Chow mein

Chow mein recipes have been around for centuries and are believed to have originated in China. The dish consists of noodles, vegetables, and meat that is cooked in a wok or frying pan. The name chow mein is derived from the Chinese word for stir-fried noodles.

There are many different regional variations of chow mein, but the most common include Cantonese, Szechuan, and Hunan. Each region has its own unique take on the dish, but the common thread is the use of fresh ingredients that are cooked quickly over high heat.

The dish was introduced to the West in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants who were working on the transcontinental railroad. It quickly became a popular menu item in Chinese restaurants in the United States and Europe.

Advice

When making chow mein, be sure to use a high heat when you stir fry the noodles. This will ensure that the noodles don't become soggy or overcooked. Also, be sure to season the noodles with sauces such as soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil, to give the dish lots of flavor. Finally, don't forget to add plenty of vegetables to the dish for added texture and flavor. Making chow mein doesn't have to be difficult and with these tips, you'll be sure to have a delicious meal!

Questions

Is Panda Express chow mein or lo mein?

Panda Express does not serve chow mein or lo mein.

What is difference between chow mein and lo mein?

Chow mein is a Chinese dish made with stir-fried noodles and vegetables, while lo mein is made with boiled noodles that are tossed in sauce and vegetables. The main difference is that chow mein noodles are usually fried, while lo mein noodles are boiled. Additionally, chow mein is usually served crispy and lo mein is served soft.

What is in chow mein?

Chow mein typically consists of noodles, vegetables, and proteins such as beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp. It is often served with a sauce, such as oyster sauce or soy sauce. Common vegetables in chow mein include bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, and onions.

What the heck is chow mein?

Chow mein is a popular Chinese-American dish made with stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and meat. It is often served with soy sauce and hot sauce.

What is chow mein vs chop suey?

Chow mein is a type of Chinese stir-fried noodles, usually prepared with vegetables, proteins, and a sauce. Chop suey is a type of Chinese-American dish consisting of stir-fried vegetables and proteins in a thick sauce. Both dishes are served with rice or noodles.

Why is chow mein so good?

Chow mein is so good because it is a delicious mix of stir-fried noodles and vegetables. It has a savory flavor and is often topped with a variety of sauces and spices that add to its flavor. It can be served with meats such as pork, chicken, and beef, as well as tofu and other vegetarian options. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit individual tastes and dietary restrictions.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Chow Mein

  • carrot
  • bean sprout
  • chinese wine
  • oyster sauce
  • peanut oil
  • soy sauce
  • sesame oil
  • water
  • cornflour cornstarch
  • sugar
  • garlic
  • chicken breast
  • chow mein noodle
  • green onion
  • green cabbage
  • white pepper
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Vegetable Chow Mein

  • CHOW MEIN SAUCE
  • abalone sauce
  • dark soy sauce
  • sugar
  • chicken bouillon powder
  • light soy sauce
  • NOODLES
  • bean sprout
  • bell pepper
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • oil
  • chinese chive
  • hong kong fried noodle
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • dark soy sauce
  • dark asian sesame oil
  • sugar
  • chicken breast
  • ginger
  • green onion
  • celery
  • shittake mushroom
  • chicken broth
  • onion
  • water chestnut
  • peanut oil
  • cornstarch
  • white rice
  • chuka soba
  • oyster sauce
  • garlic
  • mung bean sprout
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Chinese Chow Mein

  • bean sprout
  • yaki soba noodle
  • light brown sugar
  • oil
  • oyster sauce
  • cornstarch
  • cabbage
  • sesame oil
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • ginger
  • chicken breast
  • garlic
  • celery
  • green onion
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Vegetable Chow Mein

  • bell pepper
  • shiitake mushroom
  • zucchini
  • ginger
  • light soy sauce
  • salt
  • sesame oil
  • sugar
  • onion
  • egg noodle
  • garlic
  • dark soy sauce
  • oyster sauce
  • rice vinegar
  • water
  • canola oil
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Easy 30 Minute Chicken Chow Mein

  • cornstarch
  • sesame oil
  • chicken breast
  • green onion
  • salt
  • green cabbage
  • chow mein noodle
  • chicken broth
  • oyster sauce
  • ginger
  • garlic
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
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Chicken, Bok Choy and Shiitake Chow Mein

  • canola oil cook
  • salt
  • chicken stock
  • refreshed lo mein noodle
  • chicken meat prefer leg thigh meat
  • ginger
  • sambal oelek
  • black pepper
  • oyster sauce
  • shaoxing wine
  • scallion white
  • shiitake mushroom
  • cornstarch
  • bok choy
  • garlic
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Beef Chow Mein

  • flank steak
  • cornstarch
  • black sesame seed
  • light sesame seed
  • rice wine
  • asian medley veggy
  • rice wine vinegar
  • water
  • hoisin sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • brown sugar
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
  • green onion
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CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

  • carrot
  • chicken against grain
  • oil
  • water
  • chinese all purpose stir fry sauce
  • chinese cabbage
  • shallot scallion
  • chow mein egg noodle
  • garlic
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Crockpot Chicken Chow Mein

  • bean sprout
  • water chestnut
  • chicken broth
  • garlic
  • sugar
  • celery
  • chicken breast
  • light soy sauce
  • water
  • cornstarch
  • red pepper flake
  • ginger
  • vegetable oil
  • carrot
  • green onion
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • corn starch
  • egg noodle
  • soy sauce
  • thigh
  • sugar snap pea
  • sesame oil
  • carrot
  • garlic
  • brown sugar tb
  • ginger tb
  • tbs rice wine vinegar
  • tbs canola oil
  • green onion
  • shitake mushroom
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Vegetarian Chow Mein

  • bean sprout
  • chinese wine
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • chilli garlic sauce
  • hoisin sauce
  • sesame oil
  • water
  • chinese cabbage
  • oil
  • sugar
  • garlic
  • scallion shallot
  • tofu
  • chow mein noodle
  • white pepper
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • dark soy sauce
  • black pepper
  • cornstarch
  • chile sauce
  • chinese 5-spice powder
  • sesame oil
  • spring onion
  • bell pepper
  • chicken breast
  • groundnut oil
  • light soy sauce
  • bean sprout
  • yellow shi wheat flour noodle
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Vegetable Chow Mein

  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • carrot
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • broccoli
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • green onion
  • celery
  • chicken
  • bell pepper
  • brown sugar
  • rice vinegar
  • salt
  • chili sauce
  • chow mein noodle
  • oyster sauce
  • cabbage
  • cornstarch
  • ginger
  • garlic
  • sesame oil
  • soy sauce
  • canola oil
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Spicy Pork Chow Mein

  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • onion
  • ground pork
  • napa cabbage
  • chile garlic sauce
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • yaki soba noodle
  • light brown sugar
  • oil
  • oyster sauce
  • cornstarch
  • cabbage
  • sesame oil
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • ginger
  • chicken breast
  • garlic
  • celery
  • green onion
  • sauce
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Chicken Sausage Chow Mein

  • chicken stock
  • chicken sausage
  • basil
  • chinese egg noodle
  • orange juice
  • ginger
  • hot red chile
  • snow pea
  • garlic
  • vegetable oil
  • salt
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Chow Mein

  • ginger
  • white pepper
  • soy sauce
  • peanut oil
  • sesame oil
  • green cabbage
  • oyster sauce
  • shaoxing wine
  • garlic
  • veggy
  • green onion
  • chow mein noodle
  • chili garlic sauce
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Bok Choy Chow Mein

  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • bok choy
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Cashew Chicken Chow Mein

  • sugar snap pea
  • cashew
  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • chicken
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Chicken Chow Mein

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • spring onion
  • sesame seed
  • carrot
  • garlic
  • sesame oil
  • ginger
  • cabbage
  • oyster sauce
  • chow mein noodle
  • chicken thigh
  • chicken stock
  • soy sauce
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Shrimp Chow Mein

  • snow pea
  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • carrot
  • onion
  • shrimp
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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10 Minute Chow Mein

  • la choy beef chow mein
  • la choy sweet
  • vegetables carrot
  • la choy water chestnut
  • lo mein noodle
  • la choy chow mein noodle
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Spicy Beef Chow Mein

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • snow pea
  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • onion
  • cabbage
  • top round
  • chile garlic sauce
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Beef Chow Mein

  • cabbage
  • brown sugar
  • corn starch
  • sesame oil
  • baking soda
  • carrot
  • celery
  • flank steak
  • black
  • onion
  • green onion
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • chow mein noodle
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Beef and Broccoli Chow Mein

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • carrot
  • onion
  • top round
  • broccoli
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Ginger Pork Chow Mein

  • sugar snap pea
  • hoisin
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • carrot
  • onion
  • ground pork
  • ginger
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • garlic
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
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Mushroom and Garlic Chicken Chow Mein

  • hoisin
  • ginger
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • onion
  • chicken
  • oyster sauce
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • green onion
  • mushroom
  • yellow chinese egg noodle
  • garlic

Ingredient Breakdown

 
garlic
soy sauce
oyster sauce
ginger
carrot
water
onion
sesame oil
green onion
vegetable oil
brown sugar
salt
rice vinegar
bell pepper
cornstarch
yellow chinese egg noodle
hoisin
bean sprout
chicken breast
sugar
chow mein noodle
black pepper
celery
dark soy sauce
oil
cabbage
light soy sauce
peanut oil
white pepper
chicken broth
chicken stock
green cabbage
hoisin sauce
sugar snap pea
chicken
snow pea
chinese wine
water chestnut
mung bean sprout
yaki soba noodle
light brown sugar
shiitake mushroom
egg noodle
canola oil
shaoxing wine
bok choy
flank steak
mushroom
chinese cabbage
corn starch
spring onion
broccoli
ground pork
chile garlic sauce
chinese egg noodle
top round
cornflour cornstarch
abalone sauce
chicken bouillon powder
chinese chive
hong kong fried noodle
dark asian sesame oil
shittake mushroom
white rice
chuka soba
zucchini
canola oil cook
refreshed lo mein noodle
chicken meat prefer leg thigh meat
sambal oelek
scallion white
black sesame seed
light sesame seed
rice wine
asian medley veggy
rice wine vinegar
noodle
turkey meat
chicken against grain
chinese all purpose stir fry sauce
shallot scallion
chow mein egg noodle
red pepper flake
thigh
brown sugar tb
ginger tb
tbs rice wine vinegar
tbs canola oil
shitake mushroom
chilli garlic sauce
scallion shallot
tofu
chile sauce
chinese 5-spice powder
groundnut oil
yellow shi wheat flour noodle
chinese flowering chive
hong kong noodle
spiced tofu
chili sauce
napa cabbage
sauce
chicken sausage
basil
orange juice
hot red chile
veggy
chili garlic sauce
white
chinese rice wine
peanut
mushroom shiitake mushroom
cashew
sesame seed
chicken thigh
shrimp
la choy beef chow mein
la choy sweet
vegetables carrot
la choy water chestnut
lo mein noodle
la choy chow mein noodle
baking soda
black

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • garlic 53%
  • oyster sauce 41%
  • ginger 38%
  • green onion 38%

Common Ingredients

  • sesame oil 34%
  • soy sauce 34%
  • carrot 31%
  • cornstarch 31%

Usual Ingredients

  • salt 25%
  • water 25%
  • bean sprout 22%
  • chicken breast 22%
  • sugar 22%
  • bell pepper 19%
  • celery 19%
  • dark soy sauce 19%
  • oil 19%
  • onion 19%

Rarey Ingredients

  • chow mein noodle 16%
  • light soy sauce 16%
  • vegetable oil 16%