Plain Chow Mein Recipe

Chow mein is a Chinese takeaway classic favourite that I order every time. But did you know its super easy to make at home, it has hardly any ingredients and tastes just like the takeaway.

The key to the classic takeaway style flavour is the chow mein sauce- a combination of MSG, white pepper, sesame oil, and soy sauce. This combination is the exact reason takeaway Chinese noodles taste so good.

Chow mein is often not vegan but vegetarian due to the egg noodles but you can buy vegan Chinese noodles at your local Chinese supermarket or online here. Most takeaway restaurants use the 'Lucky Boat' brand noodles which are accidentally vegan and just get their egg noodle look from the color added.

This is a 'plain chow mein recipe' style but you can customise your chow mein with whatever protein or vegetables you love. Give this recipe a try next time you’re craving a Chinese takeaway but want the cheaper option.

Plain chow mein- I've made this recipe for a plain chow mein but chow mein can have anything added to it to make it more of a full meal. Any protein and/or vegetables can be added to make this your own.

What to eat chow mein with-

• Chinese Style Salt and Pepper Tofu
• Garlic and black pepper broccolini
• Vegan Char Siu- Lions Mane Mushroom

How to cook chow mein noodles

I often hear of people saying their chow mein is never like takeout chow mein as their noodles always go soggy and stick together ad this is for the following reasons:

• You are overcooking your noodles- it is important to cook the noodles as per the packaging instructions and not a second longer. As the noodle will be stir fried after you don't want to start with already overcooked noodles. Cook the noodles and then immediately rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process and rinse off the excess starch.
• You are not using enough oil and not letting it get hot enough- stir fried noodles require a sufficient amount of hot oil to get that char and should only be cooked briefly on high heat.
• MSG!! MSG is one of the reasons that Chinese food tastes so good- be sure to use it to ensure the authentic takeaway taste.

Ingredients needed to make chow mein-

• Vegan egg style noodles- Traditionally chow mein is often made with egg noodles but you can buy imitation egg noodles from Chinese supermarkets or online which are coloured yellow to look like egg noodles but happen to be vegan.
• Beansprouts- Beansprouts add a crunch element to the dish, if you prefer them to be less crunchy add them in a little earlier so they get cooked well. You can omit these if you’d like just the noodles.
• Sesame oil- Sesame oil is an oil made from sesame seeds that is not used to cook with but used as a flavouring so be sure to add this towards the end to stop the flavour from cooking out. Sesame oil has a toasted nutty flavour that really belongs in these noodles.

• Soy sauce- A mix of soy sauces are used in chow mein. Light soy sauce adds saltiness without being too rich where a splash of dark soy sauce adds the colour to the noodles giving them the colour chow mein is known by.
• MSG- MSG is used to bring out the savoury flavours in this dish and will take your average home cooked noodle dish right up to take away restaurant standard food. It is essential for that authentic Chinese flavour. You can sub out for salt but the takeaway flavour will not be there 100%. You can buy MSG in all Chinese supermarkets or online I use the Ajinomoto brand.
• White pepper- White pepper has a milder flavour than black pepper and is often used in Chinese food. This is also an important element of making your chow mein taste authentic.

More noodle dishes

• Pumpkin Ramen Noodle Soup
• Vegan Birria Ramen
• Red Curry Thai Udon
• Easy Vegan Ramen Broth
• Tofu and Broccoli Udon Noodle Stir Fry

How to make chow mein like the takeaway

• Boil the noodles and rinse in cold water
• Chop the onions thinly
• Fry the onions until soft

• Add the cooked noodles
• Add the beansprouts and dry seasoning
• Add the liquid seasonings

Vegan Takeaway Style Chow Mein

Egg style noodles stir fried with onions and bean sprouts in a takeaway style chow mein sauce

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

• 250 g Vegan egg style noodles
• 1 White onion
• 250 g Beansprouts
• 1 tbsp Sesame oil
• 1 tbsp Dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
• 1 tsp MSG
• ½ tsp White pepper
• ½ tsp Salt

Instructions

 

• Cook the noodles to packet instructions, rinse off with cold water then fill the pan with cold water and leave the noodles in there whilst you get started on the rest.
• Slice the onions thinly and fry until soft in an oiled frying pan.
• Turn the pan to high heat and add the noodles.
• Leave the noodles to get a slight char on the bottom before stirring.
• Add in the MSG, white pepper and salt and stir to coat the noodles.
• Now add in the bean sprouts and stir fry until cooked.
• Lastly add in the soy sauces and sesame oil to finish.
• Toss well to combine then serve.

Notes

• dont overcook your noodles- it is important to cook the noodles as per the packaging instructions and not a second longer. As the noodle will be stir fried after you don't want to start with already overcooked noodles. Cook the noodles and then immediately rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process and rinse off the excess starch.
• use enough oil and not let it get hot enough- stir fried noodles require a sufficient amount of hot oil to get that char and should only be cooked briefly on high heat.
• MSG!! MSG is one of the reasons that Chinese food tastes so good- be sure to use it to ensure the authentic takeaway taste.

Video

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A post shared by Abbie Taylor | Plant based recipes (@theplantbowls)

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