Lo Mein. Delicious long egg noodles stir fried with an assortment of colorful vegetables in a delicious savory sauce! Simple and quick. Ready in 20 minutes!
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What is Lo Mein?
Lo mein is a popular noodle dish served at many Chinese restaurants. Variations include beef lo mein, chicken lo mein and more. This Chinese dish is made of fresh noodles stir fried with red bell peppers, snow peas, carrots, mushrooms and aromatics in a savory sauce with umami flavor!
This easy lo mein recipe serves well as a quick side dish or meal if you add protein. Perfect for serving a large family because the cooking process is quick and simple. On Friday nights, I love serving this Chinese food with General Tso Chicken instead of getting takeout because it's such an easy recipe!
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Fresh Lo mein noodles: Or substitute with yellow thick noodles like Miki noodles, udon or cooked spaghetti noodles. Fresh egg noodles are found in the refrigerated section at Asian grocery stores.
- Red bell pepper
- Snow peas: Or substitute with snap peas.
- Napa Cabbage: or substitute with green cabbage, bok choy, yu choy sum, gai-lan, or celery.
- Carrots
- Button Mushrooms
- Green onions
- Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil, coconut oil or any heavy scented oils.
Lo Mein Sauce:
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.
- Oyster sauce: Or substitute with vegetarian stir fry sauce.
- Sesame oil
- Dark soy sauce
- Garlic
- Chicken stock: or substitute with beef stock or vegetable stock
- Cornstarch: or substitute with potato starch
- Sesame seeds: optional
Note: The Asian market will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
How to Make Lo Mein
Create Sauce
In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above. Set aside.
Soak Noodles
Soak your egg noodles in hot boiling water for 15-20 seconds just until loosened and al dente.
Strain Noodles
Strain noodles immediately.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
In a large skillet or large wok, on medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil. Add carrots, red bell pepper, snow peas, mushrooms and napa cabbage. Add ¼ cup of water to help cook and soften the vegetables. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add Noodles & Sauce
Reduce to medium heat. Add in cooked noodles and prepared sauce.
Toss Together
Toss everything together. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Leftover noodles will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, reheat on the stove top in a non-stick pan on medium heat or microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot.
Expert Tips
- Do not over blanch the noodles. Once they become loosened, strain immediately.
- Slice the veggies into thin long pieces. This helps them incorporate into the noodles better.
- Do not over cook the veggies. Once they become crisp and have softened a bit, toss in the noodles and sauce.
- Do not overcook the noodles. Once it combines with the rest of the ingredients, remove off the heat immediately.
FAQ
Yes, feel free to add cooked chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu.
Other Chinese recipes you may enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Easy 20-min. Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 1 lb lo mein noodles
- 1 cup napa cabbage sliced
- 1 cup red bell pepper julienned
- ¾ cup snow peas ends trimmed
- ½ cup carrot julienned
- 4 button mushrooms sliced
- 1 green onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Lo Mein Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or sub with vegetarian stir fry sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup chicken stock or any stock of your choice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above. Set aside.
- Soak your lo mein noodles in hot boiling water for 15-20 seconds just until loosened. Strain immediately.
- In a large skillet or large wok, on medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil. Add carrots, red bell pepper, snow peas, mushrooms and napa cabbage. Add ¼ cup water around the pan to help cook the veggies until softened, about 1-2 minutes. It's okay if there's still some water in the base of the pan.
- Add in cooked noodles and prepared sauce. Toss everything together until noodles are coated in sauce and sauce has slightly thickened. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Lorelei
Cant wait to try tomorrow!
christieathome
Thank you Lorelei! I hope you enjoy it!
Brian
Wow, thank you for sharing your fantastic noodle dish. Its so good it stands well on its own, it doesn't need any meat addition.
A huge fan of your videos and no-nonsense approach, perfect for a busy world! Keep up the great work.
christieathome
Thank you so much for the kind review and words, Brian! So glad you enjoyed my recipe and I couldn't agree more.
I also really appreciate the positive feedback and support of my work 🙂 Have a great day!
Patrick Wingert
I like Cantonese Lo Mein. Having the shrimp, chicken, beef and Char Siu combined makes it a veritable delight for the sense since the combination from one forkful to the next varies!
christieathome
I couldn't agree more! I love those additions as they can easily make it a complete meal 🙂
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Your noodles look fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing where to find the cantonese style chow mein noodles! 💕💕
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Love how simple and delicious this lo mein noodle recipe is!! 🙂 Oyster sauce is a must!
christieathome
Thanks Michelle! I couldn't agree more! Such a must!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
I know my whole family will love this lo Mein!! It will be a perfect accompaniment to vegetables!
Rosemary
I love cooking with avocado oil! It holds up to the heat sooo much better. Also, I don't think our grocer sells Cantonese noodles here, so I will have to make my way across town to the Asian store hehe