Lo Mein Noodles Recipe

Lo Mein is a classic Chinese dish that features stir-fried noodles tossed with vegetables, protein, and a flavorful sauce. Its appeal lies in the combination of tender noodles, crisp vegetables, and savory, slightly sweet sauces that create an addictive flavor. Making Lo Mein at home is surprisingly easy and allows you to customize the ingredients based on what you have in your fridge or your personal preferences. This recipe will walk you through the steps to create an authentic, delicious, and comforting bowl of Lo Mein noodles.

Why You’ll Love This Lo Mein Recipe:

• Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight meal.
• Customizable: You can use chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu and add any vegetables you like.
• Versatile: Works great as a main dish or a side, and leftovers taste even better the next day.
• Healthy Option: You can control the ingredients and adjust the sauce to make it less salty or oily.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Noodles

1. Cook the Noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the lo mein noodles (or pasta) according to the package instructions. Be sure not to overcook the noodles; they should be al dente to maintain texture when stir-fried later.
2. Drain and Rinse: Once the noodles are done, drain and rinse them under cold water. This stops the cooking process and prevents them from sticking together. Set them aside for later use.

Step 2: Prepare the Protein

1. Choose and Prep the Protein: Whether you’re using chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, cut your protein into bite-sized pieces. For chicken and beef, slice them thinly against the grain for tenderness. If using tofu, press it to remove excess water before cutting it into cubes.
2. Marinate (Optional): You can lightly marinate the protein in soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch for extra flavor and tenderness. Let it sit while you prep the vegetables and sauce.

Step 3: Make the Lo Mein Sauce

1. Combine the Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce (if using), sesame oil, sugar, and chicken or vegetable broth. Adjust the sauce to taste, balancing the saltiness with sweetness. If you like a more savory sauce, add a bit more soy sauce; for more sweetness, add more hoisin or a pinch of sugar.
2. Set Aside: Keep the sauce ready for when you stir-fry the noodles later.

Step 4: Prepare the Vegetables

1. Chop the Vegetables: Thinly slice the bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and other vegetables you’re using. Try to keep the pieces uniform in size so that everything cooks evenly.
2. Mince the Garlic and Ginger: Having these aromatics prepped and ready ensures you can quickly add them when needed without overcooking.

Step 5: Cook the Protein

1. Heat the Oil: In a large wok or skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2. Stir-fry the Protein: Add the sliced chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu to the pan, spreading it out to ensure even cooking. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes (or until the protein is cooked through and golden brown). If using shrimp, cook until pink and opaque.
3. Remove from Pan: Transfer the cooked protein to a plate and set it aside.

Step 6: Stir-fry the Vegetables

1. Heat More Oil: In the same wok or skillet, add another tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Add the Vegetables: Start with the harder vegetables like carrots and broccoli, which need more cooking time, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the Softer Vegetables: Add the bell peppers, mushrooms, and snap peas. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and vibrant in color.

Step 7: Bring it All Together

1. Add the Protein Back: Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking, add the cooked protein back to the pan, stirring to combine.
2. Add the Noodles: Gently toss in the cooked and drained noodles, making sure they are well incorporated with the vegetables and protein.
3. Pour the Sauce: Pour the prepared Lo Mein sauce over the noodles, tossing everything together to evenly coat. Stir-fry for 1-2 more minutes, ensuring the sauce is absorbed, and the noodles are heated through.

Step 8: Serve and Garnish

1. Taste and Adjust: Taste the Lo Mein and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You can add more soy sauce for saltiness, sugar for sweetness, or sesame oil for richness.
2. Garnish: Serve the Lo Mein noodles in bowls, garnishing with sesame seeds, extra green onions, and a drizzle of Sriracha or chili oil if you like it spicy.
3. Enjoy: Pair the dish with a side of steamed dumplings or egg rolls for a complete meal!

Tips for the Best Lo Mein

1. Use Fresh Lo Mein Noodles if Available: Fresh lo mein noodles are ideal because they have a chewy texture that holds up well to stir-frying. However, dried lo mein noodles or spaghetti work just as well when fresh ones aren’t available.
2. Prep Everything in Advance: Stir-frying happens quickly, so have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking to prevent overcooking or burning.
3. Don’t Overcook the Noodles: Cooking the noodles until just al dente ensures they don’t become mushy when stir-fried. Rinsing them in cold water helps stop the cooking process.
4. Use High Heat: Stir-frying is all about high heat. It ensures that everything cooks quickly and gets that nice seared flavor without steaming.
5. Keep the Protein Tender: If using chicken or beef, slice it thinly against the grain for tenderness. Shrimp cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
6. Customize the Veggies: Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand. Bok choy, zucchini, and cabbage work great in Lo Mein.
7. Sauce Adjustments: If you prefer a lighter sauce, reduce the amount of soy sauce or add more broth. If you love a saucier dish, double the sauce recipe.

Variations of Lo Mein

1. Vegetarian Lo Mein: Skip the meat and use tofu, tempeh, or extra veggies like bok choy, mushrooms, and snow peas. You can also use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth in the sauce.
2. Spicy Lo Mein: Add more chili flakes, Sriracha, or even Thai chili paste to give the dish a spicy kick.
3. Seafood Lo Mein: Use shrimp or a mix of seafood like scallops and squid for a delicious seafood variation. Stir-fry seafood quickly to avoid overcooking.
4. Chicken Lo Mein: Use chicken breast or thighs as your protein. Thinly sliced chicken can be marinated in soy sauce and cornstarch for extra flavor.
5. Beef Lo Mein: Beef, especially flank steak or sirloin, is excellent for Lo Mein. Slice the beef thinly and stir-fry it quickly over high heat.
6. Pork Lo Mein: Ground pork or sliced pork tenderloin works well in this dish. You can marinate the pork for more flavor and tenderness.
7. Gluten-Free Lo Mein: Use gluten-free tamari or soy sauce and swap out the noodles for rice noodles or gluten-free pasta.

How to Store and Reheat Lo Mein

1. Refrigerate: Store any leftover Lo Mein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
2. Reheat: Lo Mein can be reheated in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat. If the noodles dry out, add a splash of water or broth while reheating.

Lo Mein is one of those dishes that brings restaurant-quality flavors right into your home kitchen with minimal effort. Whether you’re making it with chicken, beef, tofu, or simply vegetables, this recipe guarantees a delicious, comforting meal packed with flavor.

Yield: 4

Lo Mein Noodles Recipe

Print

Lo Mein is a classic Chinese dish that features stir-fried noodles tossed with vegetables, protein, and a flavorful sauce. Its appeal lies in the combination of tender noodles, crisp vegetables, and savory, slightly sweet sauces that create an addictive flavor. Making Lo Mein at home is surprisingly easy and allows you to customize the ingredients based on what you have in your fridge or your personal preferences. This recipe will walk you through the steps to create an authentic, delicious, and comforting bowl of Lo Mein noodles.

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Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 oz lo mein noodles (or spaghetti)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup snow peas
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Green onions and sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook the Noodles:
   Boil the lo mein noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
   
2. Make the Sauce:
   In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and sugar until combined.
   
3. Sauté the Vegetables:
   Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
   Add the carrots, red bell pepper, snow peas, and broccoli florets. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
   
4. Combine:
   Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and pour the sauce over the noodles. Toss everything together until the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until heated through.
   
5. Serve:
   Transfer the lo mein noodles to serving plates and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Notes

• Protein Additions: You can add cooked chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu to the dish for extra protein.
• Vegetable Variations: Feel free to use any vegetables you like such as baby corn, mushrooms, bok choy, or snap peas.