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You are here: Home / Cooking Times / a) 30 mins or less / Beef Chow Mein

Beef Chow Mein

29th October 2018 - By Michelle Minnaar
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Beef chow mein is the perfect quick meal that you can prepare in no time after a busy day. It is a handy dish for using whatever vegetables you happen to have leftover in the fridge. The basic recipe is versatile and you can switch the ingredients to fit your taste or pantry. I love to cook simple recipes that you can do in a short time and yet enjoy a flavourful meal. Beef chow mein is just such one of them and you too can learn how to make it in just a few simple steps. Don’t you love making one-pot recipes like this beef chow mein? Indulge yourself and make this exotic dish at least once a week.

A plate of beef chow mein with chopsticks

authentic beef chow mein recipe

A good beef chow mein combines classic pungent flavours from the Chinese cuisine, such as garlic, ginger and oyster sauce, along with fresh vegetables. In essence, beef chow mein is a type of stir-fry. In fact, “chow mein” in Chinese translates into “stir-fried” and “noodles”, respectively. This beef chow mein is very similar to a Chinese mixed vegetable stir-fry. However, unlike the former, the latter doesn’t include noodles. Today, you can practically find chow mein on the menu of just about every Chinese restaurant.  As with any good stir-fry, the vegetables should maintain some freshness and have a crunchy bite to them. A good beef chow mein showcases the best of classic Chinese cuisine – bold flavours and fresh ingredients. Honestly, I could eat this dish every day!

Ingredients for beef chow mein, raw beef, snap peas, noodles, soy sauce, garlic,

beef chow mein with the Spark Infinity Mat

To prepare my beef chow mein I had the help of a new kitchen utensil, called the Spark Infinity Mat. In fact, the Spark Infinity Mat is not only one utensil but many packed into one. Simple as this silicone disc may look, its versatility is unbelievable and can help you with a number of things around the kitchen.

Infinity Mat

What you see in the photo above is the bottom of the Infinity Mat. The concentric grooves ensure that you can easily slip your fingers underneath when picking it up, i.e. it won’t cause any suction when lifting it from a flat work surface. The top of the Infinity Mat is smooth, making for easy chopping.

First of all, I used the Infinity Mat as a cutting board. Its specially designed surface means that it stays stuck on the kitchen counter while you chop up the vegetables. Once done, the disc shape allows you to easily pick up the vegetables and pour everything into the saucepan.

A catcher splatter on a skillet

Once I finished cooking my beef chow mein, I rested the hot pan on the Infinity Mat. The mat is heat resistant up to 230°C, making it ideal for protecting surfaces in the kitchen. Moreover, the thin mat folds easily in your hand meaning you can also use it as an oven glove. This is also an advantage should you, for example, be heating up some leftover beef chow mein in the microwave. The mat is 100% microwave safe. Finally, you can even use the mat as a food cover when storing leftovers in the fridge. Once done with it all the Infinity Mat can be cleaned easily using hot soapy water. Alternatively, just stick it in in the dishwasher because the Infinity Mat is also 100% dishwasher safe!

A pan of pasta with a splatter catcher

more amazing possibilities with Spark

The possibilities do not end in the kitchen though. There are actually plenty of things you can use the Spark Infinity Mat for around the house; be it opening a tight jar, or even a tap which wouldn’t open. Instead of gloves, use the Infinity Mat to protect your hands when carrying heavy buckets. It can also be used as a surface protector with other hot appliances in the house such as hair straighteners. Check out this video for even more ideas, and see for yourself just how versatile a tool the Spark Infinity Mat is.

Splatter Catcher by Spark

While you are at it, you might also consider having a look at the Splatter Catcher. Like the Infinity Mat, the Splatter Catcher is made from food grade silicone. It is particularly practical when cooking something like beef chow mein, which can sometimes spatter enthusiastically all over the place. Usually this would make a mess on the stove, however, this can be conveniently avoided by using the Splatter Catcher. This means you won’t have to clean the kitchen immediately after you cook. Plus, you definitely don’t have to worry about getting all sorts of sticky oils on the kitchen counter. This clever silicone funnel folds onto the sides of the pan, in effect making the pan a lot taller and yet wider at the top for your convenience. This means that you can keep stirring the pan,

but the splatter will stay inside, leaving your kitchen mess free!

how to make beef chow mein-like takeaway

Again, beef chow mein is a very simple and versatile recipe. You can practically throw anything into the chow mein with a delicious result. For example, if you want to keep things simple and stick with beef, then you can also take this combination of beef and mangetout stir-fry. Otherwise, inspire yourself with these drool-worthy Chinese beef stir-fry recipes:

  • beef broccoli and cashew nut stir-fry – the cashews bring a moreish crunch to the dish
  • beef mushroom and oyster sauce stir-fry – a tempting combination where the oyster sauce binds all ingredients together

A bowl of noodles and snap peas

However, don’t forget! You can also substitute with pork and make an authentic pork chow mein or with chicken too! Just take a look at these amazing stir-fry recipes below:

  • chicken and sugar snap pea stir-fry – a classic combination to include sugar snap peas
  • chicken mushroom and oyster sauce stir-fry -a punch of flavours in a single bite!
  • pork and spinach stir-fry – a simple and humble stir-fry recipe
  • Chinese bbq pork stir-fry – possibly one of my favourite flavour combinations.

Beef Chowmein in a sauce pan

With all these stir-fry recipes in mind, you can inspire yourself to toss in sugar snap peas into your beef chow mein for a bit of green. Or, include a few spring onions for some sharp and tangy flavour. I also recommend including a handful of cashew nuts for extra crunch.

So many flavours, so many combinations! What is your favourite Chinese stir-fry recipe?

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Beef

Beef Chow Mein


★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Description

If you want to learn how to make the best beef chow mein, you’ve come to the right place. This classic Chinese stir-fry calls for beef and noodles. Enjoy!


Scale

Ingredients

  • 15ml (1 tbsp) cornstarch
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) rice wine or dry sherry
  • 5ml (1 tsp) sesame oil
  • 450g (1lb) rump steak, cut into thin strips
  • 15ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 5cm (2in) fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
  • 200g (½lb) mangetout, washed and topped and tailed
  • 2 carrots, peeled and julienned
  • 450g (1lb) egg noodles, cooked
  • 200g (½ lb) beansprouts
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) dark soy sauce
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) oyster sauce
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) brown sugar
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) sesame oil
  • 8 spring onions, peeled and chopped

Instructions

  1. Stir the cornstarch, rice wine and sesame oil together in a bowl, then add the beef to it, ensuring that all its surfaces are well covered. Marinate at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
  2. Heat the oil in a large wok until very hot, then brown the beef quickly then set the meat aside.
  3. Next, add the garlic and ginger and fry for 1 minute, stirring the ingredients constantly.
  4. Add the carrots and mangetout and stir fry the vegetables for 3 minutes.
  5. Add the cooked noodles, sprouts and beef, then pour over soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil.
  6. Stir the chow mein vigorously until all items are well covered with the sauce.
  7. Serve immediately with spring onions sprinkled on top.

Notes

  • Marinating the meat is optional but the results will be more flavourful and the meat tenderer.
  • The above beef chow mein recipe is the jazzed up version and you can simplify it drastically, see below.

EASY BEEF CHOW MEIN

  • Fry 450g (1lb) of thinly cut beef rump in 15ml (1 tbsp) of vegetable oil. After it’s browned, set the meat aside. Proceed to fry 450g (1lb) cooked egg noodles and 200g (½lb) beansprouts at a high heat for 2 minutes. Add the beef to the noodles then pour in 30ml (2 tbsp) dark soy sauce to the chow mein. Fry for 2 minutes and serve immediately.
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 519
  • Sugar: 15.3 g
  • Sodium: 1133 mg
  • Fat: 15.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51.9 g
  • Fiber: 3.4 g
  • Protein: 44.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 33 mg

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Beef Chow Mein

P.S. This is a sponsored post.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Neville says

    29th October 2018 at 7:29 pm

    I like Spring veg & prawn stir-fry

    Reply
  2. sam macaree says

    30th October 2018 at 7:06 am

    Kung Pao Chicken Stir-Fry

    Reply
  3. melanie stirling says

    1st November 2018 at 12:17 am

    Chicken chow mein.

    Reply
  4. Liam Bishop says

    1st November 2018 at 4:01 pm

    Singapore noodles

    Reply
  5. cheryl hadfield says

    2nd November 2018 at 8:37 pm

    I like sweet chilli chicken stir fry

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Solange says

    7th November 2018 at 2:57 am

    Chicken Chow Mein.

    Reply
  7. Olivia kirby says

    10th November 2018 at 11:45 pm

    We do a lot of stir fries. We normally have chicken or king prawn with lots of veg, loads of sesame oil and cashews.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Ritchie Dee says

    11th November 2018 at 9:37 pm

    Tofu chow mein

    Reply
  9. iain maciver says

    11th November 2018 at 11:13 pm

    chicken fried rice

    Reply
  10. Lisa Day says

    12th November 2018 at 3:39 am

    I like chicken chow mein as it’s so flavourful with the chinese sauces.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  11. Tracy Newton says

    12th November 2018 at 5:53 am

    I love chicken and cashew nut stir fry

    Reply
  12. Karen says

    12th November 2018 at 6:22 am

    Great prize!

    Reply
  13. frances hopkins says

    12th November 2018 at 8:35 am

    Singapore noodles

    Reply
  14. ROBERT MCINTOSH says

    12th November 2018 at 11:00 am

    a black bean and vegetable stir fry

    Reply
  15. Annabel Greaves says

    12th November 2018 at 2:33 pm

    I love chicken chow mein

    Reply
  16. Susan B says

    12th November 2018 at 2:34 pm

    I like a large rice noodle stir fry with a bit of tofu.

    Reply
  17. Rebecca Brown says

    12th November 2018 at 2:35 pm

    I really love Singapore noodles with tofu – Yum!

    Reply
  18. charlotte says

    12th November 2018 at 3:13 pm

    i love a good chow mein with lots of veggies!!

    Reply
  19. Deirdre M says

    12th November 2018 at 4:34 pm

    Classic Chicken Chow Mein!

    Reply
  20. Ruth Harwood says

    13th November 2018 at 8:52 am

    Sweet n sour veg with rice!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  21. Andrea Upton says

    13th November 2018 at 2:47 pm

    I like chicken chow mein

    Reply
  22. Lucy says

    13th November 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Chicken chow mein

    Reply
  23. Tee Simpson says

    13th November 2018 at 9:52 pm

    King prawn chow mein

    Reply
  24. Danielle Cresswell says

    13th November 2018 at 11:47 pm

    Chicken in black bean

    Reply
  25. Jade Hewlett says

    14th November 2018 at 11:41 am

    I like chicken chow mein

    Reply
  26. Kim Murray says

    14th November 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Like vegetable chop suey x

    Reply
  27. Amy Pest says

    14th November 2018 at 7:57 pm

    lots of soy sauce mushrooms and onions with chicken

    Reply
  28. Hayley Lynch says

    14th November 2018 at 9:24 pm

    Lemon chicken spring onion and ginger

    Reply
  29. Tanya Deliyska says

    15th November 2018 at 2:51 pm

    My favourite Chinese stir-fry recipe is Ginger Beef Stir Fry.

    Reply
  30. Victoria Prince says

    16th November 2018 at 4:41 pm

    Chicken Chow Mein… I think it’s the only one I’ve ever had!

    Reply
  31. Emma Walton says

    16th November 2018 at 6:54 pm

    My favourite is beef and broccoli

    Reply
  32. john prendergast says

    17th November 2018 at 3:45 pm

    sweet and sour stir fry

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  33. Carolyn E says

    18th November 2018 at 4:02 am

    Beef with water chestnuts in oyster sauce

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  34. jo liddement says

    21st November 2018 at 7:33 pm

    As a vegetarian i like a vegetable and tofu stir fry with water chestnuts and bean sprouts added to give it a crunch.

    Reply
  35. Naila says

    21st November 2018 at 7:54 pm

    chicken chow mein

    Reply
  36. hannah igoe says

    24th November 2018 at 3:12 pm

    I do love chicken chow mein

    Reply
  37. Claire Woods says

    25th November 2018 at 3:47 pm

    veggie stir fry

    Reply
  38. Hannah Wood says

    25th November 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Veggie chow mein

    Reply
  39. Leila Benhamida says

    25th November 2018 at 6:39 pm

    Chow mein is my favourite.

    Reply
  40. Lynn Neal says

    26th November 2018 at 9:24 pm

    Mushroom chow mein

    Reply
  41. richard field says

    27th November 2018 at 1:12 pm

    broccoli and mushroom stir fry

    Reply
  42. Kim Carberry says

    27th November 2018 at 2:12 pm

    I really like chicken chow mein x

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  43. debbie jayne Davies says

    27th November 2018 at 2:23 pm

    chicken and ginger

    Reply
  44. Mandy Betts says

    27th November 2018 at 7:41 pm

    Chicken chow mein

    Reply
  45. Keith Glover says

    27th November 2018 at 9:13 pm

    Chicken chow mein for me

    Reply
  46. Sheri Darby says

    27th November 2018 at 10:09 pm

    Chicken Chow Mein

    Reply
  47. Anthea Holloway says

    28th November 2018 at 8:57 am

    I love chicken chow mein

    Reply
  48. Anthea Holloway says

    28th November 2018 at 9:06 am

    Subscribed by email too.

    Reply
  49. Pauline Dring says

    28th November 2018 at 12:15 pm

    Vegetable stir fry with bean sprouts

    Reply
  50. Rai says

    28th November 2018 at 10:44 pm

    Kung po pork and noodles

    Reply
  51. joanne casey says

    29th November 2018 at 10:00 am

    I love schezwan chicken

    Reply
  52. A.E. ADKINS says

    29th November 2018 at 10:35 am

    Beef chow mein with water chestnuts

    Reply
  53. Keith Hunt says

    29th November 2018 at 11:45 am

    Beef bulgogi stir-fry

    Reply
  54. Alison Macdonald says

    29th November 2018 at 6:36 pm

    King prawns with spicy chilli and garlic and soft noodles!

    Reply
  55. Adrian Bold says

    29th November 2018 at 7:02 pm

    My favourite is Kung Pao Chicken Stir-Fry

    Reply
  56. sharon martin says

    29th November 2018 at 7:56 pm

    i love chicken chow mein

    Reply
  57. Kirsteen Mackay says

    29th November 2018 at 8:30 pm

    Chicken Chow Mein with Cashew Nuts

    Reply
  58. Caroline Shepherd says

    29th November 2018 at 8:40 pm

    Beef in black bean sauce

    Reply
  59. Fiona jk42 says

    29th November 2018 at 10:03 pm

    My favourite stir fry is vegetables with tofu. I usually use dried tofu which I rehydrate using a mix of boiling water and soy sauce. This tofu has a much former texture than wet tofu and therefore does not break apart whn you stir fry it. I use Szechuan pepper, five spice, soy sauce, Shaosin rice wine to make the sauce, and sometimes I use rice noodles, other times I will use egg noodles, depending on what I have in my larder.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  60. Lisa Bell says

    29th November 2018 at 10:38 pm

    Duck, veg, hoisin sauce and noddles nom

    Reply
  61. Natalie Crossan says

    29th November 2018 at 10:53 pm

    Chicken chow mein nom nom nom

    Reply
  62. Phil Boyle says

    29th November 2018 at 11:27 pm

    Chicken in black bean sauce

    Reply
  63. kim d says

    29th November 2018 at 11:35 pm

    beef in oyster sauce

    Reply
  64. Kat says

    29th November 2018 at 11:40 pm

    Chicken stir fry

    Reply

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