Beef Lo Mein

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Here’s a flavorful recipe for Beef Lo Mein, a classic Chinese dish with tender beef, fresh vegetables, and savory noodles—all tossed together in a delicious sauce.

Ingredients

For the Beef and Noodles:

  • 1 pound (450g) flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
  • 8 ounces (225g) lo mein noodles (or spaghetti as a substitute)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, julienned or thinly sliced
  • 1 cup snow peas or snap peas, trimmed
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger (optional)

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium)
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)

Instructions

Cook the Noodles:

  1. Boil the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lo mein noodles according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain and set aside, tossing with a little sesame oil to prevent sticking.

Prepare the Beef and Veggies:

  1. Cook the beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced beef and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until browned. Remove the beef and set it aside.
  2. Stir-fry the veggies: In the same pan, add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the onion, bell peppers, carrots, and snow peas. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Add the garlic and ginger (if using) and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

Make the Sauce:

  1. Combine the sauce ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and cornstarch (if using) until well combined.
  2. Cook the sauce: Pour the sauce over the vegetables in the skillet and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

Combine and Serve:

  1. Add the noodles and beef: Return the cooked beef to the skillet along with the cooked noodles. Toss everything together to coat the noodles and beef in the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until everything is well combined and heated through.
  2. Serve: Divide the beef lo mein among plates, garnishing with sesame seeds or green onions if desired.

Pro Tips:

  • For a more authentic flavor, add a tablespoon of dark soy sauce or Chinese five-spice powder.
  • If you prefer more vegetables, try adding mushrooms, bok choy, or baby corn.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with tofu and use mushroom or vegetable broth in place of the beef broth.

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