Zero-Motivation Meal: Sapporo Negi Tanmen [Easy] [Popular] [Recipe]

Something delicious even when you have zero motivation

I'm tired...
I have no motivation...
But I'm hungry...

This is the Tanmen I made at a time like that.

It's easy. Fast, like 3-minute level. And delicious.
Plenty of vegetables, too. It's the best.

A little extra effort in the usual routine

The ingredients are the bagged ramen I have in stock and whatever ingredients I have on hand.

Here is what I used this time.

I usually feel a slight sense of guilt when eating ramen, but when I add plenty of vegetables, I can feel at ease thinking these vegetables will help flush out the salt.

This saltiness. The firmness of the noodles. I'm comforted by this nostalgic taste that I sometimes crave intensely.

Convenient ingredients to have on hand

1. Sunaoshi Sapporo Tanmen

This is my top recommendation.
It has a high level of reproduction of that taste I ate as a child.
A rescue noodle for when my life energy is near zero.

2. Bean sprouts

If you want to eat them crunchy, quickly stir-fry them on the day you buy them with salt and pepper.
If you have a little Shantan, it's incredibly delicious.
With the continued rise in vegetable prices, bean sprouts at the supermarket are also in short supply.
When I find them, I buy an extra bag and freeze them.
Just toss them quickly into ramen or hot pot when needed.
A great partner for zero-motivation meals.

3. Pre-cut bunashimeji mushrooms

I recently found pre-cut bunashimeji mushrooms at my local supermarket. I freeze these in their bag and use them just like the bean sprouts mentioned above.

Plus, there's the added benefit that freezing mushrooms increases both their umami and nutritional value.

4. Long Green Onion (Negi)

In natto, miso soup, hot pot, or on tofu.
Just by chopping it up and putting it on top, it's so delicious that you'll want to shout, 'What is this, the best condiment ever?!'

It's also helpful that the price remains almost unchanged even when vegetable prices are soaring.
Use the green parts for hot pots or stews.
Use the white parts for natto or tofu.
I keep buying it repeatedly as I eat it.

5. Prepared Side Dishes

When you find discounted prepared side dishes at the supermarket before closing.
I buy one extra and freeze it.
When I want to use it, I move it to the refrigerator a day before.
It's convenient when you've run out of protein ingredients.

Summary

That's it—when you're tired, go for instant noodles. They're delicious.
And if you keep various ingredients stocked on a daily basis, you can enjoy ramen packed with plenty of meat and vegetables.

Bonus.

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Feeling blue about the start of the week?
When that happens, let's make a stew.
It will surely taste even better tomorrow.

Every household should have a thermal cooker. It's handy to have.
Bring it to a boil, put it in the container, and automate the stewing process.
It also helps save on ever-rising utility costs.

Let's move after eating a hearty meal.
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