To flavor ramen without the packet you can use some beef broth, chicken broth or vegetable broth to make a simple base and then add in 1 tablespoon of some soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of some toasted sesame oil and even a dash of garlic powder.
Then simmer the ramen noodles in the mixture and then you can finish the ramen noodles with some fresh egg or chopped green onions.
If starting with plain water or unflavored ramen noodles, you need to make a rich liquid base, which can be done using rich bone broth, miso paste or even some bouillon.
Swap out the water for some store bought chicken broth, pork broth or beef broth for some immediate depth.
And then whisk in 1 teaspoon of some white or yellow miso paste into the hot water or broth for a savory restaurant style umami base.
And you can also use a small amount of chicken bouillon powder or vegetable bouillon powder or even a crushed bullion cube that is mixed with water to flavor your ramen without the packet.
For the umami and aromatics to flavor ramen, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of some soy salt for salt and color.
And add in a splash of rice vinegar or Chinese black vinegar for some tang.
You can also saute some minced fresh garlic and ginger in oil before you add the liquids or stir in the powdered versions.
And you can also introduce some heat into your ramen noodles, using some sriracha, chili oil or red pepper flakes.
Adding a pinch of white pepper to the ramen noodles also adds an authentic, peppery kick to the ramen noodles.
Even a couple of drops of toasted sesame oil at the end will also give the ramen noodles a rich and nutty flavor.
For some good rich and creamy upgrades to your ramen noodles you can, whisk an egg into the boiling broth before adding the ramen noodles to create egg drop ribbons, or soft boil an egg and place it on top of the ramen.
If you want an ultra creamy style ramen noodles, whisk in a spoonful of some Japanese mayo, like Kewpie with a raw egg yolk and soy sauce, then temper it by pouring hot noodle water over the mixture before you combine it.
Peanut Butter or Tahini can also be added to your ramen, by whisking in a spoonful of creamy peanut butter or tahini into the broth for a rich and nutty sesame forward bowl of ramen noodles.