Authentic Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
Chinese cuisine has a special place in my heart, and lo mein is one of those dishes that brings me back to countless family dinners and late-night takeout adventures. It's quick, it's comforting, and it serves up the perfect blend of flavors.
Equipment
- Wok or large skillet
- pot
- Mixing Bowl
- cutting board
- knife
Ingredients
- Here’s what you’ll gather to make this delightful chicken lo mein:
Chicken:
- - ½ lb chicken breast cut into thin strips against the grain
- - ½ tsp salt
- - ¼ tsp white pepper
- - 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine a traditional Chinese cooking wine
- - 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- - ½ tbsp cornstarch
- - ½ tbsp avocado oil
Vegetables:
- - 1 medium carrot sliced into thin matchsticks
- - 3 cups cabbage finely shredded
- - ¼ white onion sliced into strips
- - 5 scallions cut into 2-inch pieces (keep the whites and greens separate)
- - 1 tbsp ginger minced
- - 5 cloves garlic minced
- - ½ cup snow peas for extra crunch
Sauce:
- - 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- - 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- - 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- - 1 tsp sesame oil
- - ¼ tsp white pepper
- - ½ tbsp sugar
- - 1 tbsp water
- - ½ tbsp cornstarch
- - ¼ tsp MSG optional
Noodles:
- - 1 lb fresh lo mein noodles or ½ lb dried noodles, cooked according to package directions
Oils:
- - 3 tbsp neutral oil like avocado oil
- - ½ tsp sesame oil
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
- In a mixing bowl, slice your chicken breast into strips about ¼ inch thick. This helps it cook evenly and remain tender. Then, season with salt, white pepper, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, and avocado oil. Stir everything to coat the chicken well. Cover it and let it marinate for at least 15 to 20 minutes while you prepare the vegetables and sauce.
Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables
- Grab a tray and arrange your prepped veggies: matchstick carrots, thinly sliced cabbage, white onion strips, chopped scallion whites, minced ginger, and garlic. Oh, and don’t forget the snow peas! This colorful array will add loads of texture and flavor to your dish.
Step 3: Mix the Sauce
- In a separate bowl, combine your stir-fry sauce ingredients. This includes light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, white pepper, sugar, water, cornstarch, and MSG, if you're using it. Whisk everything together until combined, then set it aside to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 4: Cook the Noodles
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Toss in your fresh lo mein noodles and cook them for about 2 minutes less than the package suggests, or until they're just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then allow them to dry. A little drizzle of sesame oil will keep them from sticking together.
Step 5: Sauté the Chicken
- Heat a wok or a large skillet over high heat until it's hot. Add your neutral oil, swirling it around to coat the pan. Once it's just about smoking, toss in the marinated chicken. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove it from the pan and set it aside, letting the residual heat work magic.
Step 6: Stir-Fry the Veggies
- In the same pan, add a bit more oil if necessary, and toss in the minced garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for about 15 seconds until fragrant. Then, add your scallion whites, carrots, onions, and cabbage. Sauté these for 3 to 4 minutes until they're slightly softened and maybe even get a bit of char. This adds depth to the flavors.
Step 7: Bring It All Together
- Now, add the cooked noodles and the previously sautéed chicken back into the pan. Pour in your sauce and mix everything well. You'll want to stir for about 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats the noodles. Finally, sprinkle in the scallion greens, give it one last toss, and you’re ready to serve!
Notes
- For an even healthier version, you can use whole grain lo mein noodles or zucchini noodles.
- Make sure your ingredients are prepped before you start cooking, as stir-frying is a quick process.
- If you love heat, add some red pepper flakes or sriracha to the sauce.
- Cooking in batches is sometimes necessary if you have a lot of ingredients to ensure even cooking.
- Always taste and adjust the seasoning at the end. You can add more soy sauce or sugar based on preference.
Nutrition
Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 20gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 756mgPotassium: 325mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g
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