Vegetable Lo Mein

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh white noodles or lo mein egg noodles (450g)
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar (plus 1 teaspoon hot water to dissolve the sugar in)
• five spice powder (Pinch; optional)
• 1 tbsp oil (for stir-frying)
• 1 garlic (minced)
• 1 cup mushrooms (sliced; shiitakes, button mushrooms, or anything you like)
• 1 scallion (split at the thick parts and cut into 2-inch lengths)
• 1 bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow; julienned)
• 1 carrot (small; julienned)
• 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 cup snow peas (trimmed)
• 1 cup leafy greens (bok choy, choy sum, etc.)

Steps

1. 1

   Boil water in a large pot for the noodles.

2. 2

   If using fresh white noodles, cook them in the boiling water until al dente, drain, and rinse in cold water; set aside. If using lo mein egg noodles, you can skip the boiling step as they do not require pre-cooking.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, dissolved sugar, and five spice powder (if using).

4. 4

   Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over high heat.

5. 5

   Add the minced garlic, sliced mushrooms, and the white parts of the scallions to the wok.

6. 6

   Stir-fry for 30 seconds, then add the julienned bell peppers and carrots.

7. 7

   Ensure the wok is searing hot, then pour in the Shaoxing wine and stir-fry for another minute.

8. 8

   Add the snow peas and leafy greens to the wok and cook until the greens are just wilted.

9. 9

   Add the noodles to the wok. Ensure they are loose and not clumped together; if needed, rinse them in warm water to loosen them before adding.

10. 10

    Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the noodles.

11. 11

    Stir-fry using a folding or scoop-and-lift motion until the color of the noodles is uniform and everything is well-combined.

12. 12

    Dish out the noodles and serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe is highly adaptable. You can use onions, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, or thinly sliced celery depending on seasonal availability or preference. If the noodles are clumped, a quick rinse in warm water helps separate them before they hit the wok.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegetarian
• stir-fried
• noodles
• Chinese
• healthy
• meatless monday