Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (2024)

This recipe for Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} is an example of how you make your own delicious, healthy and fresh Chinese meal right in your own kitchen.

Serve with Homemade Chinese Chicken and Broccoli or Chicken and Chinese Mushrooms for an amazing Chinese dinner right in your own kitchen!Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (1)

Take out Chinese noodles can so often be greasy, soggy and unhealthy. Make this recipe at home and have Chinese noodles tossed in an authentic savory sauce – A better than a takeout recipe that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

You won’t believe how easy it is to make Perfect Chinese Noodles at home in your kitchen!

Make This Recipe Your Own

For this recipe, you can use almost any vegetable and/or protein combination you want.

Vegetable Ideas:Pre-packed stir-fry vegetable bags, bok choy, mushrooms, bell pepper, carrots, snow peas, onions, cabbage, broccoli.

Protein Ideas: Chicken, shrimp, eggs, beef, pork, tofu.

This dish can easily be turned into a vegetarian meal by adding steamed broccoli instead of the cooked meat.

Which Noodles

Any noodle you like can be used in a stir-fry. I like regular Chinese egg noodles, but you can use rice noodles, soba, udon, or even spaghetti or vermicelli (I won’t tell).

You can also use dried noodles or fresh noodles. This is a quick and easy dinner, so use what you have and don’t feel like you must stick to the recipe exactly.
Cook your noodles so that they are al dente with some bite. For most noodles, this means cooking just a few minutes in boiling water, but thinner noodles, like may just need to be soaked.
The trick to perfect noodle stir-fry is to cook the noodles until they are al dente or just slightly undercooked and then when drained, rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Doing it this way will prevent the noodles from getting overcooked and soggy when you add them to the stir-fry.

Lo Mein Vs Chow Mein

The noodles in Lo Mein and Chow Mein are about the same, both use egg noodles, but Lo Mein noodles are sometimes thicker.

A traditional Chow Mein has boilednoodles that are stir-fried until slightly crisped, while Lo Mein is boiled then tossed in a sauce without cooking the noodles in the Wok.

How to MakePerfect Chinese Noodles

Cook the noodles a little less than stated on the package instructions (until just underdone).Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (2)

Drain and rinse with cold water and set aside.

Heat the oil in the wok over a high heat. Once hot, add the garlic and ginger.

Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (3)

Stir-fry for 30 seconds before adding the green onions and stir-fry vegetables.Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (4) Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the sherry and allow to almost evaporate before adding any meat you are using, and cooked noodles. Toss so that all of the ingredients are combined.Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (5) Turn the heat down to medium and add both of the soy sauces, oyster sauce, and pepper. Stir-fry for a further 1-2 mins before adding the remaining green onions, then toss to combine and serve.Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (6)

Other Stir-Fry Recipes You’ll Love

  • Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
  • Honey Glazed Salmon
  • Chicken and Chinese Mushrooms
  • Chinese Noodle Soup
  • Best Ever Fried Rice

Cook’s Tips:

  • The trick to the perfect noodle stir-fry is to cook the noodles until they are al dente or just slightly undercooked and then rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Noodles stir-fry better if you shake them after draining until dry as possible. They shouldn’t be wet to the touch.
  • To keep your noodles from sticking before adding to the wok, add them back to their pot after draining and toss them with a little sesame oil or cooking oil.
  • Prepare your ingredients before heating the wok.When stir-frying things move quickly. Have everything ready before you start.
  • Set the heat to high.Heat your wok before adding the oil. This step will help prevent food from sticking to the pan.
  • Once the oil is added,spread it around the pan to coat well.Choose an oil with a high smoke point.

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Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (7)

Let's Make Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein}

Make a better than takeout version of Classic Chinese Lo Mein with authentic ingredients that can be thrown together in no time flat!

4.97 from 28 votes

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook10 minutes minutes

Total15 minutes minutes

Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb Chinese noodles of your choice
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and thinly sliced
  • ½ inch piece fresh ginger grated
  • 3 green onions sliced into thin rounds
  • 1 8 ounce package of fresh stir-fry vegetables
  • 3 tablespoons dry sherry
  • 1 cup cooked meat of your choice cut into bite-size(optional)
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce optional
  • Ground black or white pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook the noodles a little less than stated on the package instructions (until just underdone), then drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.

  • Heat the oil in the wok over a high heat. Once hot, add the garlic, ginger, and green on onions. Stir-fry for 30 secs.

  • Add the stir-fry vegetables. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.

  • Add the sherry and allow to almost evaporate before adding any meat you are using and cooked noodles. Toss so that all of the ingredients are combined.

  • Turn the heat down to medium and add both of the soy sauces, oyster sauce, and pepper.Stir-fry for a further 1-2 then toss to combine and serve.

Tips + Notes

  • The trick to the perfect noodle stir-fry is to cook the noodles until they are al dente or just slightly undercooked and then rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Noodles stir-fry better if you shake them after draining until dry as possible. They shouldn't be wet to the touch.
  • To keep your noodles from sticking before adding to the wok, add them back to their pot after draining and toss them with a little sesame oil or cooking oil.
  • Prepare your ingredients before heating the wok.When stir-frying,things move quickly. Have everything ready before you start.
  • Set the heat to high.Heat your wok before adding the oil. This step will help prevent food sticking to the pan.
  • Once the oil is added,spread it around the pan to coat well.Choose an oil with a high smoke point.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 496 (25%)| Carbohydrates: 97g (32%)| Protein: 5g (10%)| Fat: 7g (11%)| Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)| Sodium: 1085mg (47%)| Potassium: 87mg (2%)| Fiber: 2g (8%)| Vitamin A: 100IU (2%)| Vitamin C: 2.1mg (3%)| Calcium: 30mg (3%)| Iron: 1.2mg (7%)

Nutritional Data Disclaimer

Author:Erren Hart

Course:Main

Cuisine:Chinese

Keyword:Chinese Noodles Recipe, Chow Mein Recipe, Lo mein recipe

Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (8)

Follow Me on SocialMention @ErrensKitchen or tag #ErrensKitchen on Instagram

Update Notes:This post was originally published onJul 13, 2015, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions a video and tips in February 2019.

Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein} (2024)

FAQs

What makes lo mein taste good? ›

Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, ramen noodles or spaghetti noodles, and any veggies or protein you like. SO YUMMY! Hel-lo-lo-mein! This 15-minute wonder is absolutely my new go-to for a quick Asian noodle stir fry.

What is lo mein sauce made of? ›

Sauce components: Lo mein sauce is mainly composed of sesame oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce and a dash of sugar. If you like your noodles to have a little heat, you can sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

What is the difference between Chinese noodles and lo mein noodles? ›

Lo mein usually uses the fat, chewy noodles, while chow mein uses the thin type of noodles that sometimes contain egg.” Lo mein uses fresh noodles that are boiled for a few minutes, while chow mein uses dried noodles that are parboiled for five to six minutes.

Is Chinese food lo mein healthy? ›

Worst: Lo Mein

This mound of noodles has about half the carbohydrates you need all day. The noodles are made from white flour, which raises your blood sugar faster than fiber-rich whole grains. Plus, they're cooked with oil and soy sauce, so you get extra fat and sodium.

What gives lo mein its smoky flavor? ›

The best kind of restaurant-style stir-fried lo mein is subtle in flavor, with plenty of wok hei, the smoky flavor that results from the powerful flame of a restaurant wok burner licking up and over the back of the wok, singeing the oil and noodles.

How to make bland lo mein taste better? ›

Experiment with spices: Spice up your lo mein noodles by adding spices like garlic powder, ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, or Chinese five-spice powder. These spices will add a layer of complexity and heat to your dish.

Are lo mein noodles just spaghetti? ›

While spaghetti noodles can be used as a substitute in a pinch, the texture and flavor will be different. Spaghetti is firmer and has a different wheat base, which may not absorb Asian sauces as well as lo mein noodles.

Which is better for you lo mein noodles or fried rice? ›

Lo Mein is a healthier option than Fried Rice for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can be a good source of protein, especially when combined with lean proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Protein is necessary for muscle building and repair, as well as for keeping you full for longer periods of time.

Do people in China eat Lo Mein? ›

While lo mein, unlike General Tso's chicken, isn't entirely unknown in China, the Chinese version is quite different from the one we know. "Lo mein" actually means "stirred noodles" and refers to a method of preparation rather than a specific dish.

What Chinese food can a diabetic eat? ›

Choose lean proteins

Some lean protein choices include chicken, lean ground pork and fish. These proteins are often used in Chinese main dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken with Bell Peppers. Plant-based proteins, such as tofu, are also found in Chinese dishes.

How to make Chinese food taste like takeout? ›

Blogger Tips: How to Make Homemade Chinese Food Taste Like Takeout!
  1. Roll It Up With Spring Roll Wrappers. Spring roll wrappers are essential when it comes to Chinese Takeout. ...
  2. Use Tender Meat Substitutes. ...
  3. Using Tofu To Create Eggy Dishes! ...
  4. Make Your Own Tso Sauce at Home. ...
  5. Make Spicy Sweet Hoisin Sauce.

What gives Chinese food a smoky flavor? ›

Wok Hei: The breath of the wok 🔥 Ever wonder where that unique, smoky flavor in many of our dishes comes from? It's none other than wok hei– the special charred aroma resulting from the caramelization of sugars, chemical reactions, and smoking oil while cooking on a hot flamed wok.

What tastes better lo mein or chow mein? ›

Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

Are there different types of lo mein? ›

Variations of lo mein include beef lo mein, shrimp lo mein, and vegetarian lo mein.

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