Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein. Thick chewy egg noodles smothered in a spicy soy oyster sauce with fresh vegetables. Ready in 25 minutes. Great as a side dish for lunch or dinner!
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What is Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein?
Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein features thick egg noodles tossed in a dark, spicy, savory sauce with onions, garlic, carrots, gai lan, and red bell pepper. It's absolutely delicious if you're looking for a spicy version of lo mein noodles. You won't find this dish served at Chinese restaurants as it's not common to add sambal oelek to lo mein.
However, when I was brainstorming different ways to make lo mein, I thought of creating a spicy version using Sambal Oelek. After many trials of testing, I created the most perfect concoction and I'm so happy to share this spicy lo mein with you!
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
Note: Most Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.
- Fresh or pre-cooked thick yellow egg noodles: or sub with any thick wheat noodles like udon
- Carrots
- Red bell pepper
- Gai lan aka Chinese Broccoli
- Garlic
- White onion
- Neutral oil
- Sesame seeds (garnish)
Spicy Lo Mein Sauce:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Oyster sauce: or sub with vegetarian stir fry sauce
- Dark soy sauce: different than regular soy sauce as it's thicker and darker.
- 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.
- Sugar
- Sesame oil
- Chilli garlic sauce, store bought: also known as Sambal Oelek which is often used in South-East Asian cooking. At the grocer, the jar should say Chili Garlic Sauce.
How to make Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein
- In a small bowl, combine noodle sauce ingredients.
- Heat a large pan on medium heat. As it heats, add cooking oil, minced garlic, and white onions. Allow this to fry until onions have softened and become translucent.
- Add all the vegetables and fry for 30 seconds.
- Next add pre-cooked egg noodles and noodle sauce. Toss everything together. Once steam starts to form, remove off heat and enjoy with optional sesame seeds for garnish.
Expert Tips
- Buy the pre-cooked thick yellow egg noodles. They must be thick! Do not opt for the thin ones as the sauce proportions and ingredients listed in the recipe card are not meant for the thin ones.
- Pre-mix your noodle sauce ahead of cooking time. This is important as you won't have time to be fumbling around with sauce jars.
- Have the ingredients ready to throw into the pan. Remember the cooking process is super quick, especially if you’re frying in a carbon steel or cast-iron wok that can withstand high temperature.
- As your pan heats, then throw in the oil and garlic. As the oil heats, it’ll gradually cook your minced garlic versus throwing it into a very hot pan.
- Do not overcook the veggies, just cook until the gai-lan has wilted slightly.
- Do not overcook the noodles. Once everything is tossed together and the noodles are evenly coated in sauce, remove off heat.
FAQ
Can I add protein?
Yes! That’s why these Chinese noodles are so versatile. You can add chicken, pork, beef, seafood such as shrimp, squid, fish cakes (not fish) or tofu.
I would avoid fish unless it’s fish cakes.
What's the difference between lo mein and chow mein?
The “lo” in lo mein means to mix so lo mein is mixed noodles with sauce, veggies, and proteins. On the other hand, the “chow” in chow mein means to fry.
Can I substitute with other noodles?
Yes, feel free to use any other thick noodles like udon.
Other noodle recipes you may like!
- Panda Express Chow Mein
- Easy Chicken Chow Mein
- Crispy Chow Mein Noodles
- Cantonese Soy Sauce Chow Mein
- Cantonese Vegetable Chow Mein
- Singapore Curry Vermicelli
📖 Recipe
Easy & Quick Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 400 g thick egg noodles pre-cooked kind
- 1.5- 2 cups of packed Gai-lan (Chinese Broccoli) chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup red bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ cup carrot thinly sliced
- ½ cup white onion thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoon garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds optional garnish
Noodle sauce:
- 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon water
- ¾ - 1.5 tablespoon chilli garlic sauce ¾ tablespoon = mild, 1.5 tablespoon = spicy. Add more if you like it very spicy!
- 2 teaspoon regular soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine noodle sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Heat a large pan on medium heat. As it heats, add cooking oil, minced garlic, and white onions. Allow this to fry until onions have softened and become translucent.
- Add all the vegetables and fry for 30 seconds.
- Next add pre-cooked egg noodles and noodle sauce. Toss everything together. Once steam starts to form, remove off heat and enjoy with optional sesame seeds for garnish.
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Rosemary
oo thick spicy lo mein looks so good! I love the rich color that the oyster sauce and soy sauce adds to the noodle