If there is something that I pretty much always want, it is Asian takeout and a movie night. I love when we get containers full of warm and delicious food and all huddle together to watch a movie. Responsible parents don’t get takeout and eat it in front of the TV every night though. So it’s really handy to have some great takeout takeout recipes on hand that are even better than what you can order in. This Beef Lo Mein recipe is just that. It’s better than takeout and you can make so many easy variations to make a dish your family falls in love with.
What is Lo Mein
Lo Mein is a noodle dish that originates from China, but has been very Americanized. The Americanized version is a combination of stir fried noodles, meat, and vegetables. That is the take on lo mein recipes that we are doing here.
How to Make Lo Mein
While this Lo Mein recipe is easy to make, it does have a few steps that might make it feel daunting. Here is a brief overview to show you the simplicity of this dinner.
Lo Mein Noodles
Traditionally, Lo Mein is made with egg noodles. In the United States you can find wide noodles that are labeled “Lo Mein” that are made with wheat. These noodles are easy to find in the international aisle of the grocery store. Those are the noodles you see pictured here. I love how they absorb and hold on to the sauce in this recipe. Their texture and taste are perfect. That being said, you can replace it with any kind of noodle your family loves, even just typical spaghetti. It will work in this recipe and you will love it.
Lo Mein Sauce
The sauce for this Beef Lo Mein recipe is a made with just four ingredients, but the combination of their flavors is perfection. We use these ingredients for both the sauce and the marinade.
Soy SauceBrown SugarOyster SauceChile Paste
Marinating Flank Steak and Skirt Steak
If you aren’t able to find flank steak for this recipe, you can replace it with skirt steak. The two are very similar, and both work well in this recipe. Both cuts of meat are fairly lean. Because of this, just like in my Carne Asada, they need to be marinated. The soy sauce we use in this recipe is packed with salt and works just like the brine we use in my Turkey Breast recipe. It breaks down the meat and tenderizes it. Though it adds extra time to the recipe, it is important to marinate the meat. You will enjoy this dish infinitely more if you do this step. I encourage you to marinate the night before to make cooking the next evening a snap.
Variations and Substitutions
There are a few swaps you can do for this recipe to make it something everyone will love.
Change out the vegetables: This is the easiest swap to make. You are looking for roughly 6 cups of vegetables. Find ones that you will love. Zucchinis will add more liquid, but they aren’t a deal breaker. Make this super simple by buying a bag of frozen stir fry vegetables.Replace Oyster Sauce with Hoisin Sauce: If you can’t find Oyster Sauce, Hoisin Sauce is a great substitute. It will change the flavor a little, but you will still enjoy it.Leave out the chili paste: I say this very begrudgingly, because chili paste is just the best. But if you can’t handle heat, leave this out and still make this great lo mein recipe.Swap Flank Steak for Skirt Steak: As mentioned above, both cuts of meat will work well in this recipe.Use any long noodle: If you can’t find Lo Mein Noodles, substitute any long noodle in this recipe (such as spaghetti or fettuccine).
Other Takeout Fakeouts
If you are trying to eat a little healthier or save money, or honestly both, here are some other great dinners that will make you feel like you are eating out.
Butter Chicken: We make this recipe all the time, it is a great take on an Indian classic, and my kids love it.Chicken Fried Rice: This fried rice recipe is done in about 20 minutes!Chicken Tacos: We are obsessed with this recipe and I want to tell the entire world about it.Taco Bell Quesadillas: Yes. They really do taste as good (or better) than takeout!
If you make this delicious Beef Lo Mein or any of my other recipes, be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Recommended Tools:
SkilletA Good KnifeA Container to MarinateMeasuring Spoons
