You’re in luck because this is one of my favorite Panda Express side dishes to make and then mix and match with SO MANY takeout entrees if you’re looking for a deliciously tasty Panda Express chow mein copycat recipe that’s equally quick and easy to make for dinners!
Lo Mein:
Some people might disagree and claim that the chow mein at Panda Express is a LO mein, but after reading the requirements above, you can be sure that it IS a chow mein. Panda got it right. The noodles are stir-fried, slightly oily, with little sauce, and are difficult to slurp. You can absolutely make this recipe into a lo mein if you wanted to; it is absolutely DELICIOUS as a lo mein! Just boil up your noodles separately and double the sauce. In my opinion, it all comes down to that “slurp” test! Toss together and serve.
Video: How to Make Chow Mein
Chow mein is frequently served as a side dish with other Chinese takeout dishes, especially a straightforward veggie version like this one. It goes well with stir-fried beef, beef and broccoli, and chicken. You can’t go wrong with some crab rangoon or an egg roll to finish the meal.
Best Wine for Chow Mein Sauce
I like to purchase cooking wine in my store’s Asian section because we will be using it. In the absence of that, a dry Sherry will do.
Lo mein noodles can be found in the grocery store’s refrigerated section if you live in a big city. Many large grocery stores carry these noodles. I purchased mine from my local Asian market because they are cheap and produce a lot if you use the entire bag.
If you can’t find fresh noodles there is a dry variety, Yakisoba that will work well. I don’t suggest using pasta noodles, you really need this type of noodle the wheat flour holds up better than the noodles in the Italian pasta.
This recipe contains cabbage. I believe the napa cabbage tastes better if you have it available. Green cabbage that is commonly available can be used if you don’t have it. You can choose, but I believe the napa is more comparable to what is offered.
To make great chow mein, you must know how to stir fry properly in addition to using the right ingredients. The good news is that a wok is not required, but a heavy-bottomed pan is. A sizable cast-iron or steel skillet will assist in evenly retaining and distributing heat. So even if you don’t have a wok, use a big, heavy skillet instead.
If you don’t want to end up with steamed noodles, use high heat and avoid crowding the pan when making a great stir fry. You might need to stir fry in batches, depending on how much food you’re making and the size of your pan.
FAQ
What are Panda Express chow mein noodles made of?
Is Panda Express chow mein rice noodles?
Whole grain noodles from Panda Express’ Chow Mein are cooked in a wok with shredded onion, celery, cabbage, and bean sprouts.
What noodles are used in chow mein noodles?
Chinese egg noodles, which are wheat flour noodles with added egg, are used to make both lo mein and chow mein. For lo mein, use fresh egg noodles that are ideally 1/4-inch thick; for chow mein, use either fresh or dried egg noodles.
How are chow mein noodles made?
In order to prepare chow mein noodles, you must use a small amount of oil in a very hot wok to quickly stir-fry the ingredients. Instead of being fried, the noodles in lo mein are simply mixed and tossed with the other ingredients.
