15 Minute Lo Mein

Ingredients

Sauce

• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce (sub regular if needed)
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce (sub regular if needed)
• 3 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 clove garlic, grated (optional)

Lo Mein

• 4–6 oz uncooked ramen noodles (or spaghetti)
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 green onions, chopped (keep white and green parts separate)
• 2–3 cups julienned or chopped vegetables (carrots, red peppers, cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms, or broccoli)
• 1–2 tbsp mirin

Instructions

1. Make the sauce — Shake all sauce ingredients together in a jar until combined.
2. Cook the noodles — Cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. Stir fry the vegetables — Heat sesame oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add white parts of green onions and vegetables. Stir fry until fork-tender, about 5 minutes.
4. Deglaze — Add mirin to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
5. Combine — Add cooked noodles and about half the sauce. Toss everything together in the hot pan. Add more sauce to taste — aim for a medium brown color on the noodles.
6. Serve — Top with reserved green parts of green onions.

Notes

• Dark soy sauce — Adds deep umami flavor that regular soy sauce can't replicate. Worth seeking out.
• Gluten-free — Sub rice noodles or GF spaghetti; use tamari instead of soy sauce.
• Adding protein — Thinly slice chicken or beef, toss in a little sauce, sear in the pan first, then remove. Add back at the end with the noodles.
• Mirin sub — Rice wine vinegar with a pinch of extra sugar works in a pinch.

Tags: #recipe #pasta #asian #weeknight #vegetarian #quickmeals