When it’s late at night and hunger pangs come, our first instinct would be to reach for a packet of instant noodles. It’s easy to understand why instant noodles are one of our favourite comfort foods—they are easy to whip up even for those who can’t cook and are always guaranteed to taste good.

Admittedly, these noodles are not the healthiest food option, being high in carbohydrates, sodium, and fat. But don’t fret! In this post featuring eight Koka flavours, we share with you fuss-free ways to make your instant noodles healthier.

1. Duck-Flavoured Noodles with Veggies | Koka Purple Wheat Noodles Homestyle Braised Duck Flavour

Look for instant noodles with the Healthier Choice Symbol, like the packet of Koka Purple Wheat Noodles. Made from purple wheat and purple corn, these noodles are packed with antioxidants such as anthocyanins. They are steam-baked, thus lower in fat.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Purple Wheat Noodles Homestyle Braised Duck Flavour
• 20 g broccoli, chopped
• 20 g carrots, sliced
• ½ of big red chilli, sliced
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper

Steps:

1. Add noodles into 450 ml of boiling water in a pot. Then stir for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Once the noodles are lightly cooked, add broccoli florets, carrots, and chillies, and stir.

3. Wait for 1 to 1.5 minutes for the vegetables to be slightly tender, then drain the water and put the noodles and vegetables into a bowl.

4. Add ½ a teaspoon of seasoning oil for a smoother texture and a dash of pepper for added spice, and mix well. Avoid adding seasoning powder, if low-salt meal is preferred.

2. Koka Noodles Vegetable Medley | Koka Purple Wheat Noodles Chilli and Lime Flavour

One way to make the Koka Purple Wheat Noodles Chilli and Lime Flavour healthy and flavourful is by adding greens that complement the original seasoning. The sweetness of the tomatoes, when coupled with the tanginess of the noodles’ lime flavour, is like yin to yang.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Purple Wheat Noodles Chilli and Lime Flavour
• 20 g broccoli, chopped
• 20 g tomatoes, sliced
• ½ of big red chilli, sliced
• 2 sprigs of Chinese celery
• ½ cup of shredded chicken

Steps:

1. Add noodles into 450 ml of boiling water in a pot. Then stir for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Once the noodles are lightly cooked, add broccoli florets, tomatoes, chillies, and Chinese celery. Stir well to ensure the flavours of the vegetables are mixed with the noodles.

3. Wait for 1 to 1.5 minutes for the vegetables to be slightly tender, then drain the water and put the noodles and vegetables into a bowl.

4. Add ½ tablespoon of seasoning powder to the drained noodles and mix well. As the noodles are dry, a little bit of seasoning makes a big difference.

5. Add more fresh tomatoes and garnish with more Chinese celery. Top with shredded chicken.

3. Thai Tom Yum Special | Koka Signature Noodles Tom Yum Flavour

If you can’t do without seasoning entirely, try using less in your noodles for a meal that is lower in sodium. Top up your Koka Signature Noodles with lime for a burst of Vitamin C—and challenge your spicy food tolerance with a few chilli padi slices.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Signature Noodles Tom Yum Flavour
• ½ piece of lime
• ½ teaspoon of chilli padi

Steps:

1. Pour 320 ml of boiling water into the noodle bowl and add ½ tablespoon of seasoning powder and accompanying garnish. Stir and let the noodles simmer in the soup for 3 minutes.

2. Once cooked, squeeze half a lime into the soup and add chilli padi for added spiciness and tanginess.

4. Egg & Rice Fettuccine Bowl | Koka Silk Instant Rice Fettuccine Chicken Abalone

Lovers of rice who wish to be more selective about their carbohydrates can try the Koka Silk series. Consisting of gluten-free rice noodles, each Koka Silk meal will be a delight to consume because of the fettuccine’s silky and light texture. For this Chicken Abalone bowl, include an egg for extra protein goodness.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Silk Chicken Abalone Rice Fettuccine
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of liquid aminos

Steps:

1. In a pot, pour 320 ml of boiling water, crack an egg into the water, and let it cook for 1 minute.

2. Add noodles and accompanying garnish into the water, except the seasoning powder. Stir and let the noodles simmer in the soup for 3 minutes.

3. For some flavour, add a teaspoon of liquid aminos—a healthy alternative to soy sauce—into the soup. Once cooked, serve noodles in a bowl.

5. Beef Pho Healthy Noodle Bowl | Koka Silk Instant Rice Fettuccine Beef Pho

By adding a handful of bean sprouts and a sprinkling of lime zest, you can now have your own version of Beef Pho in less than 10 minutes. Bean sprouts are a good source of protein, Vitamin C, and folic acid.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Silk Beef Pho
• 20 g of bean sprouts
• 1 egg
• 1 lime

Steps:

1. Blanch bean sprouts in boiling salted water for 30 seconds.

2. Pour 300 ml of boiling water into the noodle bowl, crack an egg into the water, and add ½ packet of seasoning powder and accompanying garnish. Let the noodles and the egg cook for 3 minutes.

3. Once cooked, mix bean sprouts into the bowl.

4. For a citrusy flavour, zest 1 lime with a grater and garnish with some finely grated lime skin.

6. Light And Easy Laksa | Koka Signature Noodles Laksa Singapura Flavour

It is tough to pass on the seasoning for this local favourite, so go ahead and pamper yourself with the full packet, but do top up your meal with a wholesome egg and bok choy, which are low in calories and rich in Vitamin B.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Signature Noodles Laksa Singapura Flavour
• 2 stalks of bok choy
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon of belachan chilli

Steps:

1. In a pot, pour 320 ml of boiling water, crack an egg into the water, and cook it for 1 minute.

2. Add noodles into the pot and include all accompanying seasoning, oils and garnish. Cook for 3 minutes.

3. Mix bok choy into the pot and cook for about 30 seconds until they become bright green and slightly tender.

4. For added spiciness, add ½ a teaspoon of belachan chilli and mix it into the soup.

5. Once cooked, serve noodles in a bowl.

7. Simple Chicken Noodle Bowl | Koka Signature Noodles Chicken Flavour

Let the richness of the chicken flavour shine through by keeping this dish simple. Add some leafy greens and egg for your daily dose of fibre and protein.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Signature Noodles Chicken Flavour
• 3 stalks of spinach
• 1 egg

Steps:

1. In a pot, pour 320 ml of boiling water, crack an egg into the water, and cook it for 1 minute.

2. Add noodles into the pot and include ½ a packet of seasoning powder and garnish. Cook for 3 minutes.

3. Mix spinach into the pot and cook for about 30 seconds until they become bright green.

4. Once cooked, serve noodles in a bowl.

8. Sweet and Spicy Mushroom Noodle Dish | Koka Signature Noodles Mushroom Flavour

Mix and match vegetables which are rich in colour to get as much nutrition in your meal. This colourful dish not only has an interesting texture due to its crunchy greens and springy noodles, but also makes for a well-balanced snack.

Serving size: 1 | Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Koka Signature Noodles Mushroom Flavour
• 20 g of broccoli, chopped
• 20 g tomatoes, sliced
• ½ of big red chilli, sliced
• Optional: 30 g of enoki mushrooms

Steps:

1. Add noodles into 320 ml of boiling water in a pot. Add ½ a packet of seasoning powder and garnish. Then boil and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Once the noodles are lightly cooked, add broccoli florets, tomatoes, and chillies, and stir. If you have enoki mushrooms, add them into the pot as well.

3. Wait for 1 to 1.5 minutes for the vegetables to be slightly tender, then serve the noodles and vegetables in a bowl.

Instant noodles are not recommended as meal replacements, but still serve as the ideal snack for many of us. The top tips for having a more balanced instant noodle meal are to go easy on seasoning powder or replace it with healthier alternatives. Throw in vegetables, too, for fibre and vitamins, and top up with an egg for protein.