Shrimp Chow Mein is an easy, one pot meal that's loaded with shrimp, fresh vegetables and flavor. Its the best way to get weeknight dinner on the table in under 30 minutes and is better than takeout!
Hello noodle lovers! Are you a fan of saucy slippery noodles that are bursting with flavor? Me too!
Every time we have a fridge situation where vegetables are close to their expiry date, I end up making noodles. Every. Single. Time.
But thats just me. A saucy noodle freak - lover - making slurpy noises as I eat. Just for you know.
Let's just desiccate that word chow mein for a minute. In India, chow mein refers to stir fried noodles. Any kind of stir fried noodles are chow mein when we go out to get some chinese food. But people all over the world have different definitions of chow mein. And that's okay. Because I've realized slowly - whats in a name!
And thats why this is called shrimp chow mein even though it doesn't have crispy noodles (like some people on the internet say).
How to make Shrimp Chow Mein (1 minute video)
If you are looking for a dinner recipe that has carbs, protein, veggies and an amazing sauce - this shrimp chow mein really hits all the right spots. It's the easiest thing to do in the kitchen. And I know some people would call me making chow mein in a skillet and not a wok sacrilege. But this girl still doesn't own a wok. Do you have any recommendations for a good one? Or do you think I should stick to my pan. Because I kinda like it. I think its easy. And I won't need to add another kitchen utensil to my 156 long list of other things that I don't use as often in the kitchen. Literally, that room is bursting at the seams. Soon there won't be any place for me. Just for my pots and pans.
And I really do think a skillet works here. As long as you have heat which is high enough to make everything sizzle. Because here are my five commandments to making a great shrimp chow mein.
How to make the best shrimp chow mein?
- For a good chow mein, whether with shrimp, chicken, egg or just veggies, its really important to have a stove that can keep your pan hot enough. We have a gas stove with an actual flame which works really well even if I use a skillet to stir fry
- Keep your mise en place ready. Mise en place is simple your prep before you start cooking. Which in this case refers to cutting your vegetables, keeping the ingredients for the sauce and other things like oil, seasoning etc ready before you start cooking. A stir fry is one of the fastest meals you will make and we don't want to overcook anything which can happen if you are still chopping your mushrooms after you've added your carrots
- Cook your veggies just till they are cooked through but still crisp. And that right there is the golden rule of making a chinese stir fry. You want your vegetables to still have color, remain crisp but not be raw, especially things like carrots
- If using broccoli or cauliflower which can take longer to cook, blanch them for a minute or two in hot water and then add them to the pan
- Cook your noodles and keep them ready before you start cooking. Once you drain them, wash them in cold water to keep them from over cooking or sticking to each other. The idea is to stop the cooking process by washing noodles in cold water to avoid over cooked gloopy noodles. If cooking them a few hours ahead, you can also toss them in a little oil and store
And thats all there is to it. Be ready with everything. Because the actual cooking time in this case is just 15 minutes if your noodles are pre-cooked, which makes this shrimp chow mein a really easy, 30 minute recipe. And thats why its my favorite.
You can also substitute the shrimp for chicken or any other protein of your choice. And if you prefer vegetarian chow mein, just leave out the shrimp and follow the rest of the steps as is.
Okay, getting back to my noodles now. Go make yours!
Shrimp Chow Mein (One Pot Meal, 30 minute)
Ingredients
- 200 grams Dried Egg Noodles
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons Oyster Sauce
- 1 ยฝ tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- ยผ cup Water or Chicken Stock
For the stir fry
- 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon Ginger minced
- 2 Carrots cut into thin, long strips
- 4 Green Onions chopped (white part only)
- 2 cups Shrimp deveined and cleaned
- 1 cup Mushrooms halved
- 1 cup Bell Peppers thinly sliced (optional)
- Green onions only green part chopped for topping
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain, wash with cold water and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet or wok and add minced ginger. Stir fry for a minute and add carrots. Cook on high heat for another minute and add shrimp. Cook the shrimp till it turns white and add mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms for two minutes and add the bell peppers and the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for a minute and toss in the noodles. Mix well and cook for another minute or so till the sauce has thickened and the noodles have absorbed the sauce. Top with green onions and serve immediately.
Notes
- Feel free to use a different variety of noodles or even spaghetti
Deepika Mathur says
Hey! tried this veggie style first time round (and threw in a boiled chicken sausage for the meat I was craving) and it was mind blowing. Just the kind of comfort meal I like.
Allergic to shrimps. If I want to make with chicken do I need to cook the chicken before hand? Boneless diced chicken thighs? And when do I add it into the noodle mix?
Thanks again for a super yummy meal in a bowl! โค๏ธโค๏ธ
Anita says
thanks Richa
This dish was delicious. I made it with calamari because I'm allergic to prawns and I did not have oyster sauce - it was still great. Family loved it and said we can eat it once a week.
Richa says
Wow, calamari would be so great with this!
Hesty says
I doubled the sauce and added 1 tsp of cornstarch to make the sauce thicker. I only have rice noodles and thatโs what i used. My husband liked it.
Richa says
The saucier the better is what I always say! Thanks for the feedback Hesty
Deb says
Everyone loved this recipe!! I used chow mein noodles, doubled the sauce, added 2 tablespoons Sriracha and 3 cloves of garlic will make again Thanks for Sharing
Richa says
Yay! So glad you liked it. Sriracha would be awesome here!
Deb says
Everyone loved this recipe!! I used chow mein noodles, doubled the sauce, added 2 tablespoons Sriracha and 3 cloves of garlic will make again Thanks
Megan Davis says
I will definitely trying this one. Thanks a lot for sharing the recipe.
Celina Bibin says
Super Yummy. I am going to try this for sure.
Richa says
Thanks, hope you like it!