Plain Chow Mein - Khin's Kitchen (2024)

Simple quick plain chow mein recipe made with egg noodles, bean sprouts, spring onions, and classic Chinese soy sauce seasonings. Delicious on its own or pair it with your favourite main dishes. Learn how to make this takeaway favourite chow mein at home perfectly with our instructions.

If you have read my other posts, you might already know that our family loves noodles and we have many versions of chow mein on our website. Prawn Chow Mein and Chicken Chow Mein recipes are our readers' favourite quick and easy chow mein recipes you don't want to miss!

What is plain chow mein?

Plain chow mein is one of the most popular Chinese takeaway noodle dishes in the UK and across the world. It is also known as Chinese plain noodles, plain lo mein, or vegetable chow mein. You can make chow mein with noodles and soy sauce or stir-fry it together with vegetables or a choice of protein. Plain chow mein is a perfect combination of soft egg noodles, crisp vegetables and savoury umami chow mein sauce. A humble noodle dish that every Asian household love to have at least once a week.

One of the simplest chow mein recipes with minimal ingredients. You don't need to add plenty of vegetables or special sauces to make this dish. Super quick preparation time and easy to clean up. Healthy, nutritious, and budget-friendly too!

Ingredients we need

Following is a quick guide and details measurement is on the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

• Noodles - Medium-thick dried or fresh egg noodles, chow mein noodles, or lo mein noodles are ideal for this recipe. You can also add wheat noodles, wholewheat noodles, pasta, udon, etc.
• Dried noodles - Most Chinese takeaways use Lucky Boat Number 1 dried noodles but it doesn't come in small packets. You can use any medium thick dried egg noodles available at your local grocery stores. I usually use Sharwood or the supermarket's own brand of dried noodles which are available at our local supermarkets in the UK.
• Vegetables - bean sprouts, onions, and spring onions ( green onions ) are ideal for this recipe but you can swap them with your choice of stir fry vegetables.
• Seasonings - Light soy sauce, dark thick soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar are essential ingredients you must add.
• Chicken powder - is a dehydrated, concentrated chicken stock and it had a salty, umami chicken flavour. You can add chicken powder or msg for the best flavour. Recommend using Asian chicken powders like Knorr, Jumbo, Honor, Amoy, Ajinomoto, etc.

How to make it

Prepare Noodles

1. Boil the dried noodles for 3-4 minutes or according to the packet instructions. Then rinse with cold water and set it aside. ( If you are using fresh egg noodles, you can skip this step. )

Gather sauce ingredients & vegetables

2. Meanwhile, the noodles are boiling, prepare the vegetables. Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Set them aside.

Make a stir fry

2. Heat the large wok/pan over medium-high heat, and drizzle 2-3 tbsp of vegetable oil. Add onions and garlic and stir fry for a few seconds until fragrant.
3. Next, add the noodles, add chicken powder and pour the sauce mixture over the noodles.
4. Bring the heat to high and stir fry for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce dries out.
5. Add bean sprouts and spring onions and toss everything well for 1-2 minutes.
6. Transfer to a serving plate and serve immediately! Enjoy!

Quick Tips

• Dry noodles cooking time - it usually takes 3-4 minutes to boil them, but it can vary according to the brands you use. So make sure to check the packet instructions and make sure to rinse with cold water just right after boiling it.
• Storing and reheating - You can keep the leftover chow mein in the fridge in an air-tight container for a couple of days. Reheat in the microwave or stir fry over the stovetop for 1-2 minutes until hot, before serving.Add a splash of water if the noodles are too try.
• Salt - Soy sauces, chicken powder, and some noodles brands contain salt and I don't usually add extra salt. You can make a taste test and sprinkle some salt to your taste if needed. Or if you prefer your noodles less salty, you can add low-sodium soy sauces or reduce the amount of sauce.

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