What is Indomie? The UK Guide to Nigeria's Favourite Noodles

Where Indomie comes from

Indomie began in Indonesia and is made there by Indofood. In Nigeria it has been produced locally by Dufil Prima Foods since the late 1980s, and the Nigerian recipe and packaging differ from the Indonesian ones — which is why a pack bought in a UK African shop can taste and read differently from one in a supermarket. The packs we sell list Nigeria as their country of origin.

In Nigeria the name has become the everyday word for instant noodles, and for many families in the UK a carton of Indomie Chicken is as much a cupboard staple as rice.

How to cook Indomie

• Boil about 400ml of water and add the noodle block.
• Cook for two to three minutes, loosening the noodles with a fork.
• Drain some of the water if you like it drier, as many Nigerians do.
• Stir in the seasoning and the oil sachets.
• Finish with a fried or boiled egg, sliced onion, pepper and vegetables.

Our guide to cooking Indomie the way Nigerians actually do and our Nigerian Indomie recipe go further.

What is in Indomie?

The Indomie Chicken packs we sell list wheat flour, palm oil, salt, sugar, onion powder, MSG, chicken flavouring and spices, and they contain cereals containing gluten and soya. Recipes vary between factories, so always check the packaging on the product you receive.

Indomie nutrition

A 70g pack of Indomie Chicken, cooked with all its sachets, has roughly 285 to 330 kcal on UK labels, depending on where it was made, and about half an adult's daily salt reference intake. It is a quick, filling, energy-dense food rather than a balanced meal on its own; adding an egg and vegetables, and using part of the seasoning sachet, makes a better bowl. The full panel is in our Indomie calories guide.

Where to buy Indomie in the UK

Indomie is sold by African grocers and online across the UK. We sell Indomie Chicken in boxes of 40 × 70g, and in the Indomie & Malta Family Box. Comparing brands? See Indomie vs Golden Penny.