Chow Mein Noodles are one of those meals that I always thought I must buy rather than make at home. It was just so intimidating, almost impossible that I will ever be able to find the perfect mix of sauce and pair it all up.
Too many sauces, too many steps – just too complicated. At least that’s what I thought… until I actually tried making it at home.
My mind was blown when I figured how easy chow mein noodles can be. Once you gather the pantry staples (like the soy sauce and oyster sauce), you will realize how simple, and honestly fun, it is to pull this dish together.
Why I Love Chow Mein Noodles
They are quick, flavourful, and the absolutely the best way to use up random veggies from the fridge before they go bad.
Carrots, broccoli, bok choy, mushrooms – just grab them all and just toss them in the wok.
Plus, you can prepare the marinade the night before, so when dinnertime comes around, all you have to do is stir-fry, boil some noodles, and dinner is ready to be served.
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What You’ll Need For This Easy Chow Mein Recipe
Pork Tenderloin – I like using pork tenderloin because it is super tender and perfect for stir fry. Make sure you cut the meat into thin slices to cook fast.
Soy Sauce – For both the marinade and finishing sauce. I like using Tamari sauce.
Garlic – Nothing adds that extra flavour boost like the garlic does. Freshly grated makes all the difference.
Ginger – Ginger gives the perfect tanginess to the meat marinade. Make sure you finally grate it for a perfect flavour release.
Oyster sauce – Adds that glossy, salty-sweet depth.
Corn starch – Before you fry the meat, lightly coat it in corn starch for perfect crispiness.
Vegetables – Anything works! I usually use carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, onion, and often a bok choy.
Noodles – Rice noodles make this dish complete. Use what you like, I usually go with thick rice noodles.
Hoisin Sauce(optional) – I love adding it to the sauce as a finishing touch. But it is optional, use it if you have it handy.
My Easy Chow Mein Noodles
Course: MainCuisine: Chinese, AsianDifficulty: Medium4
servings10
minutes15
minutes25
minutesLearn how to make chow mein noodles at home! An easy noodles recipe for a quick, tasty, homemade chow mein that saves busy weeknights.
Ingredients
300 grams pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
Mix of vegetables - carrots, broccoli, onion, mushrooms, bok choy
2-3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Sesame oil, as needed
- For marinade
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 inch grated ginger, grated
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- For noodles
1 package rice noodles
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
Hoisin Sauce (optional) - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce to finish
Directions
- Marinate the meat
- Cut the meat into thin slices to cook easier and be tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and oyster sauce. Coat the pork and let it sit for at least one hour, or even better - overnight.
- Stir Fry
- Dust the meat with cornstarch and coat evently.
- Warm up some sesame oil in a wok, over medium-high heat.
- Fry the meat in sesame oil until golden. Make sure you stir occasionally to cook equally.
- Towards the end, sprinkle some sesame seeds to finish. Remove.
- In a meantime, wash and dry the veggies, and cut into different shapes and sizes.
- In the same wok, toss in your veggies (hard ones first, delicate ones last).
- Cook until crisp-tender, then return the pork to the pan.
- Prepare the noodles
- Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions.
- In a meanwhile, whisk the soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, and hoisin (if using).
- Drain the noodles, return them in the pot and coat thoroughly with the sauce.
- Assemble
- Toss everything back into the wok. Now, your meal is ready to be served!
Notes
- It is important to cook the harder vegetables first and gradually add the tender ones. Otherwise they will fall apart.
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Hi, I’m Biba, the creator of Chick in Apron! As a busy mom and food blogger, I am passionate about making cooking fun and stress-free. I share simple, delicious recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, along with helpful kitchen hacks to save you time.
So, let’s turn cooking into something you enjoy with tasty meals and handy tips to make kitchen tasks a breeze! ✨
