If you like Chinese food, you no longer have to go to a restaurant to enjoy its exquisite dishes. Most of them are very easy to prepare at home, as is the case with this popular lo mein: delicious egg noodles stir-fried in an exquisite sauce and accompanied by vegetables and proteins of your choice, such as chicken or shrimp.
This lo mein is a very easy and quick recipe to prepare. We start with a marinade made with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin, sugar, and a few other ingredients, which we use to stir-fry the egg noodles and combine with vegetables such as peppers and carrots, plus a protein of your choice. In this lo mein recipe, we will use chicken.
Follow the step-by-step preparation below and surprise your guests with authentic Asian flavors. And if you love Asian recipes, you can also enjoy classics like Chinese sweet and sour chicken or Asian beef with vegetables, a very healthy dish with an irresistible flavor.
Table of Contents
What Does Lo Mein Mean?
The term “Lo Mein” means wheat flour noodles or egg noodles in traditional Chinese. This expression is used to describe any dish containing wheat flour noodles, whether it is a soup, a stew, or a stir-fry. Therefore, the variety of lo mein dishes in Chinese restaurants is vast.
One of the differences between Lo Mein and Chow Mein is that:
- In Lo Mein, the noodles are pre-cooked.
- In Chow Mein, soaked noodles are used and finished cooking during the stir-fry.
How to Make Lo Mein: Chicken and Vegetables Stir-Fried with Noodles
Lo mein with chicken and vegetables is an Asian dish prepared with stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and chicken meat.
Recipe Details
- Dish: Main course
- Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Fusion, International, North American
- Keywords: Easy, Noodles, Lo Mein, Chicken, Quick, Stir-fried, Vegetables
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
- Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet pepper or bell pepper | 1 large | 150 g, any color |
| Green beans | 10 | 100 g |
| Red onion | 1/2 | 80 g |
| Cornstarch | 1 tablespoon | Also called cornflour |
| Water | 1/4 cup | For dissolving the cornstarch |
| Chicken meat | 350 g | Boneless breast or thigh, or replace with another protein |
| Garlic | 2 cloves | Crushed |
| Ginger root | 1 piece | Grated |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon | Plus a pinch at the end if desired |
| MSG | 1 teaspoon | Optional |
| Sugar | 1 teaspoon | |
| Soy sauce | 3 tablespoons | |
| Oyster sauce | 1 tablespoon | Optional |
| Egg noodles for lo mein or ramen noodles | 375 g | |
| Broccoli florets | 6 | 100 g |
| Oil | 3 tablespoons | Adjust to taste |
Preparation
- Wash the bell pepper thoroughly and dry it with a kitchen towel. Cut it in half, remove the seeds and the light-colored inner veins, then cut it into strips about five centimeters long.
- Wash the green beans, trim half a centimeter from both ends to remove the stem and tip, and chop them into two equal pieces.
- Peel the onion and slice it into julienne strips.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in a quarter cup of water. Stir well to make sure there are no lumps, then set aside with the vegetables.
- Place the chicken on a cutting board. If it is damp, pat it dry with a kitchen towel. Remove any remaining fat or skin, then cut it into strips no more than five centimeters long.
- Place the chicken in a bowl. Peel the garlic cloves, crush them in a mortar, and add them on top of the chicken. Peel the ginger root and grate it over the chicken.
- Season the chicken with salt, MSG, sugar, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir well to combine all the flavors, then let the chicken rest while you cook the noodles.
- Place four cups of water in a pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles, then turn off the heat. Let them sit in the hot water for a couple of minutes. Drain and set aside. If desired, drizzle a little oil over the noodles to prevent them from sticking together.
- In a separate pot, bring one liter of water to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans and cook for five minutes.
- Add the broccoli florets and cook everything together for another five minutes. Drain the vegetables in a metal colander and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and keep them bright. Place them in a separate bowl.
- Pour the oil into a pot over high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook for three minutes. Turn it over so it cooks evenly on the other side.
- Add the onions, bell peppers, green beans, and broccoli. Stir well and cook covered for about five minutes.
- Add the noodles, the cornstarch water, and a pinch of salt. Stir, cook covered for three minutes, and serve immediately. If desired, add a little more soy sauce or oyster sauce.
Video Guide 📺
MSG (monosodium glutamate) helps enhance the flavors of the other ingredients. There is a lot of negative and misleading information about this ingredient, so it is worth doing your own research to decide whether or not to use it. If you prefer not to use it, you can simply omit it from the recipe.
Nutritional Facts Per Serving
| Nutrient | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 430–500 kcal |
| Protein | 24–30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45–55 g |
| Fat | 14–20 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2–4 g |
| Fiber | 4–6 g |
| Sugar | 4–7 g |
| Sodium | 900–1300 mg |
Nutritional Note: These values are estimated and can vary depending on the brand of noodles, the amount of oil used, and whether optional ingredients such as MSG and oyster sauce are included.
Tips for Perfect Noodles
- You can add a spicy kick with a little sriracha sauce or chili flakes at the end. You can also use fresh chili, but remove the seeds first.
- If you do not have oyster sauce, use an extra teaspoon of soy sauce and a pinch of extra sugar.
- To add color, texture, and flavor, top the dish with fresh chive slices, toasted sesame seeds, or even a little crushed peanut.
- Besides chicken, you can use shrimp or firm tofu. You can even make lo mein with a mix of proteins.
- If you have leftover noodles, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat them in a pan over medium heat with a little water or extra soy sauce to bring back their freshness.
FAQs
Can I use another protein instead of chicken?
Yes. You can replace the chicken with shrimp or firm tofu. You can also combine more than one protein if you like.
What noodles work best for lo mein?
Egg noodles for lo mein are ideal, but ramen noodles can also be used in this recipe.
Is oyster sauce necessary?
No. It is optional. If you do not have it, use an extra teaspoon of soy sauce and a small pinch of sugar.
Can I make this recipe spicy?
Yes. You can add sriracha, chili flakes, or fresh chili at the end for extra heat.
How should I store leftovers?
Store leftover lo mein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan with a little water or soy sauce.
Conclusion
This chicken lo mein with vegetables is a quick, flavorful, and satisfying dish that is easy to prepare at home. With its tender chicken, colorful vegetables, and savory noodles, it is a great option for a simple lunch or dinner. You can also adjust the vegetables, protein, and seasoning to suit your taste, which makes it a very practical recipe for any day of the week.
