
Chow mein
Prep
10 mins
Cook
20 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Hard
Let me share with you one of my favorite quick weeknight dinners: chow mein. This classic stir fried noodle dish comes together in just thirty minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. The beauty of chow mein is its simplicity and affordability, using humble pantry staples and whatever protein you have on hand. I love that the mangetout adds a wonderful fresh crunch and is packed with vitamins, while keeping the whole dish light and nutritious. Best of all, this recipe is incredibly forgiving and customizable, so you can swap ingredients based on what you've got available. Trust me, once you master this version, you'll be making it constantly.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 225 gdried or fresh egg noodles
- 1 tbspsesame oil plus 1 tsp
- 100 gboneless(skinless chicken breasts cut into fine shreds)
- 2 tbspgroundnut oil
- 12 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 50 gmangetout finely shredded
- 50 gprosciutto or cooked ham(finely shredded)
- 2 tsplight soy sauce
- 2 tspdark soy sauce
- 1 tbspshaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
- ½ tspfreshly ground white pepper
- ½ tspgolden caster sugar
- 12 spring onions finely chopped
- 1 tspsesame oil
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Cook 225g egg noodles in a large pan of boiling water for 3-5 mins, then drain and put them in cold water. Drain thoroughly, toss them with 1 tbsp sesame oil and set aside.
- 2
Combine 100g chicken breasts, cut into fine shreds, with 2 tsp light soy sauce, 2 tsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry, 1 tsp sesame oil, ½ tsp white pepper and ½ tsp salt for the marinade, mix well and then leave to marinate for about 10 mins.
- 3
Heat a wok over a high heat. Add 1 tbsp groundnut oil and, when it is very hot and slightly smoking, add the chicken shreds.
- 4
Stir-fry for about 2 mins and then transfer to a plate.
- 5
Wipe the wok clean, reheat until it is very hot then add 1½ tbsp groundnut oil.
- 6
When the oil is slightly smoking, add the 2 finely chopped garlic cloves and stir-fry for 10 seconds.
- 7
Add 50g finely shredded mangetout and 50g finely shredded prosciutto, and stir-fry for about 1 min.
- 8
Add the noodles, 2 tsp light soy sauce, 2 tsp dark soy sauce,1 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry, ½ tsp white pepper, ½ tsp golden caster sugar, 2 finely chopped spring onions and 1 tsp salt.
- 9
Stir-fry for 2 mins. Return the chicken and any juices to the noodle mixture. Stir-fry for about 3-4 mins or until the chicken is cooked.
- 10
Add 1 tsp sesame oil and give the mixture a few final stirs. Put on a warm platter and serve immediately.
Recipe Variations
Get AI-powered ingredient substitution suggestions.
You Might Also Like

Butter bean curry
This butter bean curry is one of my go to weeknight dinners when I want something satisfying but don't have hours to spend cooking. The whole thing comes together in under an hour, and butter beans are incredibly affordable and packed with fiber, keeping you full for ages. I love how versatile it is too, with the warming spices and creamy beans balanced by fresh coriander and a zingy banana and cucumber raita on the side. It's genuinely delicious, feels a bit fancy, but honestly couldn't be simpler.

Air fryer roast beef joint
You know what surprised me most about making roast beef in the air fryer? How incredibly quick and simple it is. This method cuts your cooking time in half compared to a traditional oven, and honestly, the results are just as impressive. The beauty of beef is that it's packed with iron and B vitamins, which are essential for energy and overall health. With just a handful of pantry staples and five minutes of prep, you'll have a stunning, tender roast that's perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests without the fuss.

Bread in four easy steps
Making your own bread doesn't have to be intimidating. This granary loaf comes together in just four straightforward steps, ready to eat in under an hour. Granary flour is packed with whole grains and fiber, which means you're getting real nutritional value with every slice. What I love most is how simple and budget friendly this recipe is. You probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already, and the fast action yeast does all the hard work for you. Trust me, once you taste homemade bread warm from the oven, you'll be making this constantly.
Reviews
Sign in to write a review.