Yes, You Can Make Homemade Lo Mein!
Up until two weeks ago, I simply thought that this was some sort of drawn-out procedure involving enigmatic, delectable ingredients that I wouldn’t find in my typical Midwestern kitchen. In addition, did you know that a platter of lo mein big enough to feed the entire neighborhood can be purchased for only $6? I mean, really, let’s go, why would we even do this at home if there were fifty at the Panda Buffet?
Except hold the phone for just a sec.
- Making lo mein doesn’t take long; from start to finish, it will come together in ONE PAN in about fifteen minutes. JOY of JOYS. When I set out to learn about everything Lo Mein, I honestly had no idea that it would be such a gem of a quick and easy recipe—not in the sense that you’re skimping on anything. Just by nature, it is that simple.
- Lo Mein doesn’t require fancy or unusual ingredients. Like, at all. All you really need is a good soy sauce and sesame oil combination. That’s your Lo Mein magic right there. Really, all you need is a decent bottle of soy sauce to start a successful Lo Mein business. You know I see you out there—almost everyone, regardless of cooking skill, has a bottle of soy sauce in the refrigerator, or at the absolute least, a few PACKETS of soy sauce from leftover takeout.
- Lastly, lo mein is delicious when ordered out, but it’s even better when ordered in as a mostly healthful takeout meal that can simultaneously empty the refrigerator by utilizing all the vegetables and proteins that a person could possibly want in their silky stir-fried noodles. The happiness I feel for this concept… like wows. You do not even know. Recipe scrappiness fulfills a piece of my soul.
15 Minute Lo Mein
- Author: Pinch of Yum
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, a small amount of sugar, spaghetti or ramen noodles, and any desired vegetables or protein, this 15-minute lo mein SO YUMMY!.
- Affiliate link: Two tablespoons dark soy sauce (replaceable with regular soy sauce if necessary)
- 1 Tbsp light soy sauce (you can use regular soy sauce in its place if necessary; affiliate link)
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 clove of garlic, grated (optional)
- 4–6 ounces uncooked ramen noodles (Affiliate link)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Three chopped green onions (separate the green and white sections; you’ll use each separately)
- 2-3 cups of finely chopped or julienned vegetables, such as broccoli, mushrooms, red peppers, cabbage, bok choy, or carrots
- 1–2 tablespoons mirin
- Sauce: Shake all the sauce ingredients together in a jar.
- Noodles: Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Lo Mein: In a big wok or skillet, heat the sesame oil. Place the veggies and white parts of the green onions in the heated pan. Stir fry until fork-tender, about 5 minutes. To get the browned bits off the pan’s bottom, add the mirin. Stir together the cooked noodles and approximately half of the sauce in the heated pan. If necessary, add extra sauce (I usually determine how much sauce I want by looking at the color of the noodles; you want a medium brown color that’s neither too light nor too dark). Serve topped with remaining green onions!.
If you would like to include a protein, stir-fry it before adding the vegetables, then take it off the heat while the vegetables are cooking. Return to the pan with the noodles at the very end.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: vegan stir fry, vegetarian stir fry, lo mein, and noodle stir fry for takeout or at home.
Lo Mein: Frequently Asked Questions
These ones here (affiliate link) are perfect!
Because they contain wheat, traditional lo mein noodles are not gluten-free. To make this gluten-free, feel free to substitute your favorite GF spaghetti noodles or rice noodles!
It adds more depth and flavor to the dish – especially the dark soy sauce (affiliate link). Highly recommend using both if you can find them. If not, regular soy sauce (affiliate link) can always work.
Mirin is a type of rice wine. It adds a sweeter taste that creates a really nice contrast to the soy sauce’s saltiness.
