I don’t pretend at all that this recipe is “traditional” Lo Mein; it is, however, one the boys love.
Normally I would use diced steak for it, but with one teen in braces and the other in Invisalign, I try for easier-to-chew options now. It occurred to me that hamburger would work great, and I was right. The other thing is I don’t use Lo Mein noodles. Why not? There are a couple of reasons I sub in thin spaghetti instead. One is cost – Lo Mein noodles typically come in 8-ounce packages (if bought dry), and for a family with 3 male offspring, that simply isn’t enough, and I have to buy 2 packages. The cost per package is $3 to 4 each. $8 is NOT affordable for one meal. I can buy spaghetti for $1-2 for 16 ounces. The other is a harsher reason: Most Lo Mein noodles still contain fake yellow dye. I try to avoid all artificial coloring. I will always choose the more natural version.
As for all the ingredients, I use them often, so it isn’t that I am buying it just for this meal. If you had to buy it for just this, yes, it would get pricey. Is plum sauce traditional? No. Whatever. It gives a great flavor.
Needless to say, there were no leftovers, and everyone was happy. The vegetables all came out of our garden, as a bonus.
Getting cooked up.
Beef Lo Mein
Ingredients:
- 1 pound thin spaghetti (bought the “fits in a pan” size, where it is broken in half for you)
- 1 pound hamburger
- Avocado or coconut oil
- 6 Tbsp lower-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp plum sauce
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp granulated sugar or honey
- 3 shallots, diced
- 1 head of garlic, diced
- 2 cups of peeled carrots, cut into matchstick size
- 1 bell pepper, any color, seeded and cut into matchsticks
- Any more vegetables you crave, cut into matchstick size
Directions:
Bring a pot of water to a boil; cook spaghetti as directed for the lowest time listed. Drain.
Meanwhile, add a drizzle of oil to a large cast iron skillet or wok, and cook the hamburger till just done over medium-high heat. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Add a Tablespoon or so more oil, then the shallots and onion, sautéing for a minute or two, then add the remaining vegetables and continue to sauté.
Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a bowl (soy sauce through sugar).
When the carrots are done, add in the hamburger and the sauce and stir in, letting it bubble.
Add the drained pasta, and using tongs with a spatula, start tossing to combine.
Take off the heat and serve.
Serves 4 to 5.
~Sarah