Ground Beef Lo Mein - The Midnight Baker (2024)

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by Judith Hannemann

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Ground Beef Lo Mein

No reason to visit the take-out. This lo mein is so easy and delicious, you can make it right at home.

This is one of my all-time favorite Chinese dishes! I order it any time I go to a restaurant or get take out.

I’ve attempted to make a copycat version many times, but it wasn’t until I read the authentic recipe from the wonderful family who authors The Woks of Life, did I finally have the secret to the sauce. If you want the real deal, just follow that link. I didn’t have a lot of the add-ins they use on hand so I used what I had in my veggie crisper and my freezer. My version is a quickie pretty-near-authentic meal that uses budget ingredients.

Cheap, easy and delicious

For years I was under the impression that what you bought on the supermarket shelf was “dark soy sauce.” It’s not–that’s actually more “light soy sauce.” The secret here is having the dark soy sauce.

This is easily obtained if you have a Chinese market nearby. I don’t anymore–and haven’t since I left NYC. It’s available from Amazon, so I purchased it from them.

However, after tasting it and seeing the texture, a pretty good approximation would be a tablespoon of regular off-the-shelf soy sauce and about 1/2 teaspoon of molasses.

I have to say this was pretty darned good! First of all, it’s cheap, fast, easy and uses what most folks have on hand, but do visit Woks of Life–their blog is truly balm for the soul–food, travel, and plenty of good-natured sibling humor.

Ground Beef Lo Mein - The Midnight Baker (3)

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Ground Beef Lo Mein

No reason to visit the take-out. This lo mein is so easy and delicious, you can make it right at home.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Course: beef, Comfort Foods, skillet dinners

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: ground beef, ground beef recipes, lo mein

Servings: 4

Calories: 348kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

  • 8 oz lean ground beef
  • 1 stalk celery or bok choy sliced
  • 1/4 cup baby carrots julienne
  • 1/4 cup sliced onions
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce*
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 8 oz spaghetti dry

SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce**
  • 1 tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tsp dark sesame oil

Instructions

  • *Light soy sauce is not the sodium-reduced soy sauce. It is an actual product. Major major brands of soy sauce closely approximate light soy sauce

  • **Dark soy sauce is available in larger supermarkets and Chinese markets. If you cannot obtain it, a good substitute is 1 tbs regular soy sauce (like La Choy) and 1/2 tsp molasses.

  • Cook spaghetti per package directions to al dente stage. Drain and rinse; set aside.

  • Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add oil.

  • Brown ground beef, breaking up clumps. Add the garlic, light soy sauce, sugar and salt; stir to combine.

  • Add the celery or bok choy, carrots and onions. Stir fry until celery is bright green.

  • Add the cooked and drained spaghetti and the sauce. Toss to coat completely.

  • Turn out on a serving platter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1person | Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 842mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1103IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @midnitebaker or tag #midnitebaker!

Ground Beef Lo Mein

Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2014. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker’s express consent.

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Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2022. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker's express consent.

Comments

  1. Rey Trasgo says

    Instead of dark soy sauce I always use oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is what they used at a Chinese restaurant I used to work at for lo mein

  2. Judith Hanneman says

    Thanks Rey–I noticed the dark soy was very similar (in consistency at least) to oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is a lot easier to get though. Next time I will try that but I really think our home stoves lack the heat they have in restaurants which is why that special taste really can't be duplicated. Someone once called it "wok mojo" and I think they're right.

  3. chefbecky says

    Yummy, this is definitely going to be a fun recipe to play with! It has so many possibilities. ��

  4. judie says

    Rey is correct, I also worked in Chinese/American restaurants. They also use lots of peanut oil because that oil will take the high heat of the woks without burning/smoking.

Ground Beef Lo Mein - The Midnight Baker (2024)

FAQs

What is lo mein sauce made of? ›

Most commonly, lo mein involves chicken, beef, pork, turkey, shrimp or tofu. Sauce components: Lo mein sauce is mainly composed of sesame oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce and a dash of sugar. If you like your noodles to have a little heat, you can sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

Is Chinese lo mein healthy? ›

Worst: Lo Mein

The noodles are made from white flour, which raises your blood sugar faster than fiber-rich whole grains. Plus, they're cooked with oil and soy sauce, so you get extra fat and sodium. Can't pass it up? Order the vegetable version, and only have half the order.

Can you freeze leftover lo mein? ›

TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover beef lo mein in an airtight container for 4 days. TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or gently in the microwave. TO FREEZE: Freeze in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Is chow mein gluten-free? ›

Chow Mein is traditionally made with wheat noodles, so if you are out a restaurant it is extremely likely that chow mein would NOT be gluten-free. However, if you're making chow mein at home there is at least one brand of gluten-free chow mein noodles available.

What sauce do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Soy sauce (jiàng yóu, 酱油), the most common of Chinese sauces, sounds simple, and for the most part, it is. However, there are many types, each unique to different Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc.).

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

Oyster sauce is commonly used in Chinese food and adds a savory, salty, umami flavor. Both can be found in most grocery stores. If you like, you can add grated or minced ginger or garlic. Serve your homemade brown sauce with a beef, chicken, or pork stir-fry or chow mein dish.

What Chinese food is good for high blood pressure? ›

Stick with veggie-rich and stir fried shrimp and chicken dishes. Ask for extra broccoli, snow peas and other vegetables. Steer away from entrees that are basically deep-fried meat or chicken in sauce. Don't waste your calories on greasy noodles and fried rice.

Why does lo mein taste so good? ›

The sauce is what makes this dish so addictive. It's a simple umami filled mix of light and dark soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and a hint of ginger. It's super easy to make a batch of lo mein sauce and keep it in the fridge so you can easily make lo mein whenever the craving hits.

Can I eat a 5 day old lo mein? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

How long will beef lo mein last in the fridge? ›

Lo Mein noodles, a staple of Chinese cuisine, are known for their versatility and are a popular dish worldwide. Proper storage of Lo Mein is crucial to maintaining its taste and safety for consumption. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Lo Mein can typically last between 3 to 5 days.

How do you store lo mein overnight? ›

Refrigeration and Freezing: Once in an airtight container, lo mein can be stored in the refrigerator. Generally, it stays fresh and retains its taste for about 3-4 days. If you need to store lo mein for a longer period, freezing is a viable solution.

What Chinese food can celiacs eat? ›

  • Chinese Dining: Gluten-Free.
  • Steamed Chicken/Shrimp or Seafood: Chicken, shrimp, or seafood usually steamed with.
  • Egg Drop Soup: Beaten eggs in boiled chicken broth with condiments (pepper, scallions)
  • Fried Rice: White rice, egg, scallions, carrots, and usually meat, pork, or tofu.

Are marshmallows gluten-free? ›

Almost all marshmallows are gluten-free, so even if you pick up a bag of marshmallows randomly in the grocery store, it's very likely to be safe. That's because the vast majority of marshmallows on store shelves come from gluten-free brands.

What Chinese food doesn't have soy? ›

12 Asian Recipes That Have No Soy (!!!) but Still Taste Amaze
  • Chinese Cashew Chicken.
  • Orange Sriracha Chicken.
  • Sesame Ginger Salmon.
  • Cucumber Sesame Salad.
  • One-Pan Shrimp and Green Beans in Chinese Garlic Sauce.
  • Beef With Broccoli.
  • Balsamic-Glazed Asian Zucchini Noodles.
  • Asian Meatballs Noodle Bowl.
Dec 6, 2018

What is inside oyster sauce? ›

Traditionally, oysters are slowly simmered in water until the liquid caramelizes into a viscous, dark black-brown sauce. But to speed up the process, some commercialized versions are instead made with oyster extracts, plus salt, sugar, corn starch and caramel coloring.

What is inside hoisin sauce? ›

Hoisin is made with sugar, water, soybeans, salt, sweet potato, sesame seeds, cornstarch, garlic, wheat flour, chili pepper and spices.

What is chow mein sauce made of? ›

The BEST Chow Mein Sauce:

Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

References

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