While some of us count down the days ’til Christmas morning, are others counting down the days until Chinese restaurants and a day at the movies? For my non-Christian readers, I have a special treat just for you. After hearing for ages that Chinese restaurants are packed on Christmas day, I thought I’d offer you an at-home version of my favorite dish: Vegetable Lo Mein. Typically serves 4 (all depends on how many veggies you add!)

Ingredients

• ∞  1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• ∞  4 cloves garlic, crushed
• ∞  2 tbsp canola oil
• ∞  1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• ∞  1 small yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• ∞  1 package white mushrooms, sliced to your liking
• ∞  1 baby bok choy (both stalks and leafy tips), thinly sliced on an angle
• ∞  5-8 baby carrots, thinly sliced
• ∞  1 cup snow peas (trim the ends, first)
• ∞  1 cup mung bean sprouts
• ∞  1 package lo mein noodles (you will use half)

Sauce Ingredients

• ∞  3 tsp grated ginger (I buy this tube instead of grating fresh ginger)
• ∞  2 tbsp vegan fish sauce
• ∞  2 tbsp Hoisin sauce
• ∞  1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• ∞  Sriracha hot sauce to taste

1. Prep your ingredients.
2. In a large skillet saute the onion and garlic in canola oil until onions are translucent.
3. Add only the crunchy veggies to the skillet. They take the longest to cook, so cook ’em first! This would be all bell peppers, bok choy stems + leaves, carrots, and snow peas. Cook until carrots are tender.
4. In a separate sauce pot, bring half a pot of water to a boil. Since Roland’s brand of lo mein noodles comes in bunches of 4 per package, use 2 bunches. Cook according to package instructions. Set aside.
5. In skillet, add in the softer ingredients: mushrooms + bean sprouts. Before mushrooms are fully cooked, add the cooked lo mein noodles to your skillet. NOTE: Be careful, your skillet will be VERY full.
6. Add in sauce ingredients one by one. I never pre-make a sauce and add it; I always add each ingredient then taste-test to adjust. The measurements I’ve listed above are generally what I do (sometimes I like it more ginger-y or spicier). Thoroughly stir all ingredients in the skillet after each addition to ensure that everything gets coated.
7. Serve and enjoy!

There are so many variations you can try, it’s all in the ingredients! To try your own variation, consult the list below or come up with your own. You may know of/prefer ingredients I haven’t listed!

Other Additional Ingredients

• ∞  1/2 can green peas
• ∞  Broccoli florets
• ∞  Cauliflower florets
• ∞  Water chestnuts
• ∞  Bamboo
• ∞  Sriracha
• ∞  Meat substitutes: cubed tofu, seitan strips
• ∞  Meat: chicken, pork, beef, shrimp

Enjoy!

 

 

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