Chicken Chow Mein is one of the most iconic dishes of Chinese cuisine, loved for its simplicity and the explosion of flavors it offers. Prepared with stir-fried egg noodles, chicken marinated in soy sauce, and a mix of crunchy vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage, it is completed with a savory and irresistible sauce based on soy and oysters.
It’s very easy to prepare: marinate the chicken strips with soy and starch, then stir-fry them and set aside. Sauté onion and garlic, add julienned vegetables, and cook quickly. Boil the noodles for 1-2 minutes, drain and add them to the vegetables. Add chicken and sauce (soy, oysters, sugar, sesame, water, pepper), toss everything and serve with fresh scallions. Ready in 30 minutes!
It is a healthy, economical dish and ready in less than 30 minutes, perfect for both a light lunch and a tasty dinner. Moreover, it lends itself to many variations: you can enrich it with shrimp, tofu, or other seasonal vegetables.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 364.35 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 38.36 (g) of which sugars 10.01 (g)
- Proteins 21.28 (g)
- Fat 15.01 (g) of which saturated 2.31 (g)of which unsaturated 11.79 (g)
- Fibers 4.01 (g)
- Sodium 1,503.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 240 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients to make Chicken Chow Mein
- 10.6 oz noodles (egg chow mein)
- 8.8 oz chicken breast
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 carrot
- 3 leaves cabbage
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 green onions
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons oyster sauce (or hoisin)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- white pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil (or other vegetable oil)
Tools
- Wok
- 2 Bowls
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Pot
- Colander
- Tongs
How to Prepare Chicken Chow Mein
Cut the chicken breast into thin strips and season it with soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, pepper, and oil. Mix well and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Heat a wok with a dash of oil, fry the marinated chicken over high heat, and set it aside.
Thinly slice the onion, chop the garlic, julienne the carrot, cut the bell pepper into strips, and thinly slice the cabbage. In the same pan where you cooked the chicken, add a bit of oil, sauté onion and garlic, then add the other vegetables. Stir-fry quickly over high heat to keep them crunchy.
Cook the noodles: boil them for 1-2 minutes (or follow the instructions), drain and rinse them under cold water to prevent sticking.
Prepare the sauce: in a bowl, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, water, and pepper.
Add noodles and chicken to the vegetables, pour the sauce, and stir-fry to blend the flavors well.
Add fresh scallion slices and serve immediately.
Storage
Chicken Chow Mein can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. To reheat, stir-fry it in a pan with a bit of water.
Variations
With other proteins: shrimp, beef strips, or marinated tofu.
Alternative vegetables: green beans, snow peas, broccoli, cauliflower, bean sprouts.
Different sauces: replace oyster sauce with hoisin sauce or a light version of soy with low sodium content.
Tips
Do not overcook the noodles: they should remain al dente as they will finish cooking in the pan.
For crunchy vegetables, turn up the heat and stir-fry quickly.
Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces for even cooking.
Use a neutral oil (peanut, sunflower) to not overpower the flavors.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What other proteins can I use?
You can replace the chicken with shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu.
How to reduce the salt?
Use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the amount of oyster sauce.
