King Prawn Chow Mein

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An absolutely sensational dish that’s packed full of fabulous flavour, king prawn chow mein might just make its way to the top of your list of favourite new recipes!

King prawn chow mein in pot with chopsticks.

Best of all, it’s an absolute cinch to make! You want to know how? Let’s find out.

Why you’ll love this recipe

It’s utterly delicious
With only 20 minutes cooking time, it’s very quick and easy to make
You can feed a lot of people with minimal cost
It’s a very adaptable recipe that can be tweaked to your tastes
Everything is cooked in one pan

Special equipment needed to make this recipe

There are a few key items you’ll need for this king prawn chow mein recipe:

Large wok – a wok or a large frying pan is required to flash fry the ingredients in this prawn chow mein stir fry
Food processor – this recipe requires you to slice, grate and chop. Use an all-in-one gizmo to get the job done for you!

Ingredients you need for this recipe

You’ll need to source some special ingredients to get the best out of this king prawn chow mein stir fry:

Soy sauce – you’ll need both light and dark soy sauce for a balance of flavour
Oyster sauce – the amazing rich flavour of oyster sauce is so important to this dish
Sesame oil – the unique taste of sesame oil is very important to this dish. It can be replaced (see below) but the substitutions won’t be as good

Top Tip

Don’t crowd the frying pan! Your ingredients need space in order to get that wonderful caramelised taste, otherwise they’ll steam and end up soggy. If needed, fry in batches.

What to pair with your king prawn chow mein

Sides

You can use noodles as a side to this king prawn chow mein stir fry, although I prefer to stir my noodles into the chow mein sauce to get everything coated.

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I’ve gone for dried egg noodles in this recipe, although you can also use fresh egg noodles, yakisoba noodles or ramen noodles.

Wine pairing

Sauvignon Blanc would be an ideal pairing with the light spices and savoury flavours in this recipe. A dry sparkling wine would also be a good choice. My tip would be a sparkling Riesling.

Popular substitutions for this recipe

Here are a few good substitutions for those ingredients that you can’t get hold of:

If you can’t find sesame oil, use grapeseed oil, avocado oil or peanut oil
You can use fish sauce or teriyaki sauce in place of oyster sauce
I really recommend using fresh ginger, as it brings so much flavour. However, you can swap it out for ginger paste at a 1:1 ratio, or a teaspoon of ground ginger

Variations to this recipe

Add any of the following to give your kind prawn chow mein a whole new dimension:

Mushrooms – use white mushroom, chestnut, baby bella, oyster, shiitake, portobello or enoki
Mixed peppers – use yellow or green peppers to complement the red pepper in this recipe
Bamboo shoots – a staple ingredient in Asian cuisines, bamboo shoots add a sweet earthiness to the dish, while bringing an extra crunchy texture
Water chestnuts – sweet, nutty and tart, water chestnuts are a great ingredient to add to a king prawn chow mein stir fry
Broccoli – you’ve got to love a bit of broccoli in a stir fry. Unless you don’t. In which case, leave it out. Trust me though, it works really well as a variation to this recipe
Bok choy – crunchy, juicy and with that wonderful herbal taste, bok choy is definitely a great ingredient to add to any stir fry
Other types of bean sprouts – kidney bean sprouts or mung bean sprouts bring an earthier flavour

How To Make This Recipe

Marinate the prawns with salt, white pepper, sesame oil and Chinese rice wine

Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Soften the onions.

Add garlic and ginger.

Add the red peppers and spring onions.

Cook for 5 minutes until softened.

Add the prawns.

Pour in the sauce and let it bubble for a few minutes until the turns turn pink and are cooked.

Add noodles and beansprouts.

Mix and serve. Enjoy!

What is a chow mein?

Chow mein is a stir fry dish consisting of noodles, onions, spices and meat or fish. Beef and chicken are common main ingredients in a chow mein, but king prawn chow mein is the king of stir fry dishes in my opinion.

What’s the difference between chow mein, lo mein and chop suey?

There are a lot of similarities between these popular dishes. Lo mein and chow mein are both noodle dishes with vegetables, sauces and spices. However, the key difference is in the way they are cooked.

In lo mein stir fry dishes, the noodles are boiled before being added to the sauce at the end of the cooking process. They tend to be quite soft in texture, oily and contain a lot of sauce. In contrast, chow mein stir fry dishes are usually crunchy, with the noodles fried with the other ingredients for a few minutes until slightly crispy.

Chop suey, on the other hand, is an American Chinese dish. It contains egg and meat, as well as vegetables and a thick, velvety sauce. It’s usually served on a bed of fluffy white rice.

Should I use pre-shelled prawns for prawn chow mein?

Yes, I recommend it. This recipe is all about speed and simplicity, so save yourself time and get raw king prawns that are pre-shelled.

Can I use pre-cooked prawns?

You can, although I recommend getting raw king prawns. If you use cooked prawns, they’ll be slightly rubbery once heated through, as they’ll end up overcooked.

If you do go for pre-cooked prawns, heat them through in the pan for a minute.

Can I use frozen prawns?

You can, but I’d defrost them first. King prawn chow mein stir fry is supposed to be cooked fast in a hot pan. Once you start throwing frozen things into the pan, things are going to turn soggy, fast.

What wine should I use for the marinade?

As with the wine pairing, you should go for a crisp dry white wine. I recommend using a Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t break the bank though – cooking wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.

How do I store leftovers?

This king prawn chow mein deserves to be devoured in one sitting. However, you can keep leftovers in the fridge. Allow to cool properly, then store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Reheat on the hob in a frying pan or saucepan for 2 minutes, or until piping hot.

King prawn chow mein on a white plate with chopsticks.

More amazing Asian-inspired recipes

Want to try out some more incredible Asian-inspired dishes? I’ve got you covered:

Bok choy stir fry – this stir fry is seriously tasty! It’s also light, healthy and very simple to make. Which makes it the perfect midweek dinner!
Mongolian lamb stir fry – another amazing stir fry, this one has a spicy stir fry sauce that will knock your socks off!
Salt and pepper spring rolls - there is no better way to start your Chinese feast!
Salt and pepper chips – this fakeaway sensation is really something. Your tastebuds will be dancing with the amazing mix of flavours on offer
Salt and pepper chicken – another nice and spicy recipe, this one is for those who love their chicken with heaps of flavour
Salt and pepper tofu - vegan and vegetarians don't have to miss out on this classic Chinese fakeaway
Chinese mixed vegetable stir fry – mixed vegetable stir fries don’t get much better than this
Chicken in oyster sauce stir fry – a simply sensational recipe! The stir fry sauce just melts in your mouth, while the chicken is tender and delicious
Honey chilli chicken – there’s something about the combination of honey and chilli that just works! Really tasty, so simple, what’s not to like?

Food safety

Wash and dry your hands properly before or after handling raw king prawns. Also, try to purchase the prawns on the day you’re cooking this recipe, and no more than three days before.

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