Chow Mein - Better than Takeout! - Tiffy Cooks (2024)

The most challenging question to answer is, “do you want Chow Mein or Fried Rice?” I’ll teach you both in the next few weeks, so you don’t ever have to decide!

Going back to the basics and making the BEST Chow Mein recipe that will for sure be on your weekly dinner dishes.

We are making a vegetarian version today, but you can also add in chicken, beef, seafood, or pork.

Pair it with my Better than takeout Orange Chicken and Restaurant style garlic bok choy, and you got yourself the perfect meal.

This Chow Mein recipe has a secret sauce made with simple-to-find ingredients that will blow your mind.

All you need is soy sauce, black vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, black pepper, and sesame oil.

The flavor that is often missing in homemade chow mein is the tanginess. Black Vinegar is less harsh than regular vinegar, which gives the chow mein a subtle hint of tanginess that brings the dish together.

If you are vegetarian or have a seafood allergy, I recommend using vegetarian oyster sauce instead.

Let’s talk about noodles, as this is the most crucial ingredient in Chow Mein. I recommend using EGG Chow Mein noodles that you can find at most Asian Supermarkets.

Make sure to blanch the noodles for 30-60 seconds and rinse with cold water before pan-frying.

Blanching will not only get rid of the “eggy” smell from the noodles, but it will also cut down the pan-frying time, which prevents the noodles from breaking and becoming soggy.

If you can’t find Egg Chow Mein noodles in your area, I recommend using Shanghai Noodles or Frozen Udon.

Chow Mein takes less than 30 minutes to make at home, it is versatile, and you can adjust the vegetable and protein based on what you have at home.

Some other vegetables I recommend adding include snap peas, baby corn, broccoli, and bean sprouts.

Chow mein can be paired with any protein, such as chicken, pork, beef, and seafood. Marinate the protein before, pan-fry first, set it aside, and add it back in alongside the noodles.

Do you want more Fried Noodle and Rice recipes? Here are some of my favorite that is super easy to make at home!

• Taiwanese Beef Shacha Fried Rice (20 Minutes)
• Yakisoba – Japanese Fried Noodles
• Shanghai Stir-fried Rice Cakes (20 Minutes ONLY!)

Ingredients

• 450g of Egg Chow Mein Noodles
• ½ Carrot (sliced)
• ¼ Cabbage (sliced)
• 10 Shiitake Mushroom (sliced)
• 5 stalks of Celery (cut into thin strips)
• ½ Large Onion (sliced)
• 3 Stalks of Green Onion (2-inch pieces)

Sauce:

• 3 tbsp of Soy Sauce
• 2.5 tbsp of Vegetarian Oyster Sauce
• 1 tbsp of Sesame Oil
• 1 tbsp of Sugar
• 3 tbsp of Black Vinegar
• 1/2 tsp of Black Pepper

1. Blanch the chow mein noodles for 30-60 seconds, rinse with cold water, drain and set aside.
2. Mix soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, black vinegar, and black pepper in a bowl.
3. In a large pan, drizzle in a generous amount of oil, turn the heat to medium-high. Add in sliced onions and shiitake mushroom, stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Next, add in sliced carrots and celery, saute for 1-2 minutes, add in sliced cabbage and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the noodles, drizzle on the sauce, saute on high heat for 2-3 minutes.
6. Finally, add in green onion, saute on high heat for 1 minute.