all ingredients together, and add salad dressing.
