How to Make Low Mein: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of ordering takeout every time you crave some delicious low mein? Well, it’s time to put on your apron and learn how to make this classic Chinese dish at home! We know that the recipe can sound intimidating, but with some simple steps and the right ingredients, you can easily whip up a bowl of low mein that will rival your favorite restaurant’s. So, let’s get started!

The key to making low mein at home is to understand what makes this dish so delicious. The chewy noodles, the savory vegetables and meat, and the flavorful sauce all come together to create an irresistible combination. The good news is that you can customize the ingredients according to your taste preferences, making it a perfect meal for everyone. Plus, making low mein at home ensures that you know exactly what’s going into your dish, which is great for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. So, grab your wok, and let’s learn how to make low mein in a relaxed and hassle-free manner.

Ingredients for Making Low Mein:

Low mein noodles are readily available at most grocery stores and supermarkets. You can also find them in Chinese or Asian stores. Apart from the noodles, there are few other ingredients that you will need to make a delicious bowl of low mein. Below are the necessary components.

1. Meat:

You can use any meat of your choice to make low mein, such as chicken, pork, or beef. Cut the meat into small strips or thin pieces so that it cooks faster.

2. Vegetables:

To give your low mein more flavor and texture, add vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, onions and garlic. These vegetables will also increase the nutritional value of the dish.

3. Low Mein Sauce:

The sauce is the most important part of low mein. You can either buy a pre-made sauce from the store or make your own sauce with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch.

4. Spices:

Add spices like ginger, red pepper flakes, and black pepper to enhance the flavor of your low mein.

5. Chicken Broth:

Chicken broth is optional, but it can add richness to your sauce and make your dish more flavorful.

6. Cooking Oil:

The best oils to use for low mein are sesame oil or vegetable oil. These oils have a high smoke point, making them perfect for stir-frying.

7. Low Mein Noodles:

Look for low mein noodles at a Chinese supermarket or online store, and cook them according to the package instructions.

8. Soy Sauce:

Soy sauce adds an umami flavor to the dish, which makes it more savory and delicious.

9. Cornstarch:

Cornstarch acts as a thickener for the low mein sauce and helps it cling to the noodles.

10. Garnishing:

Garnish your low mein dish with chopped scallions, cilantro, and sesame seeds to add color and more flavor to the dish.

Preparing the Ingredients

Before we can start cooking our delicious low mein, we need to ensure that we have all the necessary ingredients and that they are properly prepared. In this section, we’ll go over the essential elements that make up this dish, and how to get them ready.

Gather Your Ingredients

The first step in preparing any dish is to get the ingredients together. For low mein, you’ll need the following:

– 1 pound of low mein noodles
– 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
– 2 cloves of garlic
– 1 small piece of ginger
– 1 small onion
– 1 red bell pepper
– 2 cups of chopped Chinese cabbage
– 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
– 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
– Salt to taste

Cook the Low Mein Noodles

The low mein noodles are the backbone of this dish, so it’s essential to get them right. To cook the noodles, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the noodles. Cook them according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Prepare the Vegetables

While the noodles are cooking, you can prepare the vegetables. Start by chopping the onion, bell pepper, and Chinese cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic and ginger.

Heat the Oil

Once the vegetables are prepped, heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and ginger and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Add the Vegetables

Next, add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and Chinese cabbage to the pan and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly softened but still crisp.

Season the Vegetables

To add flavor to the vegetables, add a tablespoon of soy sauce and a teaspoon of sesame oil to the pan. Mix everything together and season with salt to taste.

Add the Low Mein Noodles

Once the vegetables are cooked and seasoned to your liking, add in the low mein noodles. Mix everything together until the noodles are evenly coated in the vegetable and seasoning mixture.

Serve and Enjoy!

Your low mein is now ready to be served! You can garnish it with some freshly chopped green onions or cilantro if you like, or enjoy it as is. This dish is perfect as a main course or as a side dish to your favorite Asian-inspired meal.

Ingredients needed for making low mein

Making low mein at home requires a few simple ingredients that can be easily found at your local grocery store. These ingredients include:

Preparing the ingredients

Before starting with the cooking process, it is important to prepare all the ingredients as it makes the cooking process more convenient and less time-consuming. Following are the steps for the preparation of ingredients:

Chop the vegetables

Chop the cabbage and green onions into medium-sized pieces. Slice the carrots into thin slices. Peel the garlic and ginger, then mince them finely.

Cook the noodles

Cook the egg noodles in a sizeable pot of boiling water according to the package’s instructions. When the noodles are done, drain and rinse them in cold water.

Steps for cooking low mein

Step 1: Heat the oils

In a large wok or frying pan, heat the sesame oil and vegetable or canola oil over high heat.

Step 2: Stir-fry the vegetables

Add the cabbage, carrots, and green onions to the pan and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they soften. Then add minced garlic and ginger and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the sauce

In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Add this sauce mixture to the vegetables in the pan.

Step 4: Add the noodles

Add the cooked noodles to the pan with the vegetables and sauce and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes to combine all the ingredients.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy

Turn off the heat and serve the low mein hot with additional chopped green onions as a garnish.

Low mein variations

There are numerous variations to the basic low mein recipe, depending on individual preferences and tastes. Here are just a few ideas for varying the recipe:

Add protein

Consider adding your protein of choice, such as chicken, beef, tofu, or shrimp, to amp up the flavor and texture of the dish.

Vary the vegetables

Experiment with different seasonal vegetables for a different flavor and texture. Chinese broccoli, green beans, and snow peas are all delicious additions to this classic dish.

Change up the sauce

Use different sauces such as oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or chili oil to vary the taste of the dish.

Use different noodles

Egg noodles are traditional for low mein, but you can also try using other types of noodles such as udon or soba noodles for different textures.

In conclusion, making low mein is a simple and satisfying way to enjoy a delicious meal at home. By following the above steps and adding your own variations, you can create a dish that’s tailored exactly to your tastes and preferences.

Satisfy Your Cravings with Delicious Low Mein

Thanks for reading! Now it’s time to put your culinary skills to the test and whip up a bowl of savory, mouth-watering low mein. In this article, we’ve given you an easy-to-follow recipe and some tips and tricks to help you perfect your dish. Remember, cooking is all about experimentation and having fun, so don’t be afraid to get creative and make this recipe your own. We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed writing it. Come back soon for more cooking inspiration and delicious recipes!