This beef lo mein is my home made tackle a Chinese language takeout basic, made with tender beef, chewy noodles, and greens tossed in a savory sauce. It’s extra of a Chinese language American restaurant fashion dish than a conventional homestyle noodle recipe, and what units it aside from beef chow mein is the softer and thicker noodle with a chewy texture.
I created this recipe as a result of some nights I need noodles on the desk fast, and I’m not within the temper to attend round for takeout. So, I simply marinate the meat, combine the sauce, boil the noodles, then toss every little thing collectively in a single pan, and in half-hour I’ve a dinner with juicy beef, crisp greens, and loads of sauce wrapped round each strand. I imply, it can’t get simpler than this, proper?
What makes this model distinctive to me is how simple it’s to depend on. Even on a busy night time, I can put it on the desk and know my household will mild up the second they see a giant plate of noodles ready for them. I hope you give it a try to share it, as a result of when you make it at residence, it has an excellent probability of turning into a part of your common dinner plans.
Components
I like setting this recipe up in little teams earlier than I begin, as a result of the cooking strikes rapidly as soon as the pan is scorching. I preserve the meat, noodles, sauce, and greens prepared so as so I can transfer straight by dinner with out stopping.
Beef and marinade: I exploit flank steak as a result of it cooks quick and stays tender after I slice it. I marinate it with Shaoxing wine, darkish soy sauce, and cornstarch so it will get additional taste and a softer texture within the pan.
Noodles: My favourite noodles for this are recent lo mein noodles. Yow will discover them at Chinese language markets or massive Asian markets akin to H Mart. They’re often saved within the refrigerated or freezer part. It’s also possible to discover them at on-line Asian grocery shops akin to Umamicart. If recent noodles should not out there, you may as well use dried lo mein noodles or egg noodles.
Sauce: I combine mild soy sauce, darkish soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.
Greens and aromatics: I exploit garlic, inexperienced onion, carrot, napa cabbage, and bean sprouts.
Tips on how to Make
1. Marinate the meat: Mix the sliced steak with the Shaoxing wine, darkish soy sauce, and cornstarch. Combine till nicely coated and let it marinate for quarter-hour.
2. Combine the sauce: Stir collectively the sunshine soy sauce, darkish soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and sesame oil till the sugar dissolves.
3. Cook dinner the noodles: Boil the lo mein noodles in response to the package deal directions. Rinse them underneath chilly water, drain nicely, and toss with slightly sesame oil to stop sticking.
4. Sear the meat: Warmth oil in a big skillet over excessive warmth. Unfold the meat out with out overlapping and prepare dinner till the underside turns golden. Flip and prepare dinner the opposite aspect till browned however nonetheless slightly pink inside, then switch it to a plate.
5. Cook dinner the garlic: Scale back the warmth to medium excessive and add extra oil. Add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, till aromatic.
6. Cook dinner the greens: Add the white a part of the inexperienced onion, carrot, and napa cabbage. Stir fry till the cabbage begins to wilt.
7. Add the noodles: Add the cooked noodles and drizzle the remaining oil excessive. Toss a number of instances so the noodles combine with the oil.
8. Add the sauce: Pour within the sauce and toss every little thing collectively till the noodles are evenly coated.
9. End the lo mein: Add the cooked beef again to the pan and toss till the sauce is absorbed. Add the bean sprouts and inexperienced onion greens, then stir a number of instances till the sprouts are simply wilted however nonetheless crisp. Serve scorching.
My Cooking Suggestions
Slice the meat towards the grain: I all the time lower flank steak towards the grain so it stays extra tender after stir frying.
Use the suitable noodles if I can: I actually desire recent lo mein noodles right here as a result of they offer the dish the chewy texture I count on. If I exploit spaghetti or one other substitute, dinner nonetheless works, however the texture modifications.
Don’t overcook the meat: I take the meat out whereas it’s nonetheless slightly pink inside. It goes again into the pan later, so this retains it from turning powerful.
Preserve the noodles unfastened: I rinse the noodles after boiling and toss them with slightly oil. This makes them a lot simpler to stir fry with out breaking or clumping.
Add the bean sprouts on the finish: I like including bean sprouts proper earlier than serving so that they keep crisp. That little little bit of crunch makes the entire plate higher.
Serving Solutions
I serve beef lo mein as a full meal on a regular basis, particularly after I don’t want anybody asking what else there’s to eat. If I need to add slightly extra to the desk, I often pair it with my Chinese language egg drop soup or my simple broccoli and mushroom stir fry, as a result of each preserve dinner simple and work rather well with a giant plate of noodles.
After I need dinner to lean slightly extra takeout fashion, I add one thing enjoyable on the aspect like my candy and bitter rooster or some Chinese language egg rolls, and if there’s any left the subsequent day, I’m all the time completely happy as a result of beef lo mein makes such a superb lunch. Relying on how many individuals I share it with at dinner, I generally get fortunate and find yourself with leftovers price wanting ahead to.
Steadily Ask Questions
Why is my beef turning powerful?
In my expertise beef turns powerful when it’s sliced too thick or cooked too lengthy. I all the time slice it thinly towards the grain, and I take it out of the pan whereas it’s nonetheless slightly pink inside so it doesn’t overcook. It goes again into the pan later with the noodles and sauce, so it nonetheless has time to complete cooking.
How do I preserve the greens crisp in beef lo mein?
I prepare dinner the greens solely till they begin to soften, not till they’re utterly mushy. I need the carrot, cabbage, and bean sprouts to maintain some texture. I additionally make certain every little thing is prepped earlier than I begin stir frying. As soon as the pan is scorching, the cooking goes quick, and having the greens prepared helps me keep away from overcooking them whereas I cease to search for the subsequent ingredient.
How do I retailer leftovers?
I retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. After I reheat them, I like utilizing a pan with a small splash of water so the noodles loosen up and the meat doesn’t dry out an excessive amount of. If I need to freeze it, I let it cool utterly first, then pack it right into a freezer protected container and freeze it for as much as 1 month.
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My beef lo mein is a fast Chinese language noodle dinner with tender beef, thick lo mein noodles, and crisp greens in a savory sauce. I sear the meat first, toss every little thing collectively in a single pan, and have it able to serve to my household in half-hour.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
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Mix the steak with the marinade components in a medium-sized bowl. Combine till nicely coated and marinate for quarter-hour.
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Combine the sauce components in a small bowl till the sugar is dissolved.
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Cook dinner the noodles in response to package deal directions. Rinse underneath operating chilly water to cease cooking. Drain and toss with a drizzle of sesame oil to stop sticking.
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Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a big skillet and warmth over excessive warmth till scorching. Unfold the marinated steak with out overlapping. Cook dinner with out disturbing till the underside turns golden brown, 1 minute or so. Flip to prepare dinner the opposite aspect till browned however the inside continues to be a bit pink. Switch the meat to a giant plate and put aside.
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Scale back the warmth to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic. Stir a number of instances to launch the perfume, about 30 seconds.
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Add the white a part of the inexperienced onion, onions, carrots, and cabbage. Stir fry till the cabbage begins to wilt, 2 to three minutes.
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Add the noodles and drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon oil on prime. Toss the noodles a number of instances to combine with the oil.
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Pour within the sauce and toss every little thing collectively.
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Add again the cooked steak and toss once more, till the sauce is absolutely absorbed.
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Add the bean sprouts and inexperienced onion greens. Stir a number of instances till the bean sprouts are simply wilted however stay crispy. Switch every little thing to serving plates and serve scorching.
Ingredient Substitution Information
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 291kcal, Carbohydrates: 21.9g, Protein: 16.4g, Fats: 15.6g, Saturated Fats: 3.5g, Ldl cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 400mg, Potassium: 339mg, Fiber: 1.6g, Sugar: 3.7g, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 2mg
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Lilja Walter is part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook group and labored carefully with Maggie to develop and check this recipe.
