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Beef chow mein recipe
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Beef Chow Mein (Niú Ròu Chǎo Miàn 牛肉炒面)

Stir-fried noodles with tender, velveted beef, onion and peppers in a savory soy sauce – a quick wok classic with a long history in Chinese cooking.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 200 g beef about 7 oz, flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced
  • 200 g egg or wheat noodles about 7 oz
  • 1 tsp light soy sauce for the marinade
  • 1 tsp oyster sauce for the marinade
  • ½ tsp cornstarch
  • pinch of ground white pepper
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 onion sliced
  • ½ red bell pepper cut into strips
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic chopped
  • 2 scallions cut into pieces
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil

Instructions

  • Mix the beef with the marinade soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil and white pepper. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
  • Cook the noodles according to the package, rinse under cold water and toss with a few drops of oil so they don't stick.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok and quickly sear the beef until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
  • Add another tablespoon of oil and stir-fry the garlic, onion and bell pepper. After a moment, add the noodles and the light and dark soy sauce, and toss.
  • Return the beef to the wok, add the scallions and toss everything together briefly. Serve right away.

Notes

Slice the beef thinly against the grain – partly freezing it for 20–30 minutes makes this much easier.
Fresh or dried chow mein noodles, egg noodles or thin wheat noodles all work. Look for "chow mein noodles" or "Hong Kong-style egg noodles" at Asian grocery stores.