Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (2024)

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This easy and hearty Beef Chow Mein is great for weeknight dinners. A complete meal cooked in just one pot with beef mince, rice and vegetables. The whole family will love this delicious Beef Chow Mein recipe.

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (1)

If you grew up in Australia in the 70's or 80's, chances are your parents made something similar to this Beef Chow Mein. It's hard to source it's exact origins, but the original recipe featured in many popular cookbooks and on the back of a chicken noodle soup packet!

It's a spin off of the classic Chinese Chow Mein, and is absolutely delicious. My version features curried mince and is loaded to the brim with veggies.I've also taken the liberties of using rice instead of noodles to make it a complete meal in just one pot. Anything for less washing up!

Why you'll love this recipe...

  • Quick and easy to prep.
  • Bursting with flavour.
  • One pot - easy clean up.
  • Has a bunch of added veggies!

Looking for more Aussie food nostalgia? Try these Easy Curried Sausages.

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (2)

What is Chow Mein? Chow Mein is a stir-fried dish featuring noodles or rice, meat and vegetables with a sauce.

BEEF CHOW MEIN INGREDIENTS LIST

To make this Beef Chow Mein you'll need the following (full measurements listed below)...

  • Olive Oil
  • Brown / Yellow Onion
  • Celery
  • Beef Mince / Ground Beef
  • Curry Powder - use mild yellow curry powder (e.g. keen's).
  • Carrot
  • Powdered Chicken Stock
  • Basmati Rice
  • Soy Sauce
  • Green Beans
  • Green Cabbage

HOW TO MAKE BEEF CHOW MEIN - STEP BY STEP

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (3)

Heat oil in a large wok or frying pan on medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until onion softened, approx. 1-2 minutes (photo 1).

Add mince / ground beef, and cook, stirring to break it up, until browned - approx. 5-8 minutes (photo 2).

Add curry powder and stir through for 30 seconds or until fragrant (photo 3).

Add 2 cups of water, carrot, powdered chicken stock, rice and soy sauce and stir to combine. The water should cover the mince completely, so if it hasn't, add a touch more (photo 4).

Bring to the boil, then place the lid on and reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes, or until water absorbs and rice is cooked.

Add ½ a cup water to the wok, then pour in the green beans and cabbage and stir through. Place the lid on and cook for a few minutes, allowing the cabbage to steam (photos 5 & 6).

Serve with extra soy sauce and sesame seeds, if desired.

STORING BEEF CHOW MEIN

Once cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (4)

MORE DELICIOUS DINNER IDEAS

  • Grilled Chicken Burger
  • Creamy Carbonara (No Egg)
  • Beef Pasties
  • Savoury Mince
  • Sheet Pan Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
  • OR see allDinner Recipes

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📋 RECIPE

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (5)

Beef Chow Mein

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This easy and hearty Beef Chow Mein is great for weeknight dinners. A complete meal cooked in just one pot with beef mince, rice and veggies. The whole family will love this delicious Beef Chow Mein recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Brown / Yellow Onion, diced
  • 1 Celery Stalk, finely sliced
  • 500g / 1.1 lbs Beef Mince / Ground Beef
  • 2 tsps Curry Powder
  • 2 ½ cups Water
  • 2 tbsps Powdered Chicken Stock
  • 1 Carrot, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 cup Basmati Rice, OR use long grain white rice
  • 2 tbsps Soy Sauce, more to serve
  • ½ cup Green Beans, sliced
  • ½ Green or Sugarloaf Cabbage, finely shredded

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large wok or frying pan on medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until onion softened, approx. 1-2 minutes.
  2. Add mince / ground beef, and cook, stirring to break it up, until browned - approx. 5-8 minutes.
  3. Add curry powder and stir through for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  4. Add 2 cups of water, carrot, powdered chicken stock, rice and soy sauce and stir to combine. The water should cover the mince completely, so if it hasn't, add a touch more.
  5. Bring to the boil, then place the lid on and reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes, or until water absorbs and rice is cooked.
  6. Add ½ a cup water to the wok, then pour in the green beans and cabbage and stir through. Place the lid on and cook for a few minutes, allowing the cabbage to steam.
  7. Serve with extra soy sauce and sesame seeds, if desired.

Notes

SERVING:

Serves 4 large serves, could stretch to 5-6 smaller serves - so easy to feed a family with small children.

STORING:

Once cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.

NUTRITION:

Nutrition information is from a nutrition calculator and is based on one of four serves.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 560Saturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1242mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 28g

Beef Chow Mein Recipe - Cook it Real Good (2024)

FAQs

What is beef chow mein sauce made of? ›

Chow Mein Sauce:

1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) 2 tbsp dark soy sauce. 1 tbsp Chinese rice wine. 2 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)

What is the sauce in chow mein made of? ›

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.

What is authentic Chinese chow mein? ›

This classic noodle dish is known as "鼓油王炒面," which translates roughly to “Supreme Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles.” (Also, chow mein = pan fried noodles.) It's traditionally more of a breakfast or lunch kind of dish, and especially popular at dim sum or served alongside congee.

What is the difference between beef lo mein and chow mein? ›

The sauce: Chow mein is more of a dry noodle dish with an extremely light and delicate sauce — if any sauce at all. Lo mein is a saucy noodle dish that depends on a rich sauce for much of its flavor. The texture: Chow mein noodles tend to be crunchier than lo mein noodles due to the way they are cooked.

What makes chow mein taste like chow mein? ›

The sauce is what gives chow mein all of its seasoning and addictive flavors. It's a mix of oyster sauce, sweet soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and freshly ground black pepper. It's full of sweet and savory umami and seriously SO good.

What to use instead of oyster sauce? ›

  • Fish sauce. Although it's not a perfect substitute, you can use fish sauce in place of oyster sauce in some recipes. ...
  • Soy sauce. Soy sauce is an easy substitute for oyster sauce since it's a common pantry staple. ...
  • Hoisin sauce. ...
  • Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki sauce. ...
  • Vegan mushroom sauce.
Jul 12, 2021

Can you buy chow mein sauce? ›

Sainsbury's Chow Mein Stir Fry Sauce 120g | Sainsbury's.

What is chow mein seasoning made of? ›

A great Chow Mein comes down to the sauce, made of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar and cornstarch for thickening. Slippery noodles slick with the savoury sauce is noodle heaven!

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 noodles do Chinese restaurants use for chow mein? ›

The most common varieties of fresh egg noodles you'll find are wonton noodles, Hong Kong-style (chow mein) noodles, and lo mein noodles.

What kind of noodles to use for chow mein? ›

You can use fresh chow mein noodles, which are made of wheat flour, egg, and water. I find them in the refrigerated section of my local Chinese grocery (99 Ranch). These will be uncooked and thus need to be cooked before adding them into the wok.

What is Chicago style chow mein? ›

CHICAGO CHOW MEIN: Slices of vegetables in a dark sauce with mushrooms, water chestnuts, and pea pods.

Is a chow mein healthy? ›

Chow mein can provide vital nutrients such as carbs, protein, and veggies. Healthy Chow Mein Suggestions: Choose whole-wheat noodles, lean protein sources, and veggies in plenty. Use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.

What are the two types of chow mein? ›

In the American market, two types of chow mein include crispy chow mein and steamed chow mein. The steamed chow mein has a softer texture, while the former is crisper and drier. Crispy chow mein uses fried, flat noodles, while soft chow mein uses long, rounded noodles.

What is the difference between chow mein and chop suey sauce? ›

Although the two dishes may seem similar, the way they are prepared sets them apart as distinct dishes. The sauces for each dish are markedly different, with chop suey usually having a thicker, starchy gravy-like sauce, while chow mein is prepared with a thinner soy-sauce based topping.

What the heck is chow mein? ›

Chow mein is a dish of stir-fried Chinese-style noodles that can be served with proteins, vegetables or gravy. Chow mein is the English derivative of the word chau meing and comes from the Taishan dialect of Chinese. Chau means stir-fried and meing means noodles.

Is beef chow mein healthy from Chinese? ›

This enticing dish features tender beef strips stir-fried with a medley of crispy vegetables, all perfectly coated in a savory sauce. With 35g of protein, it provides the necessary fuel for muscle growth and recovery. The balanced combination of 77g of carbs and 14g of fats ensures a satisfying and well-rounded meal.

Is tahini the same as soy sauce? ›

Tamari and tahini have many more differences than they do similarities. Whereas Tamari comes completely from soybeans, tahini is made purely from sesame seeds. Unlike Tamari, tahini involves no fermentation. Instead, it is produced by grinding sesame seeds into a spreadable paste.

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