straightforward 30-minute vegetarian Chow Mein, better than takeout, brimming with a loads of veggies and coated in an irresistibly satisfying sauce.
If you’re not a vegetarian and want to add meat to your Chow Mein, then try this Beef Chow Mein or Chicken Chow Mein instead.
What Is Chow Mein?
Chow Mein is a popular Chinese dish that consists of stir-fried noodles with vegetables, meat (such as chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork), and a savory sauce. The term means “stir-fried noodles” in Chinese.
This vegetarian version is packed with veggies and makes for the reliable “clear out the fridge” kind of meal! While I’m not vegetarian, It is satisfying to packing meals full of veggies, like these Thai Chicken Wraps, and this is one of my favorites. It’s also one of the best ways I know to get my kids to eat veggies — add them to noodles and a sauce and they’ll eat every last bite.
Ingredients
- Veggies (cabbage, carrots, celery, red pepper, mushrooms, green onions): Add a nice crunch and nutrition.
- Fresh ginger and garlic: Bring spicy flavor and make the dish smell amazing.
- Vegetable oil: Use to sauté the ingredients in your Chow Mein.
- Noodles: Main part, absorb flavors and makes the dish filling.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
- Soy sauce and Oyster Sauce: Add saltiness and a satisfying flavor.
- Veggie stock or broth: Makes the sauce savory.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and balances out the salt.
- Sesame oil: Gives a nutty taste to the sauce.
- Freshly cracked pepper and skippable toasted sesame seeds: For seasoning and finish.
Quick Tip
What’s the difference between this dish and chop suey? One of the big distinctions is that chow mein is served with some type of noodle, whereas chop suey is served with rice.
How To Make Chow Mein
- Prep the Vegetables: Thinly slice or chop all the vegetables.
- Prepare the Sauce: Whisk together all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set it aside.
- Cook the Noodles: Follow the package directions to prepare the noodles.
- Stir-Fry the Vegetables: With everything prepped, it’s time to cook! Begin with the onions, garlic, and ginger. Then, cook the vegetables before adding the noodles and sauce.
- Toss, finish, and Enjoy!: Combine everything well, finish Chow Mein as desired, and serve.
Adding Protein And Different Veggies
If you’re looking to add more protein while keeping this Chow Mein vegetarian, consider adding some tofu. I highly recommend this guide for cooking tofu.
If you’re not vegetarian, feel free to include cooked chicken, beef, or shrimp. Alternatively, you could serve this dish as a side dish alongside Grilled Chicken or Grilled Steak.
Vegetable Variations:
This vegetarian Chow Mein is highly customizable. You can use various veggies, just keep the amount similar and slice them thin for quick cooking. Options include bean sprouts, green bell pepper, snow or sugar snap peas, yellow onion, red cabbage, broccoli, water chestnuts, and zucchini or yellow squash.
