Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Easy Lo Mein
Soft noodles carry a glossy sesame soy sauce with crisp tender vegetables tucked through the tangle. A little sugar rounds out the savory flavor, giving this lo mein the familiar rich coating that makes the last few noodles worth chasing.
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Original yield
- Serves 2
- Ingredients
- 7 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner · Main course
- Cuisine
- American · Asian
- Cooking method
- Stir fry
- Preparation & total time
- Total: 30 minutes or less
- Dish type
- Noodles
A few quick notes
1. Mix sauce while noodles cook
Stir the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and water together while the noodles boil according to their package.
2. Heat oil until shimmering
Wait until the cooking oil shimmers without smoking before adding the mixed vegetables to the hot skillet.
3. Stop vegetables early
Stir fry only until the softer vegetable edges begin wilting, since they continue softening with the noodles.
Get to know the ingredients
Noodles
Cook and drain the noodles before adding them to the skillet with the prepared sauce and vegetables.
Sesame oil
Toasted sesame oil flavors the sauce, mixed with soy sauce, sugar and water before the stir fry.
Cooking oil
Choose an oil or fat suited to high heat for the skillet, then use it to coat the noodles.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 2. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Easy Lo Mein
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Absorb the sauce
Toss until the noodles absorb most of the sauce and no liquid pools underneath, then serve immediately.
A little more help as you go
Add protein first if using
Cook optional chicken or shrimp through in the skillet before adding the vegetables.
Keep stirring at the end
Continue stirring after adding noodles and sauce so the noodles coat evenly and absorb the liquid.
A few questions you might have
When is the oil ready?
It should be very hot and shimmering without smoking before the vegetables go into the skillet.
Should the vegetables be completely soft first?
Stop when their softer edges just begin to wilt; they soften further while the noodles absorb the sauce.
Can I add chicken or shrimp?
You can add a protein; cook it through in the skillet before adding the mixed vegetables and continuing the stir-fry.
How do I know the noodles are ready to serve?
Most of the sauce should be absorbed, with no more liquid pooling on the bottom of the skillet.
Can I choose a different cooking fat?
You can use any high heat cooking oil or fat of your choice for the skillet.
Any more cooking tips?
Use any high heat cooking oil or fat of your choice. Don’t skimp on the amount of oil used, as using a full 2 Tbsp helps coat the noodles and gives this a more realistic take-out flavor and mouthfeel. **If you’d like to add a protein like chicken or shrimp, add the protein to the skillet before the vegetables and stir fry until cooked through.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: budgetbytes.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
