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

    Beef Chow Mein

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

    Facebook38TweetPin229YummlyShares267
    Jump to Recipe

    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?

    Print
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    Beef

    Beef Chow Mein


    ★★★★★

    5 from 8 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    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!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 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.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • 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

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    More a) 30 mins or less

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim Neville

      October 29, 2018 at 7:29 pm

      I like Spring veg & prawn stir-fry

      Reply
    2. sam macaree

      October 30, 2018 at 7:06 am

      Kung Pao Chicken Stir-Fry

      Reply
    3. melanie stirling

      November 01, 2018 at 12:17 am

      Chicken chow mein.

      Reply
    4. Liam Bishop

      November 01, 2018 at 4:01 pm

      Singapore noodles

      Reply
    5. cheryl hadfield

      November 02, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      I like sweet chilli chicken stir fry

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Solange

      November 07, 2018 at 2:57 am

      Chicken Chow Mein.

      Reply
    7. Olivia kirby

      November 10, 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

      November 11, 2018 at 9:37 pm

      Tofu chow mein

      Reply
    9. iain maciver

      November 11, 2018 at 11:13 pm

      chicken fried rice

      Reply
    10. Lisa Day

      November 12, 2018 at 3:39 am

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

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Tracy Newton

      November 12, 2018 at 5:53 am

      I love chicken and cashew nut stir fry

      Reply
    12. Karen

      November 12, 2018 at 6:22 am

      Great prize!

      Reply
    13. frances hopkins

      November 12, 2018 at 8:35 am

      Singapore noodles

      Reply
    14. ROBERT MCINTOSH

      November 12, 2018 at 11:00 am

      a black bean and vegetable stir fry

      Reply
    15. Annabel Greaves

      November 12, 2018 at 2:33 pm

      I love chicken chow mein

      Reply
    16. Susan B

      November 12, 2018 at 2:34 pm

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

      Reply
    17. Rebecca Brown

      November 12, 2018 at 2:35 pm

      I really love Singapore noodles with tofu – Yum!

      Reply
    18. charlotte

      November 12, 2018 at 3:13 pm

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

      Reply
    19. Deirdre M

      November 12, 2018 at 4:34 pm

      Classic Chicken Chow Mein!

      Reply
    20. Ruth Harwood

      November 13, 2018 at 8:52 am

      Sweet n sour veg with rice!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    21. Andrea Upton

      November 13, 2018 at 2:47 pm

      I like chicken chow mein

      Reply
    22. Lucy

      November 13, 2018 at 8:39 pm

      Chicken chow mein

      Reply
    23. Tee Simpson

      November 13, 2018 at 9:52 pm

      King prawn chow mein

      Reply
    24. Danielle Cresswell

      November 13, 2018 at 11:47 pm

      Chicken in black bean

      Reply
    25. Jade Hewlett

      November 14, 2018 at 11:41 am

      I like chicken chow mein

      Reply
    26. Kim Murray

      November 14, 2018 at 6:03 pm

      Like vegetable chop suey x

      Reply
    27. Amy Pest

      November 14, 2018 at 7:57 pm

      lots of soy sauce mushrooms and onions with chicken

      Reply
    28. Hayley Lynch

      November 14, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      Lemon chicken spring onion and ginger

      Reply
    29. Tanya Deliyska

      November 15, 2018 at 2:51 pm

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

      Reply
    30. Victoria Prince

      November 16, 2018 at 4:41 pm

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

      Reply
    31. Emma Walton

      November 16, 2018 at 6:54 pm

      My favourite is beef and broccoli

      Reply
    32. john prendergast

      November 17, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      sweet and sour stir fry

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    33. Carolyn E

      November 18, 2018 at 4:02 am

      Beef with water chestnuts in oyster sauce

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    34. jo liddement

      November 21, 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

      November 21, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      chicken chow mein

      Reply
    36. hannah igoe

      November 24, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      I do love chicken chow mein

      Reply
    37. Claire Woods

      November 25, 2018 at 3:47 pm

      veggie stir fry

      Reply
    38. Hannah Wood

      November 25, 2018 at 6:03 pm

      Veggie chow mein

      Reply
    39. Leila Benhamida

      November 25, 2018 at 6:39 pm

      Chow mein is my favourite.

      Reply
    40. Lynn Neal

      November 26, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      Mushroom chow mein

      Reply
    41. richard field

      November 27, 2018 at 1:12 pm

      broccoli and mushroom stir fry

      Reply
    42. Kim Carberry

      November 27, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      I really like chicken chow mein x

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    43. debbie jayne Davies

      November 27, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      chicken and ginger

      Reply
    44. Mandy Betts

      November 27, 2018 at 7:41 pm

      Chicken chow mein

      Reply
    45. Keith Glover

      November 27, 2018 at 9:13 pm

      Chicken chow mein for me

      Reply
    46. Sheri Darby

      November 27, 2018 at 10:09 pm

      Chicken Chow Mein

      Reply
    47. Anthea Holloway

      November 28, 2018 at 8:57 am

      I love chicken chow mein

      Reply
    48. Anthea Holloway

      November 28, 2018 at 9:06 am

      Subscribed by email too.

      Reply
    49. Pauline Dring

      November 28, 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Vegetable stir fry with bean sprouts

      Reply
    50. Rai

      November 28, 2018 at 10:44 pm

      Kung po pork and noodles

      Reply
    51. joanne casey

      November 29, 2018 at 10:00 am

      I love schezwan chicken

      Reply
    52. A.E. ADKINS

      November 29, 2018 at 10:35 am

      Beef chow mein with water chestnuts

      Reply
    53. Keith Hunt

      November 29, 2018 at 11:45 am

      Beef bulgogi stir-fry

      Reply
    54. Alison Macdonald

      November 29, 2018 at 6:36 pm

      King prawns with spicy chilli and garlic and soft noodles!

      Reply
    55. Adrian Bold

      November 29, 2018 at 7:02 pm

      My favourite is Kung Pao Chicken Stir-Fry

      Reply
    56. sharon martin

      November 29, 2018 at 7:56 pm

      i love chicken chow mein

      Reply
    57. Kirsteen Mackay

      November 29, 2018 at 8:30 pm

      Chicken Chow Mein with Cashew Nuts

      Reply
    58. Caroline Shepherd

      November 29, 2018 at 8:40 pm

      Beef in black bean sauce

      Reply
    59. Fiona jk42

      November 29, 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

      November 29, 2018 at 10:38 pm

      Duck, veg, hoisin sauce and noddles nom

      Reply
    61. Natalie Crossan

      November 29, 2018 at 10:53 pm

      Chicken chow mein nom nom nom

      Reply
    62. Phil Boyle

      November 29, 2018 at 11:27 pm

      Chicken in black bean sauce

      Reply
    63. kim d

      November 29, 2018 at 11:35 pm

      beef in oyster sauce

      Reply
    64. Kat

      November 29, 2018 at 11:40 pm

      Chicken stir fry

      Reply

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    about michelle

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