Chow Mein ( Chinese Stir-fried Mixed Noodles )

It is a popular Chinese Noodle meal. Chinese Noodles are versatile, available in so many different forms - Stir-fry, pan-fry, boil, soup, gravy, or dry. Chow Mein is one of them which is fried noodles. My version of Chow Mein or  Mixed Noodles, is always cooked with choice of  shredded vegetables, egg and shredded chicken. It is quick and really super easy to make and end results is always pleasing. One dish is itself a complete meal. Most of the time I miss to add the shrimps / prawns, but if you wish, may add it. It would give some extra flavor.

When I was in School, my mom used to make Chow Mein for me in a pure Bengali way where you will find some pieces of potato too, but no soy-sauce and still it was real yummy. I will share that recipe too sometimes later. But When I came to Bangalore, our cook introduced to me some of the Chinese dishes and this is one of them. I must admit that he used to cook Chinese very well, though he was pretty bad in Bengali dishes. I used to get the same taste as it is from the well known Chinese restaurant of Calcutta. So I am following the same recipe from that time. You can serve it with any other Chines side dish. Sometimes on a busy day, we have it without any side dish. Sometimes I give it in my kid's lunch box. Most of the Kids would love this dish.

Recipe of  Chow Mein or Chinese Mixed Noodles :  Serves 2 to 3 people

Ingredients:

1.     Noodles : around 200 gm 

2.     Mixed vegetables  : as per your choice ( 1 cup ) I used carrot, green pepper and cabbage. 

3.     Egg : 2 nos

4.     Chicken : 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup (preferably boneless breast pieces, cooked and shredded)

5.     Shrimp / Prawns : cooked (small sized) ( optional )  

6.     Spring onion : 1/4 cup (chopped) for garnishing

7.     Onion : a small one (finely chopped)

8.     Ginger : 1 tsp (crushed or minced) 

9.     Garlic : 3-4 cloves (minced)

10.  Pepper powder (as per your taste) 

11.  Soy sauce : 2 tbsp or more if you like (add 1/2 tbsp at a time and check seasoning) 

12.  Oil - 3-4 tbsp

13.  Sesame oil - few drops

14. Salt - little  (as Soy sauce contains sodium)

Method : 

1.     Cook the noodle as per the instruction. When you will cook it just add few drops of oil with the boiling water. This helps to prevent sticky noodles, stir it in every few minutes.

2.     Do not over-cook it. When it is done, put it in a strainer, drain the extra water, and hold it under some running cold water for few minutes and keep it aside.

3.     Cut the vegetables into long thin stripes. Put oil in a wok, once oil is ready, make the omelet and once it is ready cut into long stripes and keep it aside.

4.     In the same wok add some more oil, heat it up, add the chopped onion, saute it till it gets soft, add the garlic and ginger.

5.     Keep stirring still they are aromatic. Add the vegetables, fry it for 5 to 7 minutes, add the boiled and shredded chicken.

6.     If you want to add shrimp at this point. Give some good stirs and add salt and pepper.

7.      Add the noodles, add the eggs. Stir it and mix it nicely, add the soy sauce. Mix it well. Check the seasoning, and adjust it accordingly.

8.     Yes It is almost done. Just before turning off the gas add some few drops of sesame oil. Garnish with some chopped spring onion and serve hot.

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