Posted Aug 10, 2022, Updated Aug 07, 2024 When I’m short on time and craving veggies (which is always), I whip up this vegetable lo mein recipe. It’s even better than takeout and is easy to make in 15 minutes! Your favorite veggies are stir-fried with noodles and the most delicious lo mein sauce for a meal even skeptical kids love. Because they may scoff when I make plain old stir fry vegetables, but add noodles and viola – instant favorite. Or, add chicken to make chicken lo mein.
Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: I included my favorite vegetable varieties in this recipe. You can substitute your favorites. Some suggestions include: zucchini, baby corn, fresh bean sprouts, water chestnuts, snap peas, etc.
Stir fry noodles. My favorite are the already-cooked stir fry noodles (like these stir fry noodles). I find them at my local grocery store in the “Asian Foods” aisle (near the soy sauce, etc.). You can also purchase dried noodles such a lo mein noodles, ramen noodles, udon noodles, soba noodles, etc. then cook them and use them in this recipe . Sesame Oil. A staple in all Asian dishes on my site. Peanut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are ok replacements for sesame oil, although the dish will lack the authentic take-out flavor without sesame oil it will still be delicious. Minced Garlic. freshly minced or jarred (my preference) garlic both work well. Onion. I prefer a sweet, white onion. Red, yellow, and green onions taste great in this recipe. Bell Peppers. choose your favorite variety – red, green, orange, yellow – or a combination. Carrots. I prefer whole carrots chopped finely for the best taste. You can purchase shredded carrots to cut out the chopping step (which is time consuming). Broccoli. If you don’t prefer broccoli, you can substitute it with your favorite vegetable. Soy Sauce. regular or low sodium soy sauce both work great. Or use coconut aminos for a soy-free version. Hoisin Sauce. No substitute here, this is a must-have ingredient. Ground Ginger. Fresh minced ginger can be used in place of ground. Honey. brown sugar is an easy substitute for honey.
How to Make Lo Mein
Let’s walk through how to make lo mein step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Cook the Lo Mein Noodles
If necessary, cook the dried noodles according to package instructions. This is not necessary if you are using the pre-made stir fry noodles mentioned above and in the recipe card.
Make the Lo Mein Sauce
Then, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set it aside to use later. It’s important to have the sauce ready to go before you begin cooking the vegetables.
Cook the Vegetables
Next, cook the vegetables for the lo mein. Heat the sesame oil in a large fry pan or wok. Then add the onion and garlic and cook on over high heat until onion is soft (2-5 minutes). Then, add the rest of the vegetables and additional sesame oil. Cover and cook until the vegetables are browned and soft, stirring occasionally. Once the vegetables are coked, add the noodles and sauce and stir.
Serve
Finally, serve this vegetable lo mein immediately with your favorite Asian dishes – or as a main dish all on it’s own. I like to pair it with teriyaki chicken (which is made in the slow cooker), fresh spring rolls and peanut sauce, cashew chicken stir fry, or these asian chicken lettuce wraps.
Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
