This recipe is actually called Master Shifu noodles at our house. Channeling your inner noodle master, chop the veggies you have on hand into long matchsticks, mix together your sauce, and create a colorful pasta that everyone will appreciate. Plus, any meal with chopsticks is a fun one, right?
This is easy to scale up or down, and you can include the protein option of your choice, or just skip and add extra veggies.
Be sure to use a very large skillet for this; otherwise, you'll have a big mess all over your stovetop to clean up afterwards, and no one likes that!
Veggie-Loaded Lo Mein
Yield: 4 - 5 servings
Ingredients
16 ounces spaghetti (we use whole grain)
1 cup frozen edamame (shelled soybeans) or peas
4 scallions, thinly sliced
¼ cup oyster sauce, or vegetarian "oyster" sauce
¼ cup rice-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
½ pound boneless chicken, steak, or extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium carrots, cut into matchsticks
2 small red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks
1 lb. asparagus, broccoli, or any other favorite veggies, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and edamame and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, whisk scallions, oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 of the sauce to the meat option of your choice. Set aside.
3. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the meat is cooked through. Transfer to a plate or bowl and set aside. Heat second tbsp oil in pan. Add all veggies and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, 5-8 minutes. Add the cooked and drained pasta and edamame. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is crispy in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Enjoy!