Chow Mein (Chinese Fried Noodles, 炒面)

If you’re a fan of Chinese takeout food and love noodle dishes, it’s highly likely you’ve tasted chow mein (炒面). Have you ever thought about cooking it yourself? I encourage you to give this recipe a try! No hard-to-source ingredients are required and it takes only 15 minutes to prepare. It tastes great and is likely healthier than the bought version.

What is chow mein

The word Chow Mein resembles the Cantonese pronunciation of the dish (The phonetics in Mandarin is Chǎo Miàn). Chow refers to the action of stir-frying, whereas Mein is the general word for wheat flour-based noodles (rice noodles are called Mei Fun or Ho Fun instead).

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The typical components of Chinese chow mein include noodles, a type of protein, vegetables, aromatics and a sauce. When homemade, it’s very much of a fridge-forage meal, meaning you use what is available in your kitchen (Just like how you cook Yangzhou Fried Rice or Stir-Fried Rice Cakes). The mix and match options are numerous.

Choose & prepare the noodles

Noodles used in classic chow mein are Chinese egg noodles. Their composition is very similar to spaghetti but the texture and flavour are noticeably different. They usually come in a round (or roundish) shape and have a quite pronounced yellow colour.

When purchasing, look for the labels that say “chow mein noodles”, “egg noodles”, or “Hong Kong style pan-fried noodles”. They come in different forms, thus you’d need to know how to prepare them accordingly.

• Ready-to-fry (pre-cooked) egg noodles. These are what I used for shooting this recipe, and for making Lo Mein recipe too). They can go into the wok/pan straight away so they’re definitely a winner when you have little time to hand.
• Fresh egg noodles. They are uncooked so need a quick preparation before frying. Usually, you can simply soak them in hot water for 3 minutes or so. But it’s always a good idea to read and follow the package instructions.
• Dried egg noodles. They need to be boiled first until they are flexible but al dente. I use this type in my recipe for Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles and Beef Chow Mein.

🛎 TIP: No matter how you prepare uncooked egg noodles, it’s important not to overcook. Drain them well and pat dry with kitchen paper/tea towel. They should be slightly underdone. The noodle strands should be separated from one another. Otherwise, after further frying, you’re likely to end up with a plate of sticky and mushy noodles.

🛎 SUBSTITUTES: If you don’t care too much about your dish being truly “authentic”, use other types of noodles, such as Yi Mein/伊面 (special egg noodles used for Longevity Noodles), Ramen (aka alkaline noodles), or even spaghetti. They’ll still taste great. I promise!

PS: If you like the sound of the dish but need a gluten-free option, head over to my recipe for Chicken Chow Fun (fried rice noodles).

Protein choices

It’s not compulsory to include a protein ingredient in chow mein but if you want to make it an all-in-one quick meal, here are some options to choose from.

• Chicken. It’s what I used for this recipe post. Both chicken breasts and thighs work.
• Beef or pork. Choose a tender cut and slice it against the grain. My recipe for Beef and Chinese Broccoli Stir-Fry has many tips on how to make the meat succulent.
• Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork). This delicacy makes a tasty addition to any fried noodle or fried rice dishes, with Singapore Mei Fun being a great example.
• Shrimp. Seafood lovers should give it a try. Lightly marinate it following the instructions in my post on Kung Pao Shrimp.
• Egg (vegetarian). Lightly beat and scramble it in oil, just like how you cook the classic Egg and Tomato Stir-fry.
• Tofu (vegan). You can use pan-fried tofu (The method can be found in Sichuan Braised Tofu), or shop-bought five-spice/smoked tofu.

Vegetable options

Vegetables provide flavour, texture, colour and nutrients to a good plate of chow mein. As you can see in the image above, bok choy, bean sprouts and fresh chilies are my choices on the day of shooting this recipe. Collectively, they elevate the dish with bright colours, a crunchy mouthfeel, subtle sweetness and a nice kick of heat.

Don’t limit yourself to these options though. More often than not, I just open my fridge and choose whatever is available at the moment. Celery, cabbage, carrot, snow peas, baby corn, bamboo shoot, bell pepper, just to name a few. Be aware that some vegetables, e.g. broccoli, would need a quick blanching before stir-frying as they take longer to cook through.

Aromatics

Use sliced garlic and scallions (green onions) to enhance the aroma. I separate the white and green parts of the scallions. The former is sizzled in the oil with garlic, while the latter is added at the very end as a garnish. Ginger can be used as well.

Cooking workflow

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients

Cut the chicken into thin slices then coat with a mixture of cornstarch, water, salt and sesame oil. This is to ensure a succulent texture. You don’t need to leave it for long. After you chop all the vegetables, aromatics and mix the condiments for the sauce, the chicken is ready for the next step.

Step 2: Sear the chicken

If using a traditional carbon steel wok, it’s crucial that you heat it up empty over high heat, then pour in the oil and sear the chicken. This way you’ll avoid sticking. However, if using non-stick cookware, add the oil first. Then fry the chicken when the oil is hot. Transfer the chicken out to a plate as soon as it loses its pinkness (halfway cooked).

Step 3: Fry the noodles

Add more oil to the hot wok. Sizzle garlic, fresh chili and the white part of the scallion until fragrant. Put in the noodles. Stir fry for 1 minute or so until they’re evenly heated.

Step 4: Add the veggies and season

Add the chicken, bok choy and bean sprouts. Pour in the sauce. Toss continuously to cook evenly. Once everything becomes piping hot, throw in the green part of the scallions. Mix, then plate up to serve immediately. You may also have homemade chili oil on the side for those who fancy an extra kick.

Other one-pan dishes

Looking for more inspiration on one-pan weekday dinners? Check out these recipes:

One-pot Hainanese Chicken Rice

Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河)

Yangzhou Fried Rice (扬州炒饭)

Glass Noodle Salad (凉拌粉丝)

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Chicken Chow Mein (鸡肉炒面)

By Wei Guo

Homecooked chicken chow mein tastes great and is likely healthier than the bought version. No hard-to-source ingredients are required and it takes only 15 minutes to prepare.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 2

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Before You Start

It makes this dish extra hassle-free if you can find some ready-to-fry chow mein noodles. Otherwise, prepare raw noodles (fresh or dried) before stir-frying.

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Ingredients 

For the chicken (see note 1 for other protein options)

• ▢ 1 piece chicken breast, about 180g/6.3oz
• ▢ ½ tablespoon cornstarch, or tapioca starch
• ▢ 1 pinch salt
• ▢ 1 tablespoon water
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sesame oil

For the sauce

• ▢ 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• ▢ 1 pinch black pepper, freshly ground

For the stir fry

• ▢ 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil, divided
• ▢ 1 stalk scallions, chopped, white and green parts divided
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• ▢ Fresh chilli, sliced, to taste
• ▢ 1 head bok choy, sliced, see note 2 for other veggie options
• ▢ 80 g bean sprouts, about 1½ cup
• ▢ 400 g ready-to-fry chow mein noodles/Chinese egg noodles, about 14oz (see note 3 if using uncooked ones)

Instructions 

• Cut chicken breast into thin slices. Mix with cornstarch, salt and water until well incorporated. Pour in sesame oil. Stir to coat evenly.
• Mix light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce and black pepper. Set aside.
• Heat up a wok/skillet until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon of oil (see note 4 if using non-stick cookware). Stir in the chicken slices. Fry until they lose the pinkness and turn pale (do not overcook). Dish out.
• Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil into the wok. Sizzle garlic, fresh chili and the white part of the scallion until fragrant. Put in noodles. Stir fry for 1 minute or so.
• Add the chicken, bok choy and bean sprouts then pour in the sauce mixture. Toss and mix until the seasoning is evenly distributed and everything becomes piping hot.
• Garnish with the green part of the scallion. Dish out and serve immediately. Drizzle some homemade chili oil over if you wish.

Notes

1. Apart from chicken, you may also use pork, beef, shrimp or Char Siu. For vegetarian and vegan diets, egg and tofu are great alternatives. 

2. Please feel free to use other types of crunchy vegetables, such as celery, cabbage, carrot, snow peas, baby corn, bamboo shoot, bell pepper, etc.

3. For shooting this recipe, I used pre-cooked chow mein that can be fried straightaway. You may also use dried or fresh ones that haven’t been cooked. Follow the instructions on the package. It’s best that they are slightly underdone before stir-frying.

4. If using a wok/skillet/pan with a non-stick coating, you should add the oil first before you turn on the heat. Put in the chicken once the oil becomes hot.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 466kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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