This Vegetable Lo Mein is a quick, easy, and delicious dinner. This vegetarian recipe is packed with fresh mushrooms and bell peppers, stir-fried in simple sauces. This easy noodle dish is ready in 30 minutes and is better than Chinese takeout. Learn to make it at home with stepwise photos and a quick video tutorial.
It's always a joy to see my children enthusiastically eat these homemade veggie Lo Mein noodles. They're loaded with fresh vegetables and disappear in no time. This vegetarian noodle dish is both nutritious and delicious, with plenty of protein and flavorful noodles.
What I love the most about this Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe is that it's a quick and easy to make and is ready in under 30 minutes. Just make the lo mein sauce, cook the noodles, and stir-fry the vegetables. Toss everything together and enjoy a satisfying meal just like this Chicken Chow Mein.
Lo Mein is a Chinese dish made with egg noodles. It contains vegetables and some type of meat like chicken, or shrimp. “Lo” means tossed and “Mein” means Noodles. So it simply means tossed noodles. Noodles are tossed with stir-fried vegetables and sauces until combined.
This vegetable lo mein recipe is a delicious twist on the classic Chinese Lo mein. By substituting whole wheat spaghetti for egg noodles, using vegetarian oyster sauce and vegetable broth, and adding plenty of mushrooms and vegetables, you will get a flavorful and satisfying meal that doesn't compromise on taste.
I've tried making this veggie lo mein many times, and I can confidently say that this recipe is the best. The flavors are similar to what we get at restaurants, a delightful blend of sweet and savory. This egg-free vegetable lo mein can be prepared in advance. It's a versatile recipe that can be customized to your liking.
Watch how to make it
Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe Ingredients
Homemade lo mein sauce is the star of this noodle dish. It is easy to customize and can be made in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. Here's what you will need to make this vegetable lo mein recipe.
- Lo Mein Noodles - I used whole wheat spaghetti for this vegetarian lo mein recipe, which is a great alternative to traditional egg noodles. While egg noodles are often used in authentic lo mein, whole wheat spaghetti provides a flavorful and nutritious option.
- Protein - I have added mushrooms. You can also add tofu or paneer. Or if you are non-vegetarian then add chicken or shrimp/prawns.
- Vegetables - I have used red and green bell peppers (use any color bell peppers you have), carrots, cabbage & green onions.
- Ginger and garlic - Basics of Asian cuisine.
- Homemade Lo Mein Sauce - This versatile sauce is the star of the vegetable lo mein recipe. It's incredibly easy to make at home with basic ingredients and takes only 5 minutes. You can use this sauce to flavor your other stir-fry dishes.
What goes in Lo Mein Sauce?
The ingredients used to make the lo mein sauce are easily available and give a sweet and savory flavor to the dish. Here's what you will need:
- Oyster sauce - Oyster sauce is a key ingredient that adds a rich flavor to the dish. I used vegetarian oyster sauce, but dark soy sauce can be a suitable substitute.
- Light Soy sauce - Light soy sauce adds a salty flavor profile to the dish.
- Vinegar - It gives a slight tangy punch to the taste buds
- Sriracha - Sriracha adds a spicy kick with a hint of garlic flavor. For a similar taste, try using a chili garlic sauce. If you prefer a milder heat, red pepper flakes can be used to add a spicy zing to the noodles. Or, if you're not a fan of spice, simply omit it altogether.
- Corn flour - It helps to thicken the Lo mein sauce.
- Vegetable broth - Vegetable broth enhances the flavor of dishes. It's simple to prepare vegetable broth at home. You can omit it and use an equal amount of water. If you prefer meat, chicken broth is a suitable alternative.
- Flavoring - black pepper powder, salt & sugar.
- Oil - Use sesame oil for the best nutty flavor. But you can substitute it with olive oil or any other cooking oil. I used olive oil for this recipe.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below. Here's how to make Veggie Lo Mein.
How to make Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe with Step by Step Photos
Cook Noodles
1) Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain them in a colander. Rinse them with water. Add two teaspoons of oil and toss the noodles. Set them aside.
To make the Lo Mein Sauce
1) Combine all the ingredients mentioned under the sauce in the recipe card. Set it aside.
To make Vegetable Lo Mein
1) Heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottom pan. Add the spring onion whites, ginger paste, garlic, and button mushrooms. Sauté them together for 3-4 minutes.
2) Add red bell pepper, carrot, green bell pepper, and cabbage. Stir-fry until the vegetables are soft but still retain crunch in them.
3) Combine the cooked noodles and prepared sauce. Toss to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce. Garnish with chopped spring onion greens. Remove from heat. Serve it hot and enjoy.
Tips to make Best Vegetable Lo Mein
- Cook the noodles until al dente - Cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente. Mushy or overcooked noodles will not taste as good.
- Keep all the vegetables, spices & sauces handy - Gather all the vegetables, spices, and sauces before you begin cooking the noodles. We'll stir-fry everything on high heat, so having everything within easy reach will be helpful.
- Stir-frying the vegetables - Stir-fry the vegetables until they are cooked through but still retain their crisp texture. Overcooked vegetables can become mushy and spoil the overall dish.
- You can cut the vegetables in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This saves time on chopping, and the entire meal can be prepared in just 15 minutes by cooking the noodles, stir-frying the pre-cut vegetables, and tossing everything together with the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are made with egg noodles, and the sauces are somewhat similar. But the difference is in the cooking process.
Lo Mein noodles are boiled & stir-fried with sauces & vegetables until it is combined well. But Chow Mein noodles are boiled & stir-fried with sauces & vegetables until the noodles are crisp.
Also, Chow Mein noodles require more oil to cook.
So technically, the difference is in the texture
Chow mein noodles or egg noodles are the best substitutes. You can even use regular spaghetti, ramen noodles, or any Asian noodles.
Yes, it is healthy. There are fresh vegetables, protein, and wheat noodles that make it a complete meal. Especially, if you make it at home definitely you can control what goes in the dish.
You can use rice noodles to make it gluten-free. Add coconut amino to substitute soy sauce. Also, check out gluten-free oyster sauce or skip it completely.
Veggie Lo Mein Variations
- Add vegetables: You can add any vegetables of your choice like broccoli, bok choy, etc.
- Add other protein: If you are a non-vegetarian, you can add shredded chicken or shrimp.
- Add some greens like baby spinach while stir-frying the vegetables.
- Make this Veggie Lo Mein with Crispy Tofu.
Related Recipes
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Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Heavy bottom pan
Ingredients
To make the sauce
- 2 teaspoon vegetarian oyster sauce or use dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sriracha add more if you prefer spicy
- 1 teaspoon tomato sauce (optional)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon cornflour/cornstarch
- ¼ cup water/vegetable broth
To cook noodles
- 6 cups water
- salt to taste
- 160- gram uncooked noodles use spaghetti or egg noodles
To make Lo Mein
- 2-3 teaspoon oil I used olive oil
- ¼ cup sliced spring onion whites
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- ½ cup chopped button mushroom
- half red bell pepper sliced
- 1 carrot cut into strips
- half green bell pepper sliced
- ¼ cup cabbage shredded
- 2 tablespoon spring onion greens
Instructions
Cook lo mein noodles
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions.Drain them in a colander. Rinse them with water. Add two teaspoons of oil andtoss the noodles. Set them aside.
To make the lo mein sauce
- Combineall the ingredients mentioned under the sauce in the recipe card. Set it aside.
To make vegetable lo mein
- Heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottom pan. Add thespring onion whites, ginger paste, garlic, and button mushrooms. Sauté themtogether for 3-4 minutes.
- Add red bell pepper, carrot, green bell pepper, and cabbage. Stir-fry until the vegetables are soft but still retain crunch in them.
- Combine the cooked noodles and prepared lo mein sauce. Toss to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce. It might take 2-3 minutes. Garnish veggie lo mein with chopped spring onion greens (scallions). Remove from heat. Serve it hotand enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Cook the noodles until al dente - Cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente. Mushy or overcooked noodles will not taste as good.
- Keep all the vegetables, spices & sauces handy - Gather all the vegetables, spices, and sauces before you begin cooking the noodles. We'll stir-fry everything on high heat, so having everything within easy reach will be helpful.
- Stir-frying the vegetables - Stir-fry the vegetables until they are cooked through but still retain their crisp texture. Overcooked vegetables can become mushy and spoil the overall dish.
- You can cut the vegetables in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This saves time on chopping, and the entire meal can be prepared in just 15 minutes by cooking the noodles, stir-frying the pre-cut vegetables, and tossing everything together with the sauce.
- Sesame oil gives a beautiful nutty aroma to the dish.
- Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.
- Storage: Leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store it in the refrigerator for 2 days. Reheat and serve.
John
Tasty