Authentic Lo Mein Food

BASIC LO MEIN

Steps:

• Mix all sauce ingredients and set aside. To a large skillet or wok, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots and stir fry for 3-5 minutes.
• Add pork and continue to saute' 2-3 more minutes.
• Increase heat to medium high and add mushrooms, green onion, garlic, and ginger. saute' 2-3 more minutes. Add linguini and sauce and stir fry until heated through, 1-2 minutes. Serve immidiately.

VEGETABLE LO MEIN

Steps:

• Boil water in a large pot for the noodles. If using the lo mein egg noodles, you can skip this step, as those noodles do not require any pre-cooking. But if using fresh white noodles, you will have to boil them. Just cook until al dente, drain, and rinse in cold water. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the soy sauces, sesame oil, dissolved sugar, and five spice powder, if using.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over high heat and add the garlic, mushrooms, and the white parts of the scallions. Stir-fry for 30 seconds and add the peppers and carrots. Make sure your wok is searing hot, and then add the Shaoxing wine. Stir-fry for another minute.
• Next, add the snow peas and leafy greens to the wok and cook until the greens are just wilted. Then add your noodles. Make sure that before you add them, they're somewhat loose and not all clumped together (you can rinse them in warm water to loosen them up before adding them to the wok).
• Pour your sauce mixture over the noodles and stir-fry until the color of the noodles are uniform. A folding or scoop-and-lift motion works well for that. Once everything is well-combined, dish out the noodles and serve.

RESTAURANT-STYLE CHICKEN LO MEIN

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the chicken with 2 teaspoons each of cornstarch, water, and oil. In a wok over high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil, and sear the chicken for a couple minutes until browned. Remove from the wok, and set aside.
• Add another couple tablespoons of oil to the wok, and add the garlic. After 10 seconds, add the cabbage and carrots. Stir-fry on high heat for a minute and add the wine in a circle around the perimeter of the wok.
• Add the noodles and chicken back to the wok and mix well from the bottom up for about 30 seconds. If the noodles aren't coming apart, add about 1/4 cup water to the noodles to loosen them up a bit.
• Then cover the wok for one minute. Remove the cover and add the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and sugar. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and add the bean sprouts and scallions. Stir-fry for one more minute and serve.

BEEF LO MEIN

Steps:

• Slice the beef into thin strips against the grain. Place the sliced beef in a small bowl with baking soda, corn starch, soy sauce, and oil. This velveting step will make the beef tender and flavorful, with a glistening look. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Prepare the lo mein sauce by combining the soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, sugar, and ground white pepper in a small bowl.
• If using cooked lo mein noodles, rinse them under hot tap water to loosen them and drain thoroughly. If using uncooked noodles, cook them according to package instructions until they're al dente, and drain thoroughly. Set aside. Prepare the garlic and all the vegetables to have them ready for cooking. Arrange them in the order you will add them to the wok.
• Place your wok over high heat until it's smoking lightly. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to coat the wok, and add the beef so it's all in one layer on the hot wok surface. Sear each side for about 30 seconds. Remove the beef from the wok and set aside.
• Add another tablespoon of oil, along with the garlic, carrots, peppers, and mushrooms. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
• Add the bamboo shoots and the white parts of the scallions. Stir-fry for another 20 seconds, and then add the napa cabbage. Make sure your heat is at its highest now, and stir-fry everything together for another 30 seconds.
• Add the prepared noodles. They should be warm or at room temperature, and not stuck together! If they are, just rinse them in hot water to loosen them up.
• Add the Shaoxing wine around the perimeter of the wok, and toss the vegetables and noodles together using a scooping motion. After the noodles are warmed up (about 30 seconds to 1 minute), and your pre-mixed sauce.
• Continue stir-frying with a scooping motion until the sauce is evenly distributed, making sure to scrape the bottom of the wok to prevent the noodles from sticking. High heat and a well-seasoned wok should also prevent any sticking.
• Next, add the snow peas, mung bean sprouts, and beef (along with any juices that may have collected in the bowl). Continue stir-frying until the noodles are heated through and everything is thoroughly mixed.
• Toss in the green parts of the scallions, and taste the lo mein. Adjust the seasoning to your liking (feel free to add more salt, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, or white pepper according to your own palate). Plate and serve with homemade chili oil or hot sauce on the side!

AUTHENTIC PORK LO MEIN - CHINESE

Steps:

• Cut pork into thin strips, and then into pieces. Mix with meat marinade for 30 minutes.
• Slice mushrooms, bamboo shoots, red pepper and zucchini into thin strips. Mix sauce.
• Parboil noodles for 3 minutes. Rinse and drain.
• Bring another pot of water to boil, and keep hot.
• Heat 2 T. oil in wok. Stir fry all vegetables together for 2-3 minutes.
• Sprinkle on a little salt and 1 teaspoons of sugar. Set aside.
• Add 2 T. oil, and stir fry pork until done.
• Add sauce mixture. Stir until thickened.
• Add the vegetables. Stir until well mixed.
• Put noodles into hot pot of water for 10-15 seconds, just to heat. Drain.
• Put back in pot, and add seasonings to noodles .
• Serve meat and vegetables over noodles.

EASY LO MEIN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, ginger and Sriracha; set aside. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions; drain well. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in snow peas and spinach until the spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in egg noodles and soy sauce mixture, and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC LO MEIN (NOODLES)

Steps:

• To make the sauce, stir together the oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken stock and cornstarch in a small bowl and reserve.
• Heat a wok or large, heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat and add the cooking oil. Once you see wisps of white smoke, add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until light brown and fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until medium, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the noodles and bok choy and cook, stirring and tossing, until the bok choy starts to soften and turn bright green, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the sauce; allow the sauce to coat all the ingredients and start to simmer, about 1 more minute.
• Cook, stirring and tossing, until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 more minute, and the sauce starts to bubble into a glaze. Top with the scallions and serve hot.

BEEF LO MEIN

Steps:

• For easier slicing, place the beef in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up. Cut the beef across the grain into very thin (1/4-inch or smaller) slices. Cut any long slices in half cross wise (each strip should be around 3 inches or so long).
• Place the beef in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, stir together the baking soda and 2 tablespoons of the water. Pour over the beef and toss to coat. Let sit 5 minutes (this helps to tenderize it).
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook the noodles just until al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water. Set aside.
• In a small bowl or larger liquid measuring cup, stir together the soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Keep handy near the stove.
• In a wok or large, nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium high. Add the beef and cook until crisp on the outside but still pink on the inside, about 3 minutes. The beef will give off liquid, which is fine. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the sauce and let cook 30 seconds. With a large spoon, scoop the beef onto a plate (any cooking juices left behind will cook away).
• Add the carrots, broccoli, and bell pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) of water and let the vegetables steam until the broccoli turns bright green and most of the liquid has cooked away, about 2 minutes more.
• Stir in the water chestnuts, half of the green onions, and 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce mixture and let cook 30 additional seconds.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the noodles and beef and pour the remaining soy sauce mixture over the top. With tongs, stir and toss until the noodles are heated through.
• Drizzle the sesame oil over the top (if using) and sprinkle on the remaining green onion. Toss to combine. Enjoy!