Chow Mein
Few stir fry recipes are as satisfying as a well-made Chow Mein. The star here is mung bean sprouts, supported by a short list of everyday ingredients. It is naturally vegetarian and vegan, so it suits mixed tables without any substitutions. Below you will find the full ingredient list, the method, and a few tips we think make the difference.
- Cook 1h
- Total 1h
- Serves 46
- Level Medium
Ingredients
- 1 lb Mung Bean Sprouts
- 15 oz Seitan
- ½ lb Dry wonton noodles
- 2 medium Stalks celery
- 1 lb Bok choy or broccoli
- ½ lb Mushrooms
- 1 Red bell pepper
- ½ Red onion
- 1 Chopped green onion
- Vegetable oil for frying, as needed
- ¼ cup Toasted sesame seeds
- ¼ cup Finely-chopped shiitake mushrooms
- 2 tsp Sesame oil
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- Salt
- To taste Pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp Cornstarch
- ¼ cup Water or low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- Salt
- To taste Pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 4 tbsp Water
Method
- 1–2 hours before cooking, rinse the mung bean sprouts so that they have time to drain thoroughly.
- Cut the seitan into thin strips. Add the marinade ingredients, adding the cornstarch last. Marinate the seitan for 20 to 25 minutes.
- The following 3 steps can be completed while the seitan is marinating:
- * To prepare the sauce, in a small bowl dissolve the 1 tablespoon cornstarch with the 4 tablespoons water. Whisk the water or vegetable broth with the oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and cornstarch and water mixture and set aside.
- * Soften the noodles by placing them in boiling salted water. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly.
- * Wash all the vegetables as needed. Cut the celery and the bok choy into ½-inch pieces on the diagonal. If substituting broccoli for bok choy, peel the stalks until no more strings come out, and slice thinly on the diagonal. Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth and slice. Cut the red bell pepper in half, remove the seeds and cut into chunks. Peel and chop the onion. Dice the green onion.
- Heat a wok or frying pan over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the noodles. Fry in batches until golden. Remove the noodles from the pan.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onion and the seitan, keeping remaining marinade aside for later use. Let the seitan brown briefly, then stir-fry until the redness is gone and the seitan is nearly cooked through. Remove the cooked seitan and onion from the pan.
- Cook the rest of the vegetables separately, except for the green onion, seasoning each with a bit of salt while stir-frying if desired. When cooking the bok choy or broccoli, add ¼ cup of water and cover while cooking. Remove each of the vegetables from the pan when finished stir-frying. Add more oil as needed.
- Give the sauce a quick re-stir. Add all the ingredients back into the wok, making a "well" in the middle of the wok for the sauce. Add the sauce and any remaining marinade, stirring quickly to thicken. Mix everything together. Stir in the green onions. Pour the cooked vegetable and sauce mixture on top of the noodles. Garnish the chow mein with the toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.
Tips for the best Chow Mein
- Do not crowd the pan. Cook in batches if needed so everything browns instead of steaming.
- Rest the finished dish for a few minutes before serving — it lets the flavours settle and the texture firm up.
- Read the whole method before you start and measure out the 23 ingredients first — it keeps the pace relaxed once the heat is on.
- This is a 10-step recipe, so set up your workspace in the order the steps use it.
Variations
- Fusion twist: keep the method but swap the spices for your own favourites — the Chinese base takes well to it.
- Spicier version: add a pinch of chilli flakes or a sliced fresh chilli with the aromatics.
- Vegetable boost: stir in a handful of spinach, peas or diced peppers in the last few minutes of cooking.
Serving ideas
Serve over steamed jasmine rice with a scatter of spring onion and sesame.
Storage
Best eaten fresh. Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for 2 days; reheat in a hot pan or oven rather than the microwave to bring the crispness back.
Frequently asked questions
What can I substitute for mung bean sprouts?
Any ingredient with a similar texture and cooking time works; see the variations below for ideas. Keep quantities the same and adjust seasoning at the end.
Is Chow Mein vegetarian?
Yes — this version is vegetarian and vegan as written. Always check packaged ingredients if you have strict requirements.
How many people does this Chow Mein recipe serve?
As written it serves 46. The quantities scale up or down in a straight line, so double everything for 46×2.
How long does Chow Mein take to make?
About 1 hour in total — roughly under an hour of preparation and 1 hour of cooking.
Is this Chow Mein recipe hard to make?
It is rated hard: 23 ingredients and 10 steps. Follow the order and the tips above and it is very forgiving.
Adapted from Wikibooks Cookbook, CC BY-SA 4.0 — source
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