Today we’re making one of my absolute favorite Chinese dishes, Chicken Lo Mein. If you’re a fan of Chinese food or an avid takeout eater, you’ve likely tried it before, but we’re going to put our own delicious spin on it to make it even yummmier.
Lo Mein has been around in China for centuries, and our ancestors perfected the recipe to what it is today. The dish consists of wheat flour noodles, vegetables, and meat or seafood, all stir-fried together in a delicious sauce. It’s often compared to another popular Chinese dish, Chow Mein, but the main difference is that Lo Mein means “stirred noodles” with noodles tossed in sauce, while Chow Mein means “stir fried noodles” with noodles fried on a much higher heat.
In Chinese culture, food is not just about sustenance, but also about symbolism and tradition. In fact, many dishes have special meanings and are often served on special occasions. Lo Mein symbolizes a long and happy life, as the long noodles are meant to represent longevity. So, not only is this dish delicious, but it’s also a way to celebrate life and the traditions of the Chinese culture.
Chicken Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh or egg noodles substitute spaghetti or noodle of choice
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1/3 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tbsp shaoxing cooking wine
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 inch ginger minced
- 4 oz carrot thinly sliced
- 1 cup cabbage substitute with vegetable of choice
- 5 shiitake mushrooms
- 1 bunch green onions thinly cut
Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp shaoxing cooking wine
- 1 tsp peanut butter
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Slice the chicken breast thinly. Cut against the grain, create 1/4 inch thick slices. Make sure that every slice is at the same thickness so that the chicken will marinate and cook evenly. Put the chicken in a mixing bowl.
- Mince the garlic and ginger. Put them into the bowl. Add 1/3 tsp of baking soda to tenderize the chicken so it's extra juicy and soft. Add in 1/3 tsp of salt, 1/2 tbsp of shaoxing cooking wine, and black pepper. Mix well. Set it aside.
- You can use whatever vegetables you have in your fridge! Today, I'm using half carrots, cabbage, and shiitake mushrooms. Thinly chop all the vegetables. You can buy pre-cut mixed frozen vegetable packs from the grocery store for an even quicker meal.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients thoroughly: light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, shaoxing cooking wine, and my secret ingredient to make the sauce even yummmier – pure peanut butter. Add water to the sauce.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles following the instruction on the package. Drain completely.
- Turn the heat to medium high and heat your wok for a few minutes. Toss in the chicken marinade and stir for 2 minutes.
- Add all the vegetables. Continue to stir for 1 minute. Add the well-drained noodles along with the lo mein sauce. Keep stirring over medium heat until all the sauce is absorbed.
- Garnish with scallions and you're ready to serve!
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @yummmier on Instagram and hashtag it #yummmier.
