Beef Pan Fried Noodles with Garlic and Cabbage {easy recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between lo mein and war mein? ›

Chow mein: thin, dried noodles that are parboiled for 5-6 minutes, and fried alongside veggies and meat. Lo mein: fat, chewy noodles that are boiled for a few minutes, then added to stir-fry after veggies and meat is cooked.

In English, chow mein means fried noodles and lo mein translates to tossed or stirred noodles. Because both dishes are variations of noodles, the main difference in chow mein and lo mein lies in how the noodles are prepared.

If you can't find the Chinese egg noodles (also called Hong Kong-style noodles), you can make this with rice noodles or soba. The key is to only boil them until they are halfway done. (They should be pliable but still firm in the center.) They will finish cooking when you pan-fry them.

You want to buy an egg noodle or pasta that's relatively thin and has some tooth. Some common names will be lo mein, chow mein, egg noodles or pancit noodles. Most markets have Japanese yaki soba noodles in the cold case, and those would work perfectly.

First, the main difference between the two is the type of wheat used to make them. Lo mein noodles are typically made from wheat flour, eggs, and water, whereas regular noodles can be made from a variety of grains, including wheat, rice, or mung beans. Second, the texture of the noodles is different.

Sometimes also labeled as chow mein noodles, these look similar to thin wonton noodles. The main difference is that noodles labeled "Hong Kong" or "pan-fried noodles" are par-cooked in boiling water, which makes them ready to stir-fry.

Lo mein sauce

The sauce is what makes this dish so addictive. It's a simple umami filled mix of light and dark soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and a hint of ginger. It's super easy to make a batch of lo mein sauce and keep it in the fridge so you can easily make lo mein whenever the craving hits.

Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

Can I use spaghetti instead of Chinese noodles? ›

Bring lots of water to boil as you would usually cook pasta. Add salt (I use about 1TBSP) and baking soda. Add pasta and cook about 2 minutes longer than what the package says. Drain and use in any recipes in place of Chinese noodles.

The Chinese word mein means noodles, so both chow mein and low mein are noodle dishes. Chow mein translates to “fried noodles” in English and lo mein translates to “stirred or tossed noodles”. Chefs soften chow mein noodles in hot water before adding them to a wok with oil and the other ingredients they're stir-frying.

Hoisin sauce is a thick, fragrant sauce commonly used in Cantonese cuisine as a glaze for meat, an addition to stir fry, or as dipping sauce. It is dark-coloured, sweet and salty. Although regional variants exist, hoisin sauce usually includes soybeans, fennel, red chili peppers, and garlic.

3. Lo Mein noodles are fresh yellow noodles (usually labelled "egg noodles") that are about 3mm / 1/8" thick, sold in the fridge section of grocery stores. Dried noodles - use 200g/8oz uncooked ramen noodles or other dried noodles.

If you can't find authentic Chinese chow mein noodles (see picture below) at your local grocery store, spaghetti could be used as a perfect substitution to make Chinese style stir fry noodles. Use Chow Mein stir fry noodles if you have them.

War mein, also spelled warmein or wor mein, translates from Cantonese as “deep pot noodles.” It refers to a type of noodle soup made in a deep pot, rather than a specific noodle variety. This dish is typically made using egg noodles, either thin or thick Chinese noodles.

Both lo mein and chow mein are made from the same type of Chinese noodle. This noodle is made from wheat flour and eggs, similar to Italian pasta. If you live near a good Asian grocer, you can probably find these sold as 'lo mein noodles' or even 'chow mein noodles'.

Lo mein delivers on all the best sweet and umami comfort food flavors and can be adjusted to fit your favorite ingredients. Lo mein is easy, quick, and inexpensive to make, and it is a great option for busy nights. Variations of lo mein include beef lo mein, shrimp lo mein, and vegetarian lo mein.

Lo Mein offers a heartier and more substantial dining experience compared to Mei Fun. The chewy wheat noodles and the combination of ingredients create a bolder flavor makes it a satisfying and comforting dish.