10/21/2020 EDIT: I have been using this Good & Gather ramen broth more than I expected! In addition to the mish mosh I put together per the below post from 5/8/2020, I have been using it for dishes that I typically use with chicken broth. I like that there are added flavor enhancements, which eliminates the need for extra work when I am tight on time!
Man was today a rough Friday! Deadlines on top of deadlines! Additionally, my boss firmly refused to continue granting me the daily lunch breaks for which I feel I am entitled to! Yes, my big, little boss aka my 2.5 year old daughter has been fighting her naps and has decided she’s not going to wait until 4 to hit her next milestone. Last week, she went 5 consecutive days without napping!! 😩
As a result of this hectic Friday, I sought ways to make my life easier. I considered getting take-out because my brain was so fried, but our favorite local restaurants have yet to open doors, sadly. That’s when I remembered: my Target package had just arrived a couple of days ago and in it were these ramen broths that I had wanted to try!
I was worried about these broths tasting like plain old, bland chicken broth, but they were actually pretty decent. I wouldn’t compare it to Ippudo‘s broth, maybe more towards a packaged instant ramen’s, minus the powder. The broth possessed sufficient ramen flavor that may potentially satisfy one’s cravings. As you can see, there are hints of ginger, tamari & mushrooms, ingredients you likely wouldn’t find in regular chicken broth. These enhancements eliminate the need for you to add anything extra to your soup base, but I did so for a tad more flavor.
Frankly, I had no time to think about dinner, so I heated up 1.5 containers of this Good & Gather ramen broth, added some sesame oil, threw in some shiitake mushrooms and topped it off with some salt. While that was heating up, I seared some pre-marinated chicken and boiled udon noodles, fish tofu, crab meat, eggs and broccoli for some variety, color and appeal. Sounds like a mish-mosh or hot pot, no? I would’ve liked my eggs runny but cooked it through for my LO. If I had extra time, I would’ve added some caramelized onions for a touch of sweetness, but my kid was starvin’!
Steve thought the broth was bland and needed extra salt, but I thought it was good the way it was. He tends to like his food heavier on salt and sauce, whereas I don’t mind a lighter meal. Having said that, if you are like him, you may want to add an extra kick to this broth (chili, Sriracha, salt, maybe fish sauce or soy sauce). If you’re like me, the added touch of sesame oil, some salt, onions and mushrooms may do the job. Would I purchase this again? Yes, and I probably wouldn’t bother with enhancements. However, I’d do it for Steve and up the flavor a slight notch. All-in-all, I think Target did a good job and their new brand carries some products that are worthy of experiment.
