Vegetable Lo Mein

⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe

• One pan and minimal ingredients. This recipe requires ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, plus a few veggies. It's also versatile, so it's a great way to use those leftover veggies sitting in your fridge.
• Ready in just 15 minutes. Why order takeaway when you can get AMAZING Lo Mein straight from the comfort of your home in no time?! This noodle stir-fry is perfect for weeknight dinners.
• Loaded with flavor. The homemade Lo Mein sauce tastes lovely and is really the star of this recipe. It's salty, a bit sweet, and packed with umami.

📘 What is Lo Mein

Lo Mein is a Chinese dish that consists of stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and some protein tossed in a sweet and salty sauce. "Lo Mein" translates to "stirred noodles" in Cantonese.

🥬 Ingredient Notes

Here is what you will need:

• Noodles - Basically, any long and thin noodles will work. I used fresh homemade ramen noodles, but spaghetti or linguine will also work.
• Garlic and green onions
• Veggies - I went with mushrooms and pak choi, but feel free to add extra vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, snow peas, etc.
• Oyster sauce - The oyster sauce brings sweetness, saltiness, and gives the sauce a thicker consistency. You can use store-bought vegan oyster sauce or check this post to learn how to make vegan oyster sauce from scratch.
• Soy sauce - We are using a combination of regular soy sauce and dark soy sauce. The latter adds color to the noodles, bringing a dark orange color and a subtle caramel flavor.
• Sugar - To balance with the saltiness. You can use granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or even maple syrup.
• Chinese cooking wine - Optional, Shaoxing wine helps create a deeper and more complex flavor. Feel free to omit it if you don't have it on hand.
• Sesame oil - Use toasted sesame oil to add a nutty and toasty flavor.

🍜 How to Make Vegan Lo Mein

1. Prepare the sauce: in a small bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, toasted sesame oil, and Chinese wine if using.
2. Sauté the aromatics. Sauté the garlic and green onions for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the vegetables. Add the mushrooms and pak choi and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
4. Cook the noodles. In the meantime, cook the noodles according to the package instructions and drain them.
5. Combine. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and pour in the sauce. Toss to coat and cook for 1 more minute.
6. Serve and enjoy!

📔 Tips

• Add your protein of choice. Add tofu, vegan chicken, tempeh, or even seitan sliced into thin strips for a more filling meal.
• Use the vegetables you have on hand. No pak choi? No problem! You can use whatever vegetables you have in your fridge. Carrots, bell peppers, broccolini, snow peas, etc.
• Do not overcook the noodles (or the vegetables). You want the noodles to stay chewy and al dente. The same goes for the vegetables; they should keep some crunchiness.
• Toss well. Use two wooden spoons or spatulas to thoroughly toss the noodles with the sauce until they have absorbed most of it.

I hope you are going to love this quick and easy vegan Lo Mein! It's satisfying, rich in flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights!

🇨🇳 More Chinese-Inspired Recipes

• Dan Dan Noodles with Tempeh Scramble
• Vegan Beef and Broccoli
• Sweet Black Sesame Soup

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!