Easy and flavourful vegetarian chow mein recipe! You will love this one of the most favourite take-out. The crunchy noodles and vegetables are stir-fried in a hot wok. Serve it on the side, drizzle or toss in the velvety, umami, and flavourful stir fry sauce.
This Vegetarian Chow Mein is consists of stir-fried noodles, stir-fried vegetables, stir fry sauce and mushrooms.
Can’t find chow mein noodles?
No worries, you can use instant ramen noodles or spaghetti pasta and cook it al dente, problem solved! However, it’s not easy to find noodles without eggs if you are on a strict vegan diet.
Although I am not a vegetarian, I also enjoyed this dish without meat, adding mushrooms or tofu instead. Also, a great way to have a balanced diet and control your salt intake instead of getting takeout.
This chow mein recipe is loaded with veggies and quick to cook. A 30-minute meal or under once all the ingredients are prepped. It’s so versatile that you can use almost any vegetables you have in your fridge.
The stir fry sauce is so quick, easy and a make-ahead sauce. Mix all the ingredients in a jar and adjust the taste to your liking. You can store it in the fridge for weeks!
If you are not vegetarian, you can easily add your favourite protein: shrimp or mixed seafood, chicken, beef or pork.
Check my collection of Stir fry recipes here:
Stir-fry Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms
Stir-fry Vegetables with Shrimp
How to Make Vegetarian Chow Mein
Make-ahead stir fry sauce. If you love stir fry, make more in a mason jar or in an air-tight container and store in the fridge.
Pick your protein. Mushrooms, tofu or both!
Mushrooms– in this recipe I used dried shiitake mushrooms, or use any mushrooms you like. You can use fresh shiitake, portobello or button mushrooms.
Tofu– make sure to use firm or extra-firm tofu, remove the excess water then fry. Check my air-fryer crispy tofu here, and you can easily add this for topping or serve it on the side with this vegetarian chow mein.
Pick your vegetables. you can almost add any vegetables you like; bell peppers, cauliflower, green or yellow beans, beans sprout, and all the vegetables on this recipe.
Gather all the ingredients:
Start by preparing the noodles, if you like them dry. Follow the instructions on the packet. This is a 3-minute
No-egg Chow Mien Noodles or instant noodles can be used. I soaked in boiling water for 1 minute, then rinse with cold water. So, the noodles are still a bit crunchy. Let it dry while preparing other ingredients. Otherwise, start preparing the dried shiitake mushrooms first, if using. This will take at least 20 to 30 minutes to soak in hot water.
Prepare the vegetables of your choice. Slice them accordingly, so they will cook at the same time, it depends on how you like it.
After soaking the dried shiitake mushrooms, squeeze out excess water. I recommend removing the stems, it’s hard and chewy. Slice the mushrooms and set them aside.
Start preheating the wok while preparing the sauce for Chow Mein. If you don’t have it on hand or didn’t make it ahead. Prepare the stir fry sauce. Mix all the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl until well blended.
Place all your prepped ingredients within arm’s reach close to the stove. This Chow mein only takes a few minutes to cook!
For the stir-fried noodles. If you like crunchy noodles, make sure it’s dry enough to stir fry. Add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the preheated wok over high heat. Add the onion first, saute for a few seconds then add garlic and noodles. Cook and stir for a minute or two. Add a tablespoon of stir fry sauce, toss to combine. Transfer on a serving plate and set aside.
For the stir-fried vegetables. On the same wok over high heat, add a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil. Saute onion until lightly browned then add the chopped garlic and sliced mushrooms, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the vegetables, cook and stir for two minutes, then drizzle the stir fry sauce. Toss to combine, transfer on a serving plate, set aside or add on top of the stir-fried noodles.
Prepare the saucy velvety stir fry sauce. On the same wok or saucepan, add the broth or stock of your choice and bring to a boil. Add the rest of the stir fry sauce, adjust to taste. Bring to a low simmer, then add the slurry. Let it simmer until thickened.
How to serve? Your choice to toss the stir-fried noodles and stir-fried vegetables in with the stir-fry sauce or serve it on the side.
Vegetarian Chow Mein with crunchy stir-fried eggless noodles
Watch How to Make It
Equipment
- 1 Wok or cast iron pan
Ingredients
- 225 g Chow Mein Noodles or instant noodles
- 30 g. Shiitake mushrooms fresh or dried, rehydrated, sliced, stems are removed
- 2 to 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 onion sliced
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic coarsely chopped
- 100 g. snow peas end and strings removed
- 150 g. Cabbage shredded
- 150 g. Broccoli florets
- 1 carrot sliced diagonally
- 1 stalk celery sliced diagonally
For the stir fry sauce
- 1 cup Vegetable broth or Mushroom broth low sodium or use the shiitake's soaking water
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetarian oyster mushroom sauce substitute hoisin sauce
- ½ tsp ginger grated
- 1 tbsp sugar or honey to taste
- 1 tsp Shaoxing wine adjust to your liking
- 1 tsp sesame oil adjust to your liking
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the slurry
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Start by preparing the noodles, if you like them dry. Follow the instructions on the packet. This is a 3-minute No-egg Chow Mien Noodles or instant noodles that can be used. I soaked in boiling water for 1 minute, then rinse with cold water. So the noodles are still a bit crunchy. Let it dry while preparing other ingredients.Otherwise, start preparing the dried shiitake mushrooms first, if using. This will take at least 20 to 30 minutes to soak in a hot water.
- Prepare the vegetables of your choice. Slice them accordingly, so they will cook at the same time, it depends on how you like it.
- After soaking the mushrooms, squeeze out excess water. Remove the stems, then slice. Start preheating the wok while preparing the sauce for Chow Mein.
- Prepare the stir fry sauce. Mix all the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl until well blended.
- Place all your prep ingredients within arm's reach close to the stove. This Chow mein only takes a few minutes to cook.
- For the stir-fried noodles. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the preheated wok over high heat. Saute the onion for a few seconds, then add garlic and noodles. Cook and stir for a minute or two. Add a tablespoon of stir fry sauce, toss to combine. Transfer on a serving plate and set aside.
- For the stir-fried vegetables. On the same wok over high heat, add a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil. Saute onion and garlic until lightly browned. Add sliced mushrooms, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the vegetables, cook and stir for two minutes, then drizzle the stir fry sauce. Toss to combine, transfer on a serving plate, set aside or add on top of the noodles.
- Prepare the saucy velvety stir fry sauce. On the same wok or saucepan, add the broth or stock of your choice and bring to a boil. Add the rest of the stir fry sauce, adjust to taste. Bring to a low simmer, then add the slurry. Let it simmer until thickened.
