Vegetable Lo Mein
Slurpable lo mein noodles tossed with crisp vegetables in a savory-sweet sauce. Faster and fresher than takeout, ready in 30 minutes.
50% of it needs you at the counter
- Hands-on
- 15 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Calories
- 340
- Protein
- 11 g
- Per serving
- $1.47
Why this recipe works
Lo mein is the takeout order we make at home most, because you can pack it with whatever vegetables are left in the fridge. Spaghetti works fine if you cannot find lo mein noodles.
- Rinsing the cooked noodles stops them sticking so they toss freely in the pan.
- Cooking the vegetables in a very hot pan keeps them crisp and lightly charred.
- A balanced soy, oyster-style and sesame sauce coats the noodles without drowning them.
Ingredients
For the sauce
You will need
- Large pot
- Wok or 12-inch skillet
Method
Tap a step number to mark it done.
Cook the noodles
Cook the noodles according to the package, drain, rinse briefly with warm water and toss with a few drops of the oil.
Mix the sauce
Stir together the soy sauce, stir-fry sauce, sugar and sesame oil.
Stir-fry the vegetables
Heat the remaining oil in the wok over high heat. Add the carrot, pepper and mushrooms and stir-fry until just tender, then add the cabbage, scallions and garlic for 1 minute.
Toss with the noodles
Add the noodles and sauce and toss with tongs until the noodles are hot and evenly coated, about 2 minutes. Serve right away.
Cook's notes
- Have everything chopped before you start; stir-frying goes fast.
- Use two forks or tongs to lift and toss; stirring with a spoon breaks the noodles.
- Add scrambled egg, tofu, chicken or shrimp to make it heartier.
Nutrition per serving
340 calories
$1.47 estimated cost per serving
Where the calories come from
| Protein | 13% of calories | 11 g |
|---|---|---|
| Carbs | 59% of calories | 51 g |
| Fat | 29% of calories | 11 g |
| Fiber | 5 g | |
| Sodium | 550 mg |
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients and amounts; not lab-tested. Cost estimated from average US retail prices.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein?
Lo mein noodles are soft and tossed in sauce; chow mein noodles are fried until crisp. This recipe is soft, saucy lo mein.
Is vegetable lo mein vegetarian?
Only if you use a vegetarian, mushroom-based stir-fry sauce instead of oyster sauce, which is made from oysters.
Can I use spaghetti?
Yes. Spaghetti or linguine are good substitutes; cook them just to al dente.
