What is Shrimp Lo Mein? A Delicious and Easy Chinese Takeout Favorite

Shrimp lo mein is a classic Chinese noodle dish that has become a favorite Chinese takeout order With its delicious combination of noodles, vegetables, shrimp, and savory sauce, it’s easy to see why this dish is so popular In this article, we’ll take a closer look at exactly what shrimp lo mein is, how to make it at home, and some key tips for getting the best results.

What is Lo Mein?

Lo mein noodles are wheat flour noodles that have been parboiled then lightly coated in oil to prevent sticking. This gives the noodles their signature chewy, slightly slippery texture.

The term “lo mein” translates to “tossed noodles” in English. This refers to the cooking method – lo mein noodles are boiled briefly then tossed in a hot wok or pan with other ingredients and sauce.

The most common lo mein noodles are made from egg, but some versions also contain wheat flour, water, and salt. You can find fresh or dried lo mein noodles in many grocery stores, often near other Asian ingredients.

What is the Difference Between Lo Mein and Chow Mein?

Lo mein and chow mein are two similar yet distinct Chinese noodle dishes. While they share some key ingredients like noodles, protein, and vegetables, there are some differences:

• Noodles – Chow mein uses crispy pan-fried noodles while lo mein uses soft boiled then lightly oiled noodles.

• Sauce – Chow mein has a sauce that is more like a soy sauce/oyster sauce gravy. Lo mein sauce is typically thicker and sweeter.

• Cooking method – Chow mein ingredients are stir-fried then tossed with noodles at the end. Lo mein noodles are parboiled, then all ingredients are tossed and cooked together.

Shrimp Lo Mein Ingredients

The great thing about shrimp lo mein is that it’s highly customizable to your tastes. That said, there are some key ingredients that make up the classic version:

• Noodles – Fresh or dried lo mein egg noodles. You can also substitute spaghetti.

• Shrimp – Raw, peeled, and deveined medium shrimp. Frozen works too.

• Vegetables – Popular additions are cabbage, carrots, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, etc.

• Sauce – Typical ingredients are soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar.

• Aromatics – Garlic, ginger, scallions add lots of flavor.

• Extras – Bean sprouts, peanuts, chili flakes, cilantro all taste great on top.

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to vegetables – use what you love! The sauce ingredients create the right balance of salty, sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.

How to Make Shrimp Lo Mein at Home

Making restaurant-quality shrimp lo mein at home is easy to do in just a few steps:

1. Cook the noodles – Boil fresh or soak dried lo mein noodles until just shy of fully cooked. Drain and lightly coat with oil.

2. Cook the protein – Season and quickly sear shrimp in a bit of oil just until pink. Remove and set aside.

3. Saute the veggies – Add more oil and saute garlic, ginger, onions, peppers, cabbage until starting to soften.

4. Make the sauce – Whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, cornstarch.

5. Toss it together – Add the cooked noodles, shrimp, and sauce. Cook, tossing, until heated through and sauce coats noodles.

6. Serve – Top with desired garnishes like scallions, chili flakes, peanuts, etc. Enjoy!

It comes together quickly by prepping your ingredients in advance. And the hands-on cooking time is under 30 minutes.

Tips for Making the Best Shrimp Lo Mein

Here are some helpful tips to make restaurant-worthy shrimp lo mein at home:

• Use day-old refrigerated noodles – They won’t stick together as much. Or rinse boiled noodles in cold water and coat lightly in oil.

• Cut all vegetables and aromatics to a similar small size so they cook evenly.

• Sear shrimp just until pink and cooked through – They’ll cook more when simmered in the sauce.

• Add extra vegetables if you want it to be more filling.

• Let the sauce reduce and thicken slightly before adding the noodles.

• Toss the noodles and sauce together well so it’s fully coated.

• Adjust sauce ingredients to your taste – More sweet, salty, tangy etc.

• Top with fresh scallions, chili flakes, cilantro for extra flavor and crunch after plating.

Shrimp Lo Mein Noodle Alternatives

While lo mein egg noodles are traditional, you can use other types of noodles for a tasty shrimp noodle dish:

• Spaghetti or linguine – Any long pasta works well. Match thinner pasta with thicker sauce.

• Ramen noodles – Use just the fresh/dried noodles, not the seasoning packet.

• Rice noodles – Soak in hot water until softened before adding.

• Soba noodles – Their nutty flavor pairs nicely with shrimp.

• Udon noodles – Cook them al dente as they’ll soften further in the sauce.

The key is to match thinner sauces with thinner noodles and thicker sauces with thicker noodles. But feel free to experiment to find your favorite!

Shrimp Lo Mein Sauce Variations

There are many ways to vary up the sauce to result in different flavor profiles:

• Classic – Soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar

• Spicy – Add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, red pepper flakes

• Ginger – Extra grated ginger adds a punch

• Garlic – For a deep garlic flavor, use garlic powder and garlic salt too

• Black Bean – Add fermented black beans and black bean sauce

• Teriyaki – Use teriyaki sauce instead of soy and oyster sauce

• Hoisin – Hoisin sauce adds sweetness

• Vinegary – Up the rice vinegar for more tang

• Satay – Peanut butter and red curry paste for an Indonesian vibe

Really you can draw inspiration from various Asian sauces and create your own fusion shrimp lo mein sauce. Get creative!

Shrimp Lo Mein Topping Ideas

Lo mein is all about the textures and flavors of the crunchy, fresh toppings. Have fun mixing and matching toppings:

• Scallions
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Crushed peanuts or cashews
• Crispy fried shallots or onions
• Fresh sliced chili peppers
• Chopped cilantro
• Bean sprouts
• Lime or lemon wedges
• Fried garlic chips
• Chili oil or chili crisp sauce

This is your chance to add extra flavor and crunch after the lo mein is cooked. Get a mix of colors, textures, and spice flavors.

What to Serve with Shrimp Lo Mein

Shrimp lo mein makes a satisfying one-dish meal, especially when you load up on vegetables. But here are some tasty side dish ideas:

• Fried rice or cauliflower fried rice
• Steamed jasmine rice
• Spring rolls or egg rolls
• Wontons, dumplings, or potstickers
• Seaweed salad
• Edamame
• Miso soup
• Steamed or sauteed greens
• Quick kimchi or pickled vegetables

Sides like rice, greens, soup, or other dim sum extend your Chinese takeout feast. Potstickers and spring rolls add fun finger foods.

Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe Variations

The possibilities are endless when it comes to variations on this noodle dish:

• Chicken Lo Mein – Swap out shrimp for diced chicken.

• Vegetable Lo Mein – Omit the protein and double up on veggies.

• Beef Lo Mein – Thinly sliced beef cooks quickly and adds hearty flavor.

• Tofu Lo Mein – Crisp cubed tofu is a great plant-based option.

• Pork Lo Mein – Marinated pork tenderloin slices cook up fast.

• Seafood Lo Mein – Use a combo of shrimp, scallops, squid, etc.

• Turkey Lo Mein – Ground turkey adds lean protein.

You can substitute in any protein or make it vegetarian. Change up the vegetables too – anything goes!

Can You Freeze Shrimp Lo Mein