Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables
A very hot pan and a pile of chopped vegetables is all that stir-fried noodles with vegetables needs. Broccoli, carrot and red pepper are cooked fast so they stay crunchy, then tossed with egg noodles, garlic, ginger and a light soy and sesame sauce. It serves two and takes 25 minutes, most of which is chopping, so it suits a busy weeknight and uses up whatever is in the veg drawer.
- Total
- 25 min
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 620kcal
Where stir-fried noodles with vegetables comes from
Frying noodles quickly in a very hot wok is a Chinese technique, and chow mein, which simply means "fried noodles", is the best-known dish made this way. This version is an everyday weeknight take that uses ingredients from any British supermarket. It leans on the same principle as a restaurant version: small, even pieces, a hot pan and a short cooking time. Cutting the carrots into matchsticks and the broccoli into small florets means everything cooks at the same speed and the sauce clings.
Stir-fried noodles with vegetables: the method
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Mix the sauce In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, sesame oil and water. Have the garlic, ginger and all the vegetables chopped and within reach of the hob, as the cooking goes fast.
- Cook the noodles Cook the noodles in a pan of boiling water for the time on the packet, usually . Drain well and shake off the water. Toss with a few drops of the sesame oil from the sauce so they do not stick together.
- Stir-fry the harder vegetables Heat the oil in the wok over a high heat until it shimmers. Add the broccoli and carrots and stir-fry for , tossing constantly. Add the pepper and white parts of the spring onions and cook for more, until just tender but still with a bite.
- Add the aromatics Push the vegetables to one side, add the garlic and ginger and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant, then mix them through the vegetables.
- Toss everything together Add the noodles and pour in the sauce. Toss with the tongs for , keeping the heat high, until the noodles are hot all the way through and coated.
- Serve Scatter over the green spring onion tops and serve straight away in warm bowls.
Swaps and add-ins
The vegetables are flexible. Swap in mangetout, baby corn, sliced mushrooms, pak choi or shredded cabbage. Add the quicker-cooking ones, like mushrooms and pak choi, for the last 2 minutes. A pinch of dried chilli flakes or a fresh sliced chilli added with the garlic gives some heat.
For a heartier meal with meat, noodles with minced pork uses a similar method. When you want a cool, nutty bowl instead of a hot one, try soba noodles with sesame.
Common problems and fixes for Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables
- The vegetables go limp and watery instead of crisp.
- The pan was not hot enough or was overcrowded. Wait until the oil shimmers, and cook in two batches in a smaller pan. Dry the vegetables well after washing, as wet pieces steam.
- The noodles stick together in clumps.
- Drain them thoroughly and toss with a little sesame oil before they go in the wok. Loosen any clumps with a splash of water as you stir-fry.
- The finished dish is too salty.
- Soy sauce is very salty, so measure it rather than pouring from the bottle. Use light soy sauce in the amount given, and add a squeeze of lime instead of more soy if it needs a lift.
Frequently asked questions about Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables
How long does it take?
About 25 minutes: 15 minutes to chop and prepare, and 10 minutes at the hob. The stir-frying itself takes only about 8 minutes once the noodles are cooked.
Can I use other noodles?
Yes. Medium rice noodles, udon and soba all work, but check the packet for cooking times. Soba and many rice noodles are cooked off the heat, which makes them very quick.
How can I make it gluten-free?
Swap the soy sauce for tamari and the egg noodles for rice noodles. Check the labels, as some tamari brands contain wheat.
Can I add protein?
Yes. Fry 200g cubed firm tofu in the oil first until golden, set it aside, and stir it back in at the end. A handful of roasted cashews or a fried egg on top also works.
How did you like the recipe?
4.7 / 5 · 41 ratings
