How-To: Homemade Just-Add-Hot-Water Instant Noodles Lunches

_{Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt}

It’s about time for the leaves to start changing color and the air to get chilly, so it might be nice to whip yourself up some hot lunches to bring to work with you, along with a toasty cup of green tea. An electric kettle or microwave are all you’ll need to cook yourself up a delicious lunch on the go with these homemade instant noodle recipes by J. Kenji López-Alt of Serious Eats.

The idea is simple and genius: combine par-cooked noodles, a bit of vegetable base, some raw sliced veggies, and a few seasonings inside a jar. Add boiling water, wait a few minutes, and you’ve got yourself a lunch with all the appeal of instant noodles, but with actual flavor and freshness trapped under that lid.

With homemade instant noodle recipes like Spicy Kimchi Beef, Chicken and Dill, Vegetable With Sesame-Miso Soup, Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp, or your own concoction, you won’t have to compromise quality for convenience and you’ll be the envy of your lunchroom!