Chow Mein
Chow Mein is a traditional Chinese dish made with noodles, vegetables, and proteins like beef, pork, or chicken. It is savory, flavorful, and served with steamed rice.
1 block (about 19 ounces) silken tofu
1/4 lb minced pork
2 tablespoons cooking oil
3 tablespoons chili oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons chili bean sauce (doubanjiang or toban djan) 辣豆瓣酱
1/2 teaspoon fermented black bean garlic sauce, optional
1 tablespoon ground Sichuan peppercorns
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup water or chicken stock Directions
Step 1: Prepare the tofu
Drain and cut the tofu into ¾-inch cubes and set aside.
Step 2: Heat up the wok
Heat up a wok or large frying pan. When hot, add cooking oil, chili oil, and chopped garlic.
Step 3: Add ground pork and chili bean paste
Stir-fry until the pork is partially cooked and loosened up, one to two minutes.
Step 4: Add sauces and tofu Add soy sauce, fermented black bean garlic sauce (optional) and stir until fragrant.
Then, add tofu and stir gently to blend well with sauce.
Step 5: Thicken the sauce Add water (or stock) and bring to boil. Simmer for three to five minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Shake the pan gently a few times to help the sauce absorb into the tofu. (This recipe calls for silken tofu because it soaks up other flavors—like a sponge! Learn more about different types of tofu.)
Step 6: Season
Sprinkle with roasted Sichuan peppercorn powder and chopped scallions. Gently stir to blend well.
Scoop the mapo tofu into a shallow bowl and serve steaming hot, with heaps of white rice.
Editor’s tip: Have a rice cooker going while you prep the mapo tofu.
Tips for preparation of Chow Mein
1 block (about 19 ounces) silken tofu
1/4 lb minced pork
2 tablespoons cooking oil
3 tablespoons chili oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons chili bean sauce (doubanjiang or toban djan) 辣豆瓣酱
1/2 teaspoon fermented black bean garlic sauce, optional
1 tablespoon ground Sichuan peppercorns
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup water or chicken stock Directions
Step 1: Prepare the tofu
Drain and cut the tofu into ¾-inch cubes and set aside.
Step 2: Heat up the wok
Heat up a wok or large frying pan. When hot, add cooking oil, chili oil, and chopped garlic.
Step 3: Add ground pork and chili bean paste
Stir-fry until the pork is partially cooked and loosened up, one to two minutes.
Step 4: Add sauces and tofu Add soy sauce, fermented black bean garlic sauce (optional) and stir until fragrant.
Then, add tofu and stir gently to blend well with sauce.
Step 5: Thicken the sauce Add water (or stock) and bring to boil. Simmer for three to five minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Shake the pan gently a few times to help the sauce absorb into the tofu. (This recipe calls for silken tofu because it soaks up other flavors—like a sponge! Learn more about different types of tofu.)
Step 6: Season
Sprinkle with roasted Sichuan peppercorn powder and chopped scallions. Gently stir to blend well.
Scoop the mapo tofu into a shallow bowl and serve steaming hot, with heaps of white rice.
Editor’s tip: Have a rice cooker going while you prep the mapo tofu.
Chow Mein serving size
The typical serving size for Chow Mein is about 1 cup (8 ounces), which is equivalent to two to three ounces of noodles. This serving size should be enough for one person. For larger servings, you can increase the amount of noodles, vegetables, and protein.
Chow Mein nutrition value
The nutrition value of Chow Mein varies depending on the ingredients used, but a typical serving of Chow Mein contains approximately 250-300 calories, 10-15 grams of fat, 18-20 grams of protein, and 45-50 grams of carbohydrates. Chow Mein also contains a good amount of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and is an excellent source of iron.