Instant noodles bring together quick meal options, from wheat noodles to spiced soup cups and Nepalese styles such as Wai Wai. They make a warm informal meal without preparing a long curry base, and are easy to adapt with vegetables, egg, tofu or leftover cooked chicken. The packets welcome small changes without making preparation complicated: spring onions, a squeeze of lime or a poached egg are enough to turn them into a more complete meal. Choose broth or a dry version to suit the moment.

Across South Asian homes they are often eaten as a late snack, light supper or student meal. Cook the noodles only for the stated time and keep back some seasoning if you prefer a gentler broth; for a dry version, drain nearly all the water before stirring in the flavouring.

Keep the packets in a cool, dry cupboard, away from steam. Indian Flavours sends them from Barcelona to addresses across Spain and Portugal.