Quick & Easy Hoisin Beef Noodles

Name: Quick & Easy Hoisin Beef Noodles
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 14 oz lo mein noodles (fresh kind (or sub with miki noodles / yaki soba)); 1/2 lb flank steak (sliced on a bias into 1/4-inch thick pieces); 1 red bell pepper (julienned); 2 cups gai-lan (chopped into 2-inch long pieces with stalks sliced thinly); 2 green onions (chopped into 2-inch long pieces); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or any neutral oil); 1.5 tbsp water (cold or room temperature); 1/2 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch / tapioca starch); 1/2 tbsp regular soy sauce (or light soy sauce); 1 tsp hoisin sauce; 1/4 tsp baking soda; ⅛ tsp black pepper (or white pepper); 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil (or any neutral oil); 3 tbsp hoisin sauce ((add another 1 tbsp / 15 ml if you prefer a stronger taste)); 1 tbsp regular soy sauce (or light soy sauce); 1 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp oyster sauce (or vegetarian stir-fry sauce); 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp white granulated sugar (or cane sugar); 1/2 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch / tapioca starch); 1/4 cup chicken stock (low-sodium)

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Chewy thick noodles stir fried with tender beef and vegetables in a savory and sweet hoisin-based sauce. These quick and easy hoisin beef noodles are ready in 30 minutes. A great main dish or meal for the hoisin lovers!

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Ingredients & Substitutes
Expert Tips
Instructions
Storage
Pairing Suggestions
FAQ
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💬 Reviews

My hoisin beef noodles features tender marinated beef stir-fried with bell peppers, leafy greens, and aromatics in a sweet and savory sauce.

These Asian noodles are scrumptious and it hits the spot every time, thanks to the sweet and salty flavors of the hoisin sauce.

Unfortunately this isn't a popular noodle dish served at Chinese restaurants or for takeout but you can easily make this at home with simple ingredients!

The beef is also velveted in a Chinese marinade, making it super juicy and tender. If you're not a fan of beef, you can substitute for chicken, pork, shrimp or extra-firm tofu.

Why you'll love this recipe:

made in 30 minutes or less!
customizable if you want to change the protein or vegetables for ones you enjoy (see substitutes below).
great for the whole family, including kids.
packed with vegetables for that fiber!

Ingredients & Substitutes

Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.

Fresh Lo Mein Noodles: or substitute with miki noodles, yaki soba noodles, fresh chow mein noodles or cooked spaghetti.
Flank Steak: or substitute with skirt steak, flat iron steak or hanger steak.
Red Bell Pepper: or substitute with yellow, orange or green bell pepper, carrots, snap peas or snow peas.
Gai-Lan: or substitute with baby gai-lan, baby bok choy, yu choy sum, green cabbage or napa cabbage.
Green Onions: or substitute with ½ small onion.
Garlic Cloves
Neutral Cooking Oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil with a high smoke point. Avoid olive oil or coconut oil.

Beef Marinade

Water: cold or room temperature.
Cornstarch: or substitute with tapioca starch or potato starch.
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.
Hoisin Sauce: a thick brown sauce that is sweet with molasses.
Baking Soda: do not skip this ingredient as it tenderizes the beef.
Black Pepper: or substitute with white pepper.
Neutral Oil

Noodle Sauce

Hoisin 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.
Dark Soy Sauce: this is darker and thicker than regular soy sauce. Or substitute with mushroom soy sauce.
Oyster Sauce: or substitute with vegetarian stir-fry sauce.
Sesame Oil: omit if you're allergic to sesame.
White Granulated Sugar: or substitute with cane sugar
Cornstarch: or substitute with tapioca starch or potato starch.
Chicken Stock: low sodium kind

Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients or check Amazon.

Expert Tips

Thinly slice beef on a bias with a sharp knife for the most tender cut.
To thinly slice beef easily, freeze the steak exposed to the freezer air for 45-60 minutes before until the exterior is hardened and slice with a sharp knife.
Prepare the ingredients in advance as the cooking process is fast!
Allow the beef to marinate for 15-20 minutes for extra tender beef but don't marinate past this time frame or the meat can become mushy.
Don't skip the baking soda or cornstarch in the beef marinade as these are key ingredients to velvet the beef.
Don't over blanch the noodles. Once they're loosened, immediately strain as we are stir-frying them later.

Instructions

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make hoisin beef noodles:

Transfer sliced flank steak into a large bowl and marinate with the marinade ingredients as listed above for 15-20 minutes.

Transfer sliced flank steak into a large bowl and marinate with the marinade ingredients as listed above for 15-20 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the noodle sauce ingredients as listed above and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the noodle sauce ingredients as listed above and set aside.

Bring a large pan filled halfway with water to boil on high heat. Blanch noodles for 30 seconds or just until loosened.

Bring a large pan filled halfway with water to boil on high heat. Blanch noodles for 30 seconds or just until loosened.

Strain the cooked noodles and set aside. Do not rinse off with cold running water.

Strain the cooked noodles immediately and set aside. Do not rinse off with cold running water.

Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium high heat. Fry marinated beef until 75% cooked.

Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium high heat. Fry marinated beef until 75% cooked.

Toss in bell peppers, gai-lan, garlic and green onions and stir fry for 1 minute. Add noodles with noodle sauce and toss everything together. Remove off heat and enjoy!

Toss in bell peppers, gai-lan, garlic and green onions and stir fry for 1 minute. Add noodles with noodle sauce and toss everything together. Remove off heat and enjoy!

Storage

Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat: microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
Freezer friendly? I don't recommend freezing this hoisin beef noodle stir-fry as the noodles and vegetables will become soggy.

Pairing Suggestions

Hoisin beef noodles serve well with:

starters like egg rolls, crab rangoons, egg drop soup, hot and sour soup
white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, or fried rice
cooked vegetables like bok choy, spicy garlic bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves.
protein dishes like Mongolian Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Egg Foo Young, Bang Bang Shrimp, Soy Garlic Tofu, Chinese Braised Tofu and more!

FAQ

Can I make this in advance?

This can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To enjoy, reheat it in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop on medium heat.

Can I substitute with another protein?

Yes, feel free to substitute with sliced chicken, pork, shrimp or extra-firm tofu.

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