Lo Mein ⋆ 100 Days of Real Food

June 6, 2023 steven

This Lo Mein recipe takes only 15 minutes total! It has big and bold flavors. The noodles and vegetables are tossed in a hearty and savory sauce. This Chinese-inspired takeout dish is easy, quick and healthy to make at home!

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This Lo Mein recipe is the perfect 15-minute dinner! It is quick and easy to make but loaded with bold flavors. This homemade takeout recipe is great for busy weeknights. In addition, it is a great way to eat more vegetables. Add your favorite protein like steak, chicken, pork, or shrimp. Add this to your weekly dinner rotation!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This quick and easy Lo Mein takes only 15 minutes.
Other than the noodles, everything is made in one wok or pan.
It tastes like restaurant-quality takeout!
This is a great way to eat more veggies.
The sauce is incredibly rich and flavorful.
Each bite is an explosion of flavor.
Lo Mein has a great mix of noodles, fresh vegetables, and a hearty sauce.
Overall, it is a healthy and nutritious dish.
It has a delicious protein and veggie combination.
This lo mein recipe is versatile and customizable.
It can be easily made gluten-free with gluten-free noodles.
Make this dish vegetarian or with meat.
Check out this Pork Lo Mein recipe for another easy dinner!

Ingredients & Substitutes

Scroll down to the bottom for the full recipe and directions.

Lo Mein usually contains noodles, veggies, protein, and sauce. The most common veggies include carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, snow peas, and bok choy. Protein typically includes chicken, pork, shrimp, steak, beef, or tofu.

Use Lo Mein noodles. If these are difficult to find, feel free to use spaghetti.

Olive oil helps cook the minced garlic and veggies. Feel free to use avocado oil instead.

Minced garlic adds a classic garlicky flavor to this Asian-inspired dish.

For this specific recipe, the vegetables include onion, carrot, bell pepper, mushrooms, cabbage, and bean sprouts. Feel free to adjust the amounts or switch out the veggies.

Soy sauce adds a classic Asian flavor to the sauce. For gluten-free, use coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce. In addition, use gluten-free noodles.

Oyster sauce is entirely optional. It adds even more depth of flavor. For vegan, omit.

In addition, hoisin sauce adds flavor to the sauce. This can usually be found in the Asian aisle in grocery stores. It is also available online.

A little sesame oil adds a lot of flavor!

Add in salt and pepper to taste.

Lastly, garnish with chopped green onions.

If desired, add in your choice of meat. As written, this recipe is vegetarian.

What is Lo Mein?

Lo Mein is a popular Chinese recipe! The name “lo mein” means “tossed noodles” in Cantonese.

This dish is made with stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and usually protein.

The sauce is bold, hearty, and savory.

It is a popular choice because it is quick to prepare. It is an easy way to eat more healthy vegetables.

Chow Mein Versus Lo Mein

Chow mein and lo mein are both popular Chinese dishes. They are similar but have some differences.

First of all, the noodles are different. Lo Mein uses soft noodles. They are boiled and then stir-fried. Chow Mein uses crispy pan-fried noodles.

Chow mein has crispy noodles stir-fried at high heat. The veggies, meat, and sauce are all stir-fried together with the noodles. On the other hand, Lo Mein has the ingredients cooked separately and then combined.

The overall texture is different. Chow is more crispy, while lo is more tender.

Another key difference is the sauce. Chow Mein has a thicker and more robust sauce. In contrast, Lo Mein has a lighter sauce typically.

Both chow mein and lo mein are popular takeout dishes! They are both quick and easy to prepare. Both recipes feature noodles, veggies, and sauce. Their key differences are related to texture and flavor.

Taste & Texture

Lo Mein is known for its bold flavors. The fresh veggies add a pop of flavor and freshness. In addition, the savory sauce brings an umami taste. Overall, this dish is filled with big flavors.

The textures are varying. The noodles are soft and slightly chewy. The veggies have a slight bite to them. Moreover, the sauce is smooth and flavorful.

This dish is filled with contrasting flavors and textures!

How to Make

Step 1

First, cook the Lo Mein noodles according to the package instructions. Then, drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large wok or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the sliced onion, julienned carrot, and bell pepper to the wok. Stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.

Step 5

Add the sliced mushrooms, shredded cabbage, and bean sprouts to the wok. Stir fry for 2 to 3 more minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), hoisin sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.

Step 7

Push the vegetables to one side of the wok and pour the sauce mixture into the cleared space. Let it heat for a few seconds until it starts to bubble.

Step 8

Add the cooked lo mein noodles to the wok and toss everything together with tongs or chopsticks. Ensure the noodles and vegetables are coated evenly with the sauce.

Step 9

Stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes until the noodles are heated through.

Step 10

Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 11

Fianlly, remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions.

Expert Tips for Success

Do not overcook the noodles. Cook until al dente. They should be able to hold up their shape while stir-frying.

Prepare the chopped vegetables before you start cooking. This makes the recipe quicker and easier.

Thinly slice the vegetables. This ensures that they cook through.

Cook the vegetables in oil over medium-high heat. This gives them a crispy sear. The added texture prevents them from becoming soggy.

Toss the vegetables and noodles in the sauce.

Taste as you cook. Adjust seasonings and flavors as needed.

Flavor Variations & Add-Ins

This Lo Mein recipe can be tweaked as needed.

Add in some steak to make steak Lo Mein.

Use shrimp to make shrimp Lo Mein.

Add in some beef to make beef Lo Mein.

Switch up the vegetables. Bok choy is another great option!

Make chicken Lo Mein with leftover rotisserie chicken, roasted chicken, or grilled chicken.

How to Serve & Store

Serve Lo Mein hot and fresh! It is best served immediately.

Garnish with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, or fresh cilantro.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat, add some broth or water to the leftovers. Stir fry in a hot pan or wok until warm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between Lo Mein and Chow Mein?

These Chinese dishes are very similar! Their differences are related mostly to flavor, texture, and the noodles.

What is a Lo Mein made of?

It is made of noodles, vegetables, protein, and sauce.

What are the best noodles for Lo Mein?

Lo mein noodles are usually labeled egg noodles. They are yellow.

Are Lo Mein noodles gluten-free?

No, they are not naturally gluten-free. Use rice noodles for gluten-free.

Where do you buy the noodles?

These noodles are sold at most grocery stores in the Aisle aisle and markets.

Equipment Needed

Wok: This wok is great for stir-fry.

Sharp Knives: Use sharp knives to prepare the vegetables.

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