Author: Susanne at dishwithme.com
If you are a fan of Chinese inspired dishes, you’re going to want to try this recipe for Quick Lo Mein. Sure, you can order take out and go pick it up, but this recipe is super easy, pretty quick to fix AND you know the exact ingredients that went into it.
Knowing what is in my food has become increasingly important to me. Over the last six months I have completely given up soda and am trying to remove high fructose corn syrup from my diet. If I were to splurge on a soda, it would be one made with real sugar, not HFCS or fake sugar chemicals. OMGosh, high fructose corn syrup is in EVERYTHING! It is even in things you wouldn’t typically expect it to be in. It is admirable to me that some countries do not allow it in their food products. I find it unadmirable that our government, not only allows it in our foods, but subsidizes it. Rant over. Take it however you wish.
Anyway, that is one reason I prefer to cook my own food. I know exactly what is in it. Does that mean I never go out to eat, or eat something I shouldn’t? No. Of course not. I am human and enjoy dining out on occasion, or, even, eating a suped-up ramen on occasion (I have a fabulous curry ramen recipe you will get soon). Everything in moderation.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR QUICK LO MEIN
I like to cook the Lo Mein noodles first, then give them a quick rinse and set them aside. It may be necessary to give them another quick rinse prior to adding them to the rest of the ingredients.
While the noodles are cooking, I chop, slice, or dice my veggies prior to cooking. It seems to simplify the process, at least for me.
Make the sauce before the cooking process, also, and set aside.
Be creative with the ingredients. If there is something you don’t like, don’t add it. If there is something you think would pair well with the rest of the ingredients, try it. A couple examples are: sliced water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or zucchini.
Shrimp would also be good with this dish.
The small sweet peppers I refer to in this post come in a bag. They are typically mixed red, yellow and orange. I would guess there are probably approximately 8 to 12 small peppers in a bag. There is no heat to them at all, just flavor. Here is a link to show you what kind of peppers I am talking about. Simply click on the word peppers that is highlighted in blue.
GROCERY LIST
- Sesame oil
- Lo Mein noodles
- Broccoli
- Yellow onion
- Bag of small sweet peppers
- Button mushrooms
- Matchstick carrots
- Fresh garlic
- Ham
- Green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Corn starch
- Soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Sesame oil
- Beef broth
- Sweet chili sauce
RECIPES TO POSSIBLY PAIR WITH THIS ONE
EASY HONEY BUTTER GARLIC CHICKEN
And for dessert, you might try APPLE CINNAMON MINI MUFFINS
Equipment
- Wok or very large pan
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 14 ounces Chinese noodles Cooked per package directions
- 2 cups Broccoli Chopped into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 Yellow onion Sliced thin in half moon shape
- 1 bag Small sweet peppers Thinly sliced
- 8 ounces button mushrooms Sliced
- 1/4 cup matchstick carrots
- 1/2 pound Ham Optional, Sliced into thin strips
- 1/4 cup Green onions Chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame seeds Plus more for garnish
- SAUCE
- 2 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoon Water
- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce
- 1/2 cup Oyster sauce
- 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Sesame oil Plus more for cooking
- 1/2 cup Beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon Sweet chili sauce
- 1 large or 2 medium Fresh garlic cloves grated
Instructions
- Cook the Chinese noodles, per package instructions. Rinse and set aside.
- While the noodles are cooking, clean, slice, dice, prepare and measure out all of the vegetables and the ham. Set aside.
- Make the sauce. When making the sauce, use a medium bowl and, first mix the cornstarch and water together, mixing well, making sure all lumps are gone, then, to the same bowl, mix the other ingredients in. Set aside.
- In a wok or a very large pan, on medium-high heat add a liberal amount of sesame oil (approx. 3 tablespoons) then add the mushrooms, mini sweet peppers, broccoli, carrots, and onions. Cook, stirring often for about 5 minutes. I often add more sesame oil on top of the veggies.
- Add the Lo Mein noodles and mix the vegetables into it.
- Give the sauce a quick stir and then add the sauce to the veggies and noodles and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring well.
- Add the sliced ham, green onions and sesame seeds, mix well, cook just long enough to warm the ham.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and more green onion, if desired.