Vegan Chow Mein | The Choosy Eater

Vegan Chow Mein | The Choosy Eater



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Vegan chow mein is a straightforward dinner that the entire household will love! Contemporary greens and noodles are stir-fried with a scrumptious sauce that’s loaded with taste. This healthful, wholesome meal will shortly develop into a brand new favourite recipe. The most effective half? It takes simply half-hour to make!

Vegan Chow Mein | The Choosy Eater

Chinese language takeout is complete consolation meals in our home. And chow mein is one among my favourite dishes! However I don’t love all of the unhealthy fat and components that include takeout, and generally it’s arduous to discover a true vegan pleasant chow mein.

That’s why I made a decision to create this vegan chow mein recipe! It’s scrumptious, wholesome, full of taste, and really easy to make!

Including greens to stir-fried noodles is a good way to get additional vitamin into your weight loss program. The yummy sauce infuses taste into the cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and snow peas for an irresistible chunk each time!

This tasty recipe for vegetable chow mein is a wholesome makeover of the basic Chinese language noodle dish. It’s a an ideal possibility for anybody who’s in search of a meatless meal that’s each filling and satisfying.

It additionally occurs to be extremely versatile – you may customise it nonetheless you want! Be at liberty so as to add in your favourite greens or swap out the noodles for a unique sort of noodle. Or, for extra protein, make this a tofu chow mein recipe! Including an additional supply of protein will preserve you full and happy even longer.

Should you love Asian meals, you then positively have to offer this veggie chow mein a strive! It’s such a straightforward meal for these busy weeknights if you want one thing fast. For a much bigger meal, strive pairing it with or some !

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • Vegan and might be made gluten free
  • Straightforward recipe for weeknight dinner
  • Clear components
  • Made with wholesome greens
  • Tremendous versatile – might be made with completely different veggies & proteins!
  • Finest vegetable chow mein recipe ever!

Newest Recipe Video!

🥘 Substances

You’ll find all of the components for this wholesome chow mein recipe at your native grocery retailer or Asian market! See recipe card on the backside of this publish for the precise measurements.

Ingredients for vegan chow mein recipe on a white background.

For The Stir Fry

  • Olive Oil: To maintain these Chinese language vegan noodles as wholesome as doable, use olive oil or avocado oil! Keep away from utilizing palm oil or canola oil as these might be inflammatory.
  • Pink Onion & Garlic: Sauteed onion and garlic provides the perfect taste to this vegan chow mein! I like to make use of pink onion on this dish, however any sort of onion will work high-quality and style nice.
  • Cabbage, Carrots, & Broccoli: You’ll add cabbage, carrots, and broccoli to the massive skillet as soon as the onion and garlic has sauteed for a pair minutes. These brilliant veggies add colour and well being for a nourishing meal! You possibly can add bell peppers right here too!
  • Snow Peas & Bean Sprouts: Snow peas and bean sprouts are each very talked-about greens in Chinese language meals, amongst different Asian delicacies. If in case you have bother discovering snow peas, it’s completely high-quality to make use of snap peas.
  • Chow Mein Noodles: If you’re unable to seek out vegan chow mein noodles, you should utilize any lengthy/skinny noodle of your alternative. For a fast and straightforward meal use on the spot ramen or different on the spot noodles.
  • Inexperienced Onions: Inexperienced onions add the proper enhance of taste to this veg chow mein recipe. For a bolder style you should utilize spring onion!
  • Toasted Sesame Seeds: Whereas toasted sesame seeds are fully optionally available, I like to recommend them! They add an ideal contact of basic Asian taste! Plus, sesame seeds add a wholesome fats to this chow mein with greens.

For The Sauce

  • Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is the bottom of the vegan chow mein sauce. Different choices embrace liquid aminos, coconut aminos, or hoisin sauce. Utilizing a darkish soy sauce will give this recipe a richer style that’s barely much less salty.
  • Sesame Oil: Sesame oil provides a barely nutty and earthy style to the sauce. It is vitally widespread and in style for Asian dishes, bringing a way of consolation and familiarity to this vegetarian chow mein recipe.
  • Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar provides a contact of sweetness to the sauce and tones down the boldness of the sesame oil. Brown sugar can be used if you wish to preserve this sauce as near conventional as doable.
  • Sriracha: Including sriracha to the sauce is optionally available and you should utilize completely different quantities relying on spice choice. Should you desire different flavors or spices, be at liberty to make use of no matter you need.
  • Rice Wine Vinegar: Rice wine vinegar is good and acidic, much like apple cider vinegar. It’s also possible to use a Chinese language cooking wine, which usually has cinnamon and nutmeg in it, together with amino acids. 
  • Corn starch: Utilizing cornflour helps to thicken the sauce in order that it may possibly absolutely coat the veggies and noodles.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Chow Mein

Wholesome chow mein noodles are simple to make at house! With just a few easy steps you’ll have this vegan recipe mastered. It tastes simply nearly as good as eating in at a restaurant, however means more healthy and cheaper! Right here is how one can make vegetable chow mein:

Combine Sauce Substances: In a small bowl combine collectively the entire sauce components and put aside.

Vegan chow mein sauce stirred together in a white bowl.

Prepare dinner Noodles, Saute Onion & Garlic: Boil water and cook dinner the chow mein noodles in accordance with the package deal instructions till “al dente.” Drain and put aside. Warmth 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or olive oil in a big pan or wok on medium warmth. Lower onions into skinny slices and crush garlic cloves. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

Onions sauteeing in a pan.

Add Veggies: Add the cabbage, carrot and broccoli florets. Proceed to sauté for five minutes on a medium-high warmth till cooked and tender. You could want so as to add 2-3 tbsp water to the wok to assist cook dinner the greens.

Broccoli, cabbage and carrots sauteeing in a pan.

Add Further Veggies: Subsequent, add the snow peas and bean sprouts. Sauté for a few minutes earlier than including the sauce and cooked noodles.

Add Noodles And Sauce: The very last thing you’ll do add the noodles and sauce, and cook dinner the whole lot for 2-3 minutes whereas the sauce thickens. Add half of the sliced inexperienced onion and toss to coat all components.

Vegan Chinese noodles being cooked in a pan with vegetables and sauce.

Serve: Serve these wholesome Chinese language noodles instantly, topped with remaining sliced inexperienced onion and toasted sesame seeds.

Vegetable chow mein sauteeing in a large pan on the stove.

💭 Professional Ideas

  • For extra sauce, add an extra ¼ cup water to the sauce components and enhance the corn starch to 1 tbsp. 
  • To cease noodles from overcooking, you may rinse them below chilly water and drain. That is particularly essential for rice noodles to yield the perfect outcome!
  • Put together forward. All greens might be ready forward of time and saved within the fridge for as much as 2 days earlier than cooking.
  • Be certain the noodles are vegan. Examine that the noodles are vegan pleasant and cook dinner them as described on the packaging earlier than including to the cooked greens.
  • Don’t freeze. Chow mein isn’t appropriate for freezing because the stir-fried noodles is not going to reheat properly.
  • Pace up the cook dinner time. Use a excessive warmth when cooking to make sure the veggies cook dinner shortly.

📖 Variations

  • Add Protein: Make a tofu chow mein or rooster chow mein for additional protein. To make a crispy tofu, press the tofu block with a clear kitchen towel to empty extra water. Saute with a bit oil or pace up the method with this . It’s also possible to add soy curls for a straightforward vegan rooster chow mein, because it has a really related texture!
  • Spicy Chow Mein: Flip up the warmth on this vegan chow mein recipe by including your favourite spices or doubling up on the sriracha. Attempt it with chili crisp, pink pepper flakes, or jalapenos.
  • Attempt Completely different Veggies: The following time you make these vegan Chinese language noodles change it up with completely different greens. Pink bell pepper, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, or inexperienced beans would all style scrumptious!
  • Make It Gluten Free: Use vegan, gluten free chow mein noodles as an alternative of normal chow mein noodles, or simply use any gluten free spaghetti or gluten free noodles you want! Additionally, use coconut aminos or tamari as an alternative of the soy sauce.
  • Regulate The Sauce: This vegan chow mein sauce recipe could be very versatile and might be seasoned nonetheless you’d like. You possibly can add white pepper, minced ginger, or contemporary garlic!

🍽 Serving Solutions

Serve these vegan asian noodles topped with contemporary inexperienced onion and toasted sesame seeds. You possibly can serve individually or household model within the heart of your desk. This dish pairs completely with any Asian facet dishes as properly! Listed below are a few of our favourite methods to serve these vegetarian Asian noodles:

  • Asian Appetizers: Vegetable spring rolls, wontons, dumpling, egg rolls and extra style nice with this dish!
  • Rice: Be at liberty to maintain it easy by serving some steamed white or brown rice on the facet, or for a extra flavorful possibility, do that .
  • Protein: Should you don’t wish to add protein straight into these Chinese language vegetable noodles, serve it alongside this , or these !
  • Stir Fried Greens: In search of much more veggies? Serve this or this on the facet!

🫙 Storage, Freezing, And Reheating Instructions

Retailer In The Fridge: Let the vegan chow mein cool to room temperature and place in an hermetic container. It’ll preserve within the fridge for as much as 4 days. It’s also possible to put aside a number of the sauce and veggies, and make contemporary noodles the following day.

To Reheat: Reheat on the range prime or microwave for 1-2 minutes, or till heated completely.

❓Recipe FAQs

Is chow mein vegan?

No, if you happen to order chow mein from a restaurant and even locations like Panda Specific, it’s seemingly not vegan. Typically chow mein is made with oyster sauce or fish sauce, together with probably being cooked in rooster broth. The noodles themselves are usually egg noodles, too. Be certain to verify together with your server or learn the vitamin details when you have strict dietary wants! 

The excellent news is making wholesome chow mein at house is very easy! You possibly can simply customise the components to make it vegan – like on this recipe!

Is chow mein the identical as lo mein?

Chow mein and lo mein are related however not the identical! Each are scrumptious noodle dishes that may be made with greens, protein, and sauce however the preparation is completely different. Chow mein refers to fried noodles, whereas lo mein refers to tossed noodles. Lo mein noodles are boiled for 2-3 minutes and tossed with sauce. Chow mein noodles are stir-fried with veggies or proteins together with the savory sauce. Whereas contemporary egg noodles are greatest for lo mein, you should utilize a contemporary or dry noodle possibility for chow mein.

If you wish to make a straightforward veggie lo mein, you may comply with together with this recipe however go away the noodles out on step 5. Warmth the sauce with veggies, and toss with the vegan lo mein noodles. Serve and revel in!

Is vegetable chow mein wholesome?

It will depend on the way you make it! Should you use wholesome fat (and don’t overdo the oils) and also you load up your veggie chow mein recipe with a number of contemporary greens, then it may be a really wholesome alternative for lunch or dinner! Together with greens in chow mein is a good way to remain nourished with vitamins and nutritional vitamins. Plus, you may get a great number of veggies into your weight loss program which is essential for intestine well being. For an much more balanced meal, make this vegan chow mein with tofu for some plant primarily based protein to maintain you full and happy.

What’s chow mein sauce product of?

A standard chow mein sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, ginger, brown sugar, and corn starch. You possibly can simply make a vegan sauce by leaving out the oyster sauce. It’s as much as you whether or not or not you add the rest! For these Asian vegan noodles, I add pink wine vinegar for a lift of taste!

Do I want a wok to make chow mein?

No you don’t want a wok to make this recipe! If in case you have a big flat saute pan, that may work simply as properly.

What sort of noodles is greatest for chow mein?

Utilizing skinny, lengthy noodles is greatest for this vegetarian chow mein! You possibly can usually discover particular chow mein noodles at an Asian market however different noodles work too. For a straightforward possibility, use ramen noodles, spaghetti noodles, or linguini. For a vegetable chow enjoyable or tofu chow enjoyable, do that recipe out with thick rice noodles. To maintain this vegan, be sure to discover eggless noodles.

Easy vegan chow mein served in a white bowl with chopsticks.

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📋 Recipe Card

Vegan Chow Mein

Vegan chow mein is a straightforward dinner that the entire household will love! Contemporary greens and noodles are stir-fried with a scrumptious sauce that’s loaded with taste. This healthful, wholesome meal will shortly develop into a brand new favourite recipe. The most effective half? It takes simply half-hour to make!

Prep Time15 minutes

Prepare dinner Time15 minutes

Complete Time30 minutes

Course: Principal Course

Delicacies: Chinese language, Vegan

Weight loss program: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 4

Energy: 549kcal

  • Should you desire extra sauce together with your noodles add an extra ¼ cup water to the sauce components and enhance the cornflour to 1 tbsp.
  • All greens can br ready forward of time and saved within the fridge for as much as 2 days earlier than cooking.
  • Attempt including sliced pink bell pepper, contemporary sliced chili, or sliced zucchini so as to add some further colour and taste.
  • Examine that the noodles are vegan pleasant and cook dinner them as described on the packaging earlier than including to the cooked greens.
  • Chow mein isn’t appropriate for freezing.
  • Use a excessive warmth when cooking to make sure the veggies cook dinner shortly.

Energy: 549kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Sodium: 1732mg | Potassium: 817mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 11g