how to make Chow mein is a classic Chinese dish of stir fried noodles, vegetables and succulent meat tossed in a delicious sauce. It’s easy to make at home and completely customizable based on your preferences.
Chow mein can be made with any type of vegetable you have on hand, but green onions, cabbage and bean sprouts are a classic combination. You can also substitute chicken, beef or pork for a more filling meal.
Ingredients
If you’re looking for a tasty, fast and easy meal that doesn’t require many ingredients, chow mein might be just what you’re after. The dish is a classic Chinese takeout staple made with stir-fried noodles, aromatic vegetables and proteins. It can be served either crispy or saucy, and it’s easy to customize the recipe according to your own taste preferences.
The key to making this chow mein is to prepare all the ingredients before starting cooking, since stir fry dishes tend to move quickly once you turn on the stove. This includes chopping all the veggies and marinating the chicken, if needed. It’s also important to have your equipment ready – a wok and a colander are essential for making chow mein, as they can drain the noodles really easily.
You can find chow mein noodles in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, where they’re labeled as being “cantonese style” or “Hong Kong style.” If you can’t find them there, you can always use regular egg noodles and just add a bit more broth to compensate for the extra moisture from the chow mein noodles.
For the sauce, you’ll need low sodium soy sauce, mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine), brown sugar and toasted sesame oil. You can use a little more or less of each ingredient, depending on your preference. The sugar is to balance the savory umami of the soy sauce, and the sesame oil adds a subtle nutty sweetness.
To make the saucy chow mein, simply cook up the sauce while the noodles and vegetables are being prepared. When the sauce has thickened, pour it over the noodles and enjoy!
For the crispy version, heat a bit of vegetable oil in your wok or frying pan until shimmering hot. Then, add the noodles and cook them until they are crispy. Be careful not to overcook the noodles, as they should still have a bit of a crunch. Add the chicken and sauce and toss well before serving. Both versions of this chow mein are delicious and satisfying on their own, but they can also be served alongside appetizers like spring rolls for a more complete meal.
Preparation Chow mein
Tossed in a delicious sauce with crunchy vegetables, springy noodles and tender chicken, chow mein is a satisfying one-pot dinner. The best thing about it is that you can make it as much or as little as you want, using whatever you have on hand. The recipe calls for chicken, but a vegetarian version can be easily made by substituting the meat with extra firm tofu or egg.
To make chow mein, you need to prepare the ingredients as explained below:
Noodles: cook according to package instructions, drain and set aside.
Oil: Heat 1/4 cup of peanut or vegetable oil in a large seasoned wok or non-stick skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the chow mein noodles, spreading them out evenly and stir fry until golden brown and crisp (be sure to break up any large clumps of noodles as they cook). Drain and set aside.
Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken with soy sauce and cornstarch. This is a trick that many Chinese chefs use to keep their meat moist. The cornstarch creates a shield around the meat that prevents moisture from evaporating as the meat is stir fried. This keeps your chow mein moist and flavorful.
Other ingredients:
The other main ingredient in chow mein is the noodles. You can use either fresh or dried chow mein noodles, both of which are available at most Asian grocery stores. The difference is that fresh noodles need to be boiled and then fried, while dried chow mein can be stir fried right away without pre-boiling. If you’re using fresh noodles, it’s a good idea to cook them slightly before adding them to the wok so that they stay al dente and aren’t overcooked. Once the noodles are cooked and set aside, you can add the other ingredients to the pan. It’s important to stir fry the vegetables well before adding the noodles and sauce. Otherwise the vegetables will be overcooked and become mushy. You can also serve a light salad like a cucumber salad on the side for an added crunch.
Cooking
Chow mein is a simple dish, but it’s important to take your time and be precise when measuring and weighing ingredients. This ensures that all of the components are evenly seasoned and the final product has a balanced flavor profile. It’s also important to have all of your ingredients prepped before you start cooking. Stir fry dishes go fast, and it’s easy to overcook vegetables or noodles if you don’t have everything ready to cook at the same time. To avoid this, do your chopping and measure all of your ingredients before you turn on the stove.
Chopping all of the veggies and prepping any other ingredients you may need to prepare chow mein ahead of time will save you a lot of time during the cooking process. It will also help you to keep your chow mein as authentic as possible. The most authentic chow mein is made with yellow, thin, wavy egg noodles. You can find these fresh at many Asian grocery stores in the refrigerated noodle section. However, if you can’t find them, you can easily substitute with regular noodles or Chinese-style egg noodles.
Cooking with Yasmin
Once you’ve prepared the noodles and chopped all of your vegetables, it’s time to start cooking. If you have a wok, that is the preferred method for preparing this dish because it will ensure that all of the vegetables are cooked to a crisp. If you don’t have a wok, you can use a large skillet instead.
You will want to stir-fry the vegetables over high heat so that they will cook quickly and be as crispy as possible. You can add a bit more oil if needed to prevent the vegetables from sticking. When you are ready to serve, simply add the chow mein sauce to the noodles and vegetables and mix well. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired, and enjoy!
Chow mein can be served on its own as a simple meal, but it also pairs well with other appetizers like spring rolls and soups or with a side of steamed vegetables. It’s a great option for vegetarians because it can be made without the addition of meat.
Serving Chow Mein
Chow mein can be enjoyed alone or paired with a variety of side dishes to create a complete meal. Egg rolls and fried rice are commonly served alongside chow mein, but there are endless possibilities for delicious accompaniments. Whether you prefer your chow mein spicy or mild, with veggies or with meat, this versatile dish is sure to become a family favorite.
When making chow mein, be sure to prep all your ingredients before you start cooking. This will help make the process go much more smoothly and quickly. To save time, you can also cook the noodles and vegetables ahead of time and reheat them later in the microwave. This makes chow mein an excellent choice for quick dinners or lunches on busy days.
How to Make Chow Mein
For the sauce, you will need a few key ingredients. Light soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce and Chinese cooking wine are all great choices. You can find these ingredients at most Asian grocery stores or in the Chinese food aisle of regular grocery stores. If you can’t find Chinese cooking wine, dry sherry or mirin will work just as well.
As for the vegetables, you can use a mix of your favorite options. Some good choices include bean sprouts, green bell peppers, snow or sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms and bok choy. For the protein, you can add chicken to make chow mein chicken noodle soup or beef, pork or tofu for a meaty chow mein.
You will also need a large skillet or wok and some vegetable oil. It is a good idea to have the oil hot before adding the vegetables, so that they will cook evenly and won’t take too long to cook. You will need to stir fry the vegetables and noodles for about a minute in each batch. Be sure to remove the veggies from the pan when they are tender.
Once all of the vegetables are cooked and seasoned, you can assemble the meal. To serve, scoop the chow mein into bowls and top with the veggies and protein. If you want to add extra crunch, serve with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
