Dive into our delicious homemade Chow Mein recipe that promises to bring you a restaurant favorite right in your kitchen. It's super quick and bursting with all the right flavors. The best part-it comes together in minutes!
Where is Chow Mein From?
Chow Mein is a staple of Chinese-American cuisine and possibly the #1 takeout item the world over. Originating from the Cantonese words "chāu" (stir-fried) and "mèing" (noodles), Chow Mein is traditionally made by stir-frying egg noodles with a variety of vegetables in a savory sauce- at least that is the version popularized by panda Express. It's easily the most popular chains known for its take on Chow Mein. My homemade take on this classic dish is better and far more nutritious in my opinion -all homemade recipes are, after all!
What Makes the Perfect Chow Mein
Creating the perfect Chow Mein requires a fiery stove, and very few ingredients. Here's how to make it:
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine dark soy sauce, regular soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Mix well to create a flavorful sauce that will coat the noodles.
- Prep the Noodles and Veggies: Cook the Chow Mein noodles according to package instructions. While the noodles are cooking, chop the celery, cabbage, garlic, and onion. Having everything prepped and ready will make the cooking process smooth and efficient. Mise-en-place is the fancy French word that is super important for stir-fry foods. It basically means to have all your veggies chopped and sauces mixed and prepped.
- Stir-Fry the Veggies: Heat oil in a large pan or wok over high heat. Add the sliced celery and cabbage, and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and onion, and continue to toss until the vegetables are caramelized and tender.
- Combine with Noodles: Once the veggies are cooked, add the cooked noodles to the pan. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and veggies, tossing with tongs or a fork until everything is well coated in the savory sauce.
- Finish with Sesame Oil: For an extra layer of flavor, drizzle sesame oil over the Chow Mein and garnish with chopped spring onions. This adds a fragrant, nutty aroma that enhances the overall dish.
- Optional Crunch: If you prefer a bit more crunch in your Chow Mein, remove the veggies from the pan before adding the noodles. Fry the noodles in a touch more oil until crispy, then add the veggies and sauce back into the pan.
Watch how to make Panda Express Chow Mein
Health Benefits:
While Chow Mein may be considered indulgent, my homemade version offers some health benefits. Loaded with fresh vegetables like celery, cabbage, and onion, this dish provides essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The savory sauce, made with dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil, adds depth of flavor without excessive sodium or added sugars. Plus, by controlling the ingredients and cooking methods, you can ensure that your Chow Mein is free from preservatives and unhealthy additives commonly found in restaurant versions. Basically, homemade is always best!
Watch how to Make Panda Express Chow Mein
How to make Chow Mein
Ingredients for Sauce
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Ingredients for Stir-Fry
- 12 oz chow mein noodles
- ¼ cup oil
- 3 sticks celery, sliced at an angle
- ½ head cabbage, sliced thin to medium
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 yellow onion, sliced a bit thick
- Chopped spring onions for garnish
Preparation
- Prep the veggies and sauce, and cook the noodles according to package instructions.
- Stir-fry the celery and cabbage in oil until slightly softened. Add garlic and onion, and caramelize on high heat.
- Add cooked noodles to the pan, pour in the sauce, and toss until well coated.
- Finish with sesame oil and garnish with spring onions.
With these simple steps, you'll be on your way to creating the best Chow Mein at home. Ok, now go get cooking and tag me on my Instagram!
Chow Mein -Easy Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for Sauce
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Ingredients for Noodles
- 12 oz chow mein noodles
- ¼ cup oil
- 3 sticks celery sliced at an angle
- ½ head cabbage sliced thin to medium
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 yellow onion sliced a bit thick
- Chopped spring onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the veggies and sauce, and cook the noodles according to package instructions.
- Stir-fry the celery and cabbage in oil until slightly softened. Add garlic and onion, and caramelize on high heat.
- Add cooked noodles to the pan, pour in the sauce, and toss until well coated.
- Finish with sesame oil and garnish with spring onions.
Amber
I really like how easy this chow mein was to put together. And it was very easy to make a plant based by this substituting out the regular oyster sauce for a plant-based version of the oyster sauce.