#lomien

When it comes to favourite categories of food groups, I would say dairy and carbohydrates really speak to me. One of my favourite ways to devour carbs is in noodle form. In my many trips to China, I eagerly looked forward to slurping back as many noodles in the plethora of preparations that I could get my hands on!

The noodle recipe I’m sharing with you today is one that comes together really quickly especially if you use fresh noodles. I like lo mein noodles for their thickness and rich yellow colour. A quick trip to your local Asian food mart offers an array of noodles. Feel free to use your favourites, but this recipe is ideally made with fresh Shanghai lo mein.  If you can’t source lo mein noodles in your area, spaghetti will work in a pinch.

In my weeknight lo mein recipe, I opt for scrambled egg or tofu as my protein of choice because it requires minimum preparation/cook time which makes meal time much easier during the work week.

To make a successful noodle stir-fry, there are a couple of important steps to do before you start cooking the dish.

1. Prepare the noodles according to package directions. If you are using pre-cooked noodles, give them a rinse in hot water to separate the noodles, then rinse in cold water.

2. Prepare the remainder of the ingredients required for the recipe ahead of time and have them beside the stove so there are within reach.

3. If you have a wok, use it. If not, use the biggest skillet you have. It is imperative that you keep the pan as hot as possible; the high heat gives that seared “wok hay” flavor that makes take-out noodles so yummy!

Weeknight Lo Mein

Serves 4

3 cups bean sprouts

4 green onions, cut into 2″ sections

4 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoon dark soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

0.5 teaspoon salt

0.5 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon shaoxing rice wine

0.5 teaspoon white pepper

16 oz. fresh Shanghai Lo Mein (1 package), prepared according to package directions

*4 eggs, scrambled and reserved (optional)

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix the soy sauce, dark soy, sesame oil, salt, sugar, white pepper, and shaoxing rice wine together and set aside.

Lo Mien (捞面) - How to prepare in 15 mins (authentic recipe))

Lo Mien (捞面) means to mix the noodles with sauce.  This simple noodles preparation is the favorite among the Chinese, especially for a quick breakfast, supper, or a snack.  Why? Because it takes only 5-10 minutes to prepare.