Growing up, I was never a huge fan of chow mein. I didn’t care for the noodles, and preferred fried rice with its egg and veggies and bolder flavor. I didn’t realize chow mein was one of those dishes that can be made into whatever you want it to be.
Over time, I have become more and more adventurous with my foods. While I realize chow mein is not typically an “adventurous” food, it was for me. I discovered how many different things you can do with it! You can use chicken, pork, beef, or scrambled eggs. You can use ground meat, chunked meat or shredded meat (although I prefer shredded if I have it).
One of the big hang-ups for me was some of the ingredients that are not my typical pantry items. When I looked more into it, I discovered some alternatives that didn’t cause my family to turn their noses up as quickly and at least give it a try. And then… they liked it! They started requesting it! Music to this mom’s ears.
Even better, this meal is quick to make, minimal dishes are messed up, and it’s a bit lighter so it won’t sit in your stomach all night. In these Covid lockdown days, we need some lighter meals in our meal plan for the week.
This is definitely a recipe to try… and experiment with. Try chicken one day and pork another. Use different noodles, like spaghetti, linguini, chow mein (I’ve tried all these and they are all fabulous!). Try making extra for some lunch meals to enjoy later. It’s so fast and easy, it will make it totally worth it.
Chow Mein Made Your Way
8 oz chow mein noodles (or spaghetti, linguini, etc)
2 Tbs canola oil, divided
1 lb cooked chicken, shredded or chunks (or pork, beef, etc)
Pinch of salt
½ c yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 c broccoli florets
1 c baby carrots, or thinly sliced carrots
½ c red pepper, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
Sauce:
1 ½ Tbs hoisin sauce
1 Tbs lite soy sauce
1 tsp canola oil
¼ tsp white pepper
Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Set aside. Also, mix together the ingredients for the sauce and set aside. Meanwhile, in a wok or skillet, heat the oil to medium-high and brown the onion. Add the carrots and broccoli to soften, a few minutes. Once softened, add the peppers and cook for a couple minutes. Finally, add the garlic and allow to cook for just a minute more. Add the meat and noodles and mix together. Finally, add the sauce and mix thoroughly. Adjust any seasoning as needed, and serve.
Side note; add or omit any vegetables you like or don’t like. For examples, a traditional chow mein will have shredded cabbage but my family is not a huge fan so I don’t use it often. When it’s in season though, I will. Also, I have used the broccoli slaw mix in place of the onions, cabbage, and carrots and that has been well-received. It’s what I love about this recipe! It is sooooo very flexible and versatile! Have fun with it!
This recipe was adapted from healthy nibbles
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