Beef Lo Mein (Better Than Takeout)
Skip the delivery fee and make restaurant quality noodles at home in just 30 minutes. This Beef Lo Mein features incredibly tender "velveted" beef, crisp fresh vegetables, and a glossy umami sauce that clings to every single noodle. It is a lightning fast 10 minute stir fry that is much better than anything you can order from a menu. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want a total flavor bomb on the table fast!
Servings: 6
Calories: 483kcal
Ingredients
For Beef
- 1 pound flank steak cut in thin strips against the grain
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
- 1 teaspoon peanut oil
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
For Sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon white pepper ground
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
For Stir Fry
- 1 pound lo mein noodles or ramen noodles or any other Asian style noodles
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil divided
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 2 cup Napa cabbage shredded, or regular cabbage
- 1 medium carrot julienned
- 1 medium red bell pepper julienned
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 3 green onions cut into 2 inch pieces
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
- Whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Then set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the soy sauce, cornstarch, peanut oil, and baking soda together. Then toss in the sliced beef and marinate for 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil in a large wok over medium-high heat until hot. Then add the beef and cook for 3 to 4 minutes tossing it around until it is nice and brown. Now, transfer the beef to a plate and set it aside.
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of peanut oil in the wok and then add the mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, and red bell pepper to stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
- Add the snow peas and bean sprouts to the wok along with the seared beef and cooked noodles. Then pour the prepared lo mein sauce evenly over everything and toss to combine well while cooking for one last minute.
- Top the yummy homemade beef lo mein with sliced green onions and serve with your favorite Sriracha and a side of Homemade Egg Rolls!
Video
Notes
- The "Velveting" Secret: Do not skip the baking soda and cornstarch marinade for the beef. This is the only way to get that soft restaurant texture. Even 10 minutes makes a massive difference. Just be sure to slice your beef against the grain so it stays tender and does not get stringy.
- Prep is Everything: Stir frying is a fast game. Once you turn on the heat, you will not have time to chop a carrot or whisk a sauce. Have every single ingredient measured and sitting in bowls next to your stove. This makes the process a breeze instead of a disaster.
- The "Screaming Hot" Rule: You want your pan or wok to be very hot before you add the oil. If the oil is shimmering, you are ready. We want to sear the beef quickly to lock in the juice. If the pan is too cold, the beef will just boil in its own liquid and turn grey.
- Dark Soy Sauce Substitutes: If you cannot find dark soy sauce, don't worry. You can use extra regular soy sauce and add an extra teaspoon of brown sugar or even a tiny drop of molasses. Your noodles might look a little paler, but they will still taste incredible.
- Noodle Flexibility: Fresh lo mein egg noodles are the gold standard here. But if you are in a pinch, any long noodle will work. Dried ramen, linguine, or even spaghetti can be used. Just cook them to "al dente" because they will soak up more sauce and soften further in the pan.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: If you are doubling this recipe, cook the beef in two batches. If you put too much meat in the pan at once, the temperature drops and you lose that beautiful sear. It is worth the extra three minutes to do it in batches!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 1057mg | Potassium: 561mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2641IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
