Wholesome Chow Mein (Panda Specific Copycat)

Wholesome Chow Mein noodles with cabbage, carrots, and celery in a tasty selfmade sauce is a straightforward facet impressed by your favourite Chinese language takeout. Serve it with this wholesome Orange Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, or Mongolian Beef!

When you love Panda Specific chow mein (or any fast-food chow mein, for that matter), this more healthy model you can also make at house is for you! Not solely is it higher for you, I believe it tastes even higher than the true factor! And with solely 140 energy per serving (in comparison with 490 in the true factor), it is a no-brainer in relation to what to make for dinner decision-making time.

Now let’s speak concerning the recipe. Whereas this standard Chinese language dish is fairly simple, there may be one little ingredient you may discover troublesome to obtain – contemporary yaki soba noodles. You’ll most likely have higher luck by attempting larger grocery shops than an area little market. Or, in case you are fortunate sufficient to have an Asian market close by, positively go there. Asian markets are so filled with delicious-looking substances, I might spend all day in them!

That mentioned, you possibly can select both a contemporary yaki-soba noodle, which you’ll be able to usually discover within the refrigerated part (close to the place the tofu is) or a dried yaki-soba noodle, which yow will discover within the Asian part of the shop.

You possibly can additionally use some other dried pasta, however utilizing yaki-soba actually makes a distinction by way of texture. After you could have your fingers on the noodles, all that is left is to whip up a fast savory sauce, add numerous shredded cabbage, and provides all of it a fast toss in a scorching pan and it is prepared. So good and so significantly better than the unhealthy take-out model.

Are you hungry for extra wholesome noodle recipes? My Chicken Lo Mein and Asian Noodle Bowl recipes are really easy to make and fairly tasty too!

Why You’ll Love Making This Wholesome Chow Mein

Here is why you will love making this Chinese language meals from scratch:

• More healthy than takeout: This low calorie chow mein will certainly fulfill your cravings for some tasty and savory stir-fried noodles with out the guilt.
• Simple to personalize: Since this recipe is so easy, you possibly can elevate and make it yours by including your favourite stir-fried veggies, meat, and different toppings like inexperienced onions as a lot as you need.
• One-pan dinner: After making ready your veggies, cooking the noodles, and making the selfmade chow mein sauce, simply mix all of them collectively in a single pan for a fast and simple dish!

What Makes This Chow Mein Dish Wholesome?

Initially, we have eradicated loads of the pointless fat and oils from this noodle dish. You want little or no oil to cook dinner this dish anyway and I a lot want it when the flavors of the veggies, noodles, and sauce shine by somewhat than the style of grease. The substances themselves are additionally wholesome on their very own!

• Noodles: Whereas contemporary yaki-soba noodles aren’t the lowest-calorie choice, they’re low in fats, ldl cholesterol, sodium, and carbs. They’re additionally manufactured from buckwheat, which incorporates vitamins corresponding to protein, manganese, and thiamine. They’re additionally gluten-free. Be happy to make use of any Asian noodles, ramen noodles are the most typical substitute. You may also use any dried pasta or egg noodles, although the feel will probably be completely different.
• Soy sauce: Low sodium soy sauce, additionally known as mild soy sauce, incorporates a wide range of antioxidants and is nice in your digestive system. Swap in coconut aminos or tamari for a gluten-free choice.
• Garlic: These pungent cloves are chock filled with antioxidants, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, and it is also good in your coronary heart, circulatory system, and ldl cholesterol.
• Brown sugar: Whereas brown sugar is not stuffed filled with vitamins, it does include slightly little bit of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. You may also use darkish soy sauce and skip this.
• Ginger: Ginger is a good meals in case your abdomen is upset because it helps relieve signs of nausea. It is also nice for movement illness and lack of urge for food.
• Spices: Spices corresponding to pepper add numerous taste and no further energy, fats, or different unhealthy issues.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is a good oil for cooking, making dressings and marinades, and is a pantry must-have on this lady’s kitchen. It is also a supply of wholesome fats and is nice in your coronary heart too! You’ll be able to combine in some sesame oil too.
• Onions: Onions are low in energy however excessive in different vitamins like iron, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and potassium in addition to a number of antioxidants. Plus, they go nice with garlic! I like including spring onions too.
• Celery: Celery is a good supply of water and fiber in addition to nutritional vitamins Okay and A, folate, potassium, and vitamin C.
• Cabbage: Shredded cabbage is excessive in fiber, and everyone knows fiber is important to maintain your digestive system operating easily. Cabbage additionally incorporates some antioxidant properties and is excessive in C nutritional vitamins, which assist your coronary heart, amongst different issues.

Learn how to Make Low Fats Chow Mein Noodles

Skip the takeout and make this nice recipe at residence, in your individual kitchen utilizing easy substances. Here is how to do that copycat Panda Specific chow mein recipe in below 20 minutes:

1. Cook dinner the noodles: Put together the yaki-soba noodles in response to the package deal instructions. Don’t use a seasoning packing if included. For contemporary noodles, simply add them to boiling water for 1-2 minutes till they separate and grow to be tender. Dried noodles normally must be boiled for 4-5 minutes.
2. Make the sauce: In the meantime, combine collectively the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Stir fry: Warmth the olive oil over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and celery and cook dinner for 3-4 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook dinner for two minutes till simply tender. Add the noodles and the sauce. Cook dinner for 2-3 minutes, stirring usually. Style and season if wanted with extra soy sauce or pepper.

What Is the Distinction Between Lo Mein and Chow Mein?

I at all times thought “lo” and “chow” had been completely different sorts of noodles or completely different sorts of meats that you simply’d put into the noodles. But it surely seems the variations lie in the best way the noodles are ready. Lo mein is made by tossing the noodles and chow mein is made by frying the noodles. “Mein” simply means “noodle.”

After all, on this dish, we’re not frying something however somewhat giving it that “fried style” whereas not utilizing any unhealthy oils and as an alternative utilizing slightly olive oil and a scorching pan to finish up with in some way crispy noodles. All of the style, not one of the dangerous stuff.

Recipe Variations

One factor I actually love about stir fry noodles is how versatile they’re. I can change up numerous substances and nonetheless find yourself with one thing so scrumptious and satisfying!

Listed here are some enjoyable concepts for a fantastic chow mein:

• Protein: Load up your chow mein with meat! My favourite is including seared rooster breast to make rooster chow mein as a result of the sauce actually enhances the flavour of the rooster so properly. You may also use skinny slices of pork, beef, and shrimp for this. Be sure that to double up the sauce in case you are including protein. 
• Vegetarian chow mein: Ditch the meat and use tofu (or different vegetarian protein sources) to make the dish vegetarian but nonetheless further filling.
• Extra veggies: Apart from cabbage and celery, you may as well incorporate extra greens like mushrooms, carrots, bean sprouts, and snow peas.

Recipe Ideas and Methods

Making crispy chow mein noodles is already as simple as it may be. Here is easy methods to nail this selfmade chow mein recipe each time:

• Put together your substances beforehand: Be sure to have the chopped greens, the scrumptious sauce, and the noodles able to go. The cooking course of for this dish is fast, so will probably be greatest to have all of them able to be tossed within the pan.
• Do not overcook the noodles: Take a look at them as they cook dinner and guarantee they’re al dente and even undercooked earlier than draining. The noodles will end cooking as soon as added to the pan with the thick sauce and different substances.
• Preheat the pan: Use a highly regarded pan when stir-frying to make sure the veggies keep crisp-tender (not soggy!) and the noodles don’t stick.

What to Serve with Chow Mein

Full the takeout expertise at residence and serve this wholesome chow mein with different yummy Chinese language-inspired dishes for a whole meal:

Storage, Reheating, and Make Forward Directions

Acquired any leftover chow mein? Be sure that to retailer them correctly and reheat for a fast meal that’s each hearty and wholesome.

• To retailer: Switch the chow mein noodles to an hermetic container and place within the fridge for 2-3 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
• To reheat: Thaw frozen chow mein within the fridge in a single day then stir fry shortly in a non-stick pan to heat it up. You may also reheat leftovers within the microwave however there’s an opportunity the noodles will get soggy.
• Make forward: This recipe is nice for meal prep! Put together the greens, sauce, and protein, should you want to add any, and place them individually in hermetic containers within the fridge.