Soy Sauce Chow Mein
Stir-fried noodles in soy sauce
Ingredients
- 250 g Chinese egg noodles
- 150 g Bean sprouts
- 3 Scallions
- 2 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)
Method
- Slice the scallions into lengths and whisk the light soy, dark soy, sesame oil, and sugar into a sauce.
- Boil the noodles until just tender, then drain well.
- Toss the drained noodles in hot oil over high heat until lightly toasted.
- Add the bean sprouts and the sauce and toss until everything is glossy and hot.
- Pile into bowls and serve.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Soy Sauce Chow Mein
Soy sauce chow mein is the plainest and arguably purest member of the chow mein family, a Cantonese stir-fried noodle dish that dispenses with meat and heavy gravies to let the noodles themselves carry the plate. The name simply means fried noodles, and here the star is the interplay of springy egg noodles, crisp bean sprouts, and a balanced seasoning of light and dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil. It is a staple of dim sum trolleys and Hong Kong tea houses, where its restraint is exactly the point.
What defines a good version is texture: the drained noodles are tossed in hot oil over high heat until some strands lightly toast and take on a smoky wok character, then the sauce is added at the last moment so it coats rather than soaks. The result is savoury and glossy with a whisper of sesame, the bean sprouts snapping fresh against the tender noodles. Because it is fast and undemanding, it works as a light main on its own or as a carbohydrate anchor beside roast meats, steamed fish, or a plate of greens. High heat and a well-drained noodle are the whole game, so keep everything moving in the pan.
Soy Sauce Chow Mein: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Soy Sauce Chow Mein?
A serving has about 683 calories — 23.4g protein, 100.1g carbs, 21.9g fat, 6.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Soy Sauce Chow Mein gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Chinese egg noodles, Light soy sauce, Dark soy sauce and other gluten sources. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
How long does Soy Sauce Chow Mein take to make?
About 18 minutes start to finish, but only around 11 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Soy Sauce Chow Mein?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out oyster sauce, toasted sesame oil — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Soy Sauce Chow Mein make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.