Vegetarian Chow Mein (Chinese Sauteed Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables)
I've noticed that kids love chow mein. It's probably because they are crazy about soft noodles in general. I usually make a huge pot of stir-fry green beans and tofu the day before and use the leftover to make chow mein. I love making chow mein, I think it's because of the sizzling sound of the stir-fry vegetables and noodles in the wok. And it's quite some exercise stir-frying and lifting a large quantity of food using 2 big spatulas, so you will feel like you've earned the calories when you eat it!
The combination of stir-fry noodles, vegetables and soy sauce is a classic in Chinese cuisine. Make chow mein at home; there's no need for take out. It is always a hit.
Ingredients
2 packs chow mein noodles
3 Tbs canola oil, as needed
2 tsp garlic, finely minced
1 carrot, shredded, cut about 2-in long
1 zucchini, diced
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black bean sauce
2 tsp chili garlic sauce, to taste
3 Tbs soy sauce
2 Tbs water, as needed, to balance the saltiness of the soy sauce
1 cup shitake mushrooms, cubed
1 small yellow onion, cut in small wedges
1 tsp black peppercorns, freshly ground, to taste
1 drizzle toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Preparation
Separate and unknot the fresh noodles. Fill a big pot with water. Bring to a boil. Place the noodles in the boiling water , return the water to a boil then lower the temperature to a medium low. That way the pasta is cooked all the way through evenly. Salt the water half way through the cooking process (it will bring out the natural flavor of the pasta and the noodles will be softer) and keep stirring every now and then so that the noodles do not stick to the bottom. Cook for about 3-4 minutes. When the pasta is cooked (tender but still in shape and firm), drizzle about 1 tablespoon of canola oil, then drain the noodles. Discard the liquid. Set aside.
Make some green beans and tofu. Click on the link to get the recipe.
Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a wok. When the oil is hot ready, add a teaspoon of garlic. As the garlic becomes slightly golden, stir-fry the shredded carrots for about 2 minutes. When the color is translucent, season with 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Add the onion wedges and cook for another minute. Transfer to a plate. Set aside.
Repeat the same procedure for the zucchini (cook for about 4 minutes) Transfer to a plate. Repeat the same procedure for the shitake mushrooms (cook for about 2 minutes). Don't overcook the vegetables as they will continue cooking in the noodles later. Set the plates aside.
In the same wok, place the cooked noodles. Cut them if necessary with kitchen shears. Add all the vegetables, green beans and tofu, black bean sauce, chili garlic sauce, soy sauce and water. Stir constantly. Cook for about 3-5 minutes. Add black pepper.
Sprinkle some fresh cilantro. Drizzle with sesame oil.
Serve immediately. Eat with chopsticks 
.
Enjoy!
Tips
The process is very similar to making ma-po tofu, except that you mix noodles with the vegetables and tofu and no thickening agent is added.
A fast and easy way to shred carrot is with this wonderful gadget from Messermeister. It's THE best utensil for julienning vegetables. Is that a verb?
The soy sauce brings saltiness to the dish and a nice amber brown color. My favorite soy sauce is the Da Bo De brand. It has a very nice flavor and is not too salty. You can this particular suace in downtown San Jose, like at Dai Thanh Asian market on 420 S 2nd St, in San Jose. Well, it's not the prettiest. Don't expect to enter an Asian version of Whole Food, but it has all the fresh Vietnamese produce at a very reasonable price. This is one of the best "ethnic" grocery store in the area.
I use the West Coast Noodle Co. I think this brand is the best for making chow mein. You can find the noodles in the fresh section of any Asian store.
You can use store-bought black bean and chili garlic sauce like the one from Lee Kum Kee. It's just that my husband grew so many habanero and Thai chiles last summer. We got a whole box full. So I decided to make batches of chili garlic sauce. You can check for the recipe of the tướng ớt, literally spicy dipping sauce in Vietnamese, it's ultra easy.
The addition of the sesame oil at the end is optional but brings a nice fragrance to the noodles.
Here are a few tips to guarantee a non-soggy chow mein:
- The higher the range of your stove is, the better. We use a 20,000 BTU burner at home. The food cooks faster and you get to keep all the nutrients in your food, especially when sti-frying vegetables. If you do not own a range with very high BTUs, when you place the noodles in your wok, lift the noodles using 2 large spatulas and constantly lift and stir-fry the food, moving the food in circular motion.
- All the vegetables and fried tofu cubes should be diced the same size for a homogeneous product.
You can add chicken breast cubes to the chow mein right at the end, once the noodles are cooked. I usually use chicken breast leftover from my rotisserie chicken. I dice some chicken in same sized cubes as the tofu and add it to the wok for the carnivores in the house.
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About Jackie
Hi! My name is Jacqueline Pham and I am a self-taught home cook based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am French-Vietnamese, born and raised in Paris, France. I live with my husband Lulu and his family.
My hubby's family is from India, so our home is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines with all the rewards and challenges that you can imagine. There are vegetarians, meat-lovers and allergies of every kind. This site is a way for me to share my love of food and interact with all you Femme Fatales out there putting food on the table for your loved ones everyday.
