What Cut of Beef for Chow Mein

The tender beef in this dish practically melts in your mouth. Along with saucy noodles and crisp veggies, it's a delicious way to get a filling meal that everyone will love onto the table fast.

I know why you're here. You want to cut out the middle-man and get authentic Chinese food on your table fast without having to wait for delivery or go pick it up. Fortunately. my Beef Chow Mein recipe is super simple and quick. You'll be eating this version before your order from your neighborhood Chinese restaurant arrives, so why not make it yourself?

One thing that I've noticed is that people shy away from cooking Chinese food because they don't have a wok. I'm here to tell you that you don't *need* a wok to make this recipe. You can use your skillet. Just make sure your pan gets hot enough and you use plenty of aromatics with my sauce recipes and I promise you, it will taste like that Chinese restaurant you love, but it will be faster and cheaper!

Cooking notes

1. How to create tender beef

Flank steak generally works the best for this recipe, and it's more budget-friendly too. But if you only have tougher meat options on-hand, don't stress it. You can tenderize any tough beef by adding about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda onto the beef and then adding the marinade to it discussed in the recipe below. As long as you don't go crazy with the baking soda, you won't notice the taste and it will help tenderize your beef. Don't forget to slice it against the grain to get that melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture that makes this dish a success!

2. What noodles to use

Choosing the right noodle is important too. You don't want to use the short, crispy fried kind that are usually labeled as "Chow Mein" noodles. Look for the longer ones that will typically say "Chow Mein Stir Fry Noodles" or "Lo Mein Noodles." Alternatively, you can use udon noodles or Korean wheat noodles. Are you gluten-free? If so, you can still enjoy my Beef Chow Mein by using rice noodles. It will give it a different texture but it will still be wonderfully delicious!

3. Key to authentic tasting beef chow mein

As I mentioned before, you don't need a wok to make this dish though you should take care not to overcrowd your pan. That leads to uneven cooking and chaos. You'll also want to make sure you use plenty of fresh garlic, ginger, and green onion because it gives your beef chow mein that authentic taste. Aromatics are essential in getting that Chinese flavor perfected. Plus, they're good for you too!

4. Be prepared before cooking

While it may seem hectic at first to make Chinese food at home, if you prepare your ingredients and set them nearby your stove so they're ready when you are, you'll make your workflow go so much more smoothly.

It really doesn't take very long to make Beef Chow Mein. Having everything you need measured and within arm's reach makes it really easy to achieve authentic Chinese food perfection in your own kitchen. Once you make it the first time, every time you make it will go faster and smoother!

More Chinese takeout recipes

• 15-Minute Garlic Noodles
• Black Pepper Chicken
• Honey Garlic Shrimp
• Easy Singapore Noodles
• Mongolian Beef

If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you've tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I'd love to see what you come up with.

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Chinese Beef Chow Mein (牛肉炒面)

The tender beef in this dish practically melts in your mouth. Along with saucy noodles and crisp veggies, it's a delicious way to get a filling meal that everyone will love onto the table fast.

Course: Main

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: takeout

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 2 to 3 servings

• 6 oz (170 g) chow mein stir fry noodles (or lo mein noodles, or udon noodles)

Marinade

• 12 oz (340 g) flank steak , cut into 1/4-inch (5-mm) slices
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 3/8 teaspoon salt

Sauce

• 1/4 cup chicken stock (or water)
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Stir Fry

• 4 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1/2 small onion , sliced
• 1 bell pepper , cut into thin strips
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 2 green onions , chopped

• Boil noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Rinse with tap water, drain, and set aside. I always cook the noodles 1 minute less than the package recommends. They'll be a bit underdone, but will be perfectly cooked once stir fried in the sauce.

• Combine all the "Marinade" ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Mix well and let marinate for 10 minutes.

• Whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Chop aromatics and vegetables.

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Spread the beef in the pan. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds without touching, until the bottom browns. Flip to cook the other side for 30 to 45 seconds, stirring occasionally, until the beef is lightly charred but the inside is slightly pink. Transfer to a plate.

• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add onion and peppers. Cook and stir until the veggies just start to turn soft, 1 minute or so.

• Add the ginger, garlic, and green onion. Stir a few times to release the fragrance.

• Add the noodles. Toss a few times with a pair of tongs. Add the cooked beef back into the pan. Pour the sauce over the ingredients. Toss to mix everything together well. The noodles are done when the sauce is absorbed, 1 minute or so.

• Transfer everything to serving plates and serve hot as main.

Serving: 3 g , Calories: 385 kcal , Carbohydrates: 34.3 g , Protein: 35.9 g , Fat: 10.9 g , Saturated Fat: 4.2 g , Cholesterol: 79 mg , Sodium: 922 mg , Potassium: 597 mg , Fiber: 3.1 g , Sugar: 9.9 g , Calcium: 40 mg , Iron: 3.2 mg

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Source: https://omnivorescookbook.com/beef-chow-mein/

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