Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe

Name: Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces Chinese egg noodles; 3 tablespoon Coconut oil ((substitute vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil or peanut oil)); 1 cup sliced Chinese sausage; 1/2 pound shrimp (peeled and de-veined, tail removed); 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper; 1/4 cup chopped green onion ((1" pieces)); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger; 1 red bell pepper (diced); 3 baby bok choy (chopped in bite size pieces); 1 cup snow peas; 2 tbsp. soy sauce; 1 1/2 tbsp. oyster sauce; 1 tbsp. Shoaxing wine ((Chinese rice wine)); 1/2 tbsp. honey; 1/2 tsp. sesame oil

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Packed full of fresh, crisp veggies, flavor packed Chinese sausage, thick and chewy egg noodles and the most incredible savory sauce, this Shrimp Lo Mein is ready in under 20 minutes!

shrimp lo mein in a bowl with chopsticks

Shrimp lo mein has always been one of my favorite dishes. As a child, we ate out a couple times a year as a celebration for good report cards.

We always went to a restaurant named Kam Ling, and I ALWAYS ordered the lo mein. We also always ordered fried rice, Mongolian beef, and sometimes pot stickers.

And always, always, always wonton soup.

To this day, I still LOVE good Chinese takeout lo mein. However, I've never been able to find one I liked as much as that one from Kam Ling.

Perhaps its just the experience I can't find.

What is Lo Mein?

Lo mein is a Chinese dish made with stir fried vegetables, egg noodles and meat - typically beef, chicken, shrimp or pork, but can also be made vegetarian with tofu or just vegetables. It is usually stir fried with a savory sauce and comes together quickly in a wok or cast iron skillet.

Chow mein is very similar to lo mein in it is also made with Chinese egg noodles. However, chow mein is typically fried, instead of just being cooked in sauce like lo mein.

If you'd like to try your hand a chow mein, check out this Char Siu Chow Mein recipe from Omnivore's Cookbook.

Also, if you like stir fried noodles dishes, you may also like these pork belly yakisiba noodles, this udon stir fry or this Vietnamese noodle salad.

Ingredients

Most of the ingredients are easy to find in your local grocery store. The harder to find ingredients can be found at and Asian market, or I've included links in the recipe card to purchase them on Amazon.

Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine) - This Chinese cooking wine has a wonderful flavor. You can also substitute a dry sherry for this.

Oyster sauce - It's exactly what it sounds like...it's a sauce made from oyster (don't worry - it doesn't actually taste like oysters), salt and sugar.

What Kind of Noodles to Use in Shrimp Lo Mein?

Chinese egg noodles are traditionally used to make lo mein, and I ALWAYS use them. I've seen some recipes using spaghetti noodles and while technically you can do this, it won't be the same experience. The Chinese egg noodles are springy and chewy and just so delicious.

I buy mine fresh in the refrigerated section of the Asian market, but understand not everyone has that option. You can also use dry Chinese egg noodles in a pinch. Not quite as good as fresh, but they still work well.

They also may be available in the freezer section of the grocery store - every store is different.

Learn a little more about Chinese style noodles in this article from Serious Eats.

What is Chinese Sausage?

Also called lap cheong, Chinese sausage is a generic name for any sausage made in China. There are many different kinds and brands, and any of them work great in this recipe.

The sausage is typically made from pork and fat, and mixed with seasonings, salted and smoked. It has an absolutely incredible flavor.

Once you try Chinese sausage, you're going to want to put it in everything. Seriously.

Step By Step Instructions

**First, if you bought dry noodles, cook them according to the instructions on the box, drain and set aside.

Start by heating the cooking oil in a wok, wok pan or cast iron skillet over high heat until it just starts to smoke. We want it hot!

Learn how to season a wok!

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with black and white pepper. Patting the shrimp dry enables them to form a nice crust for the quick stir fry.

Add to the pan in 2-3 separate batches and stir fry until pink, about 1-2 minutes, and remove with a slotted spoon; set aside.

Add the Chinese sausage and stir fry for about 1-2 minutes, until it starts to crisp around the edges. Remove and set aside.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the red pepper, peas, and bok choy (or any other vegetable you decide to use).

Stir fry about 2 minutes and remove with a slotted spoon.

Let the heat return to high and add the noodles; stir fry for about 3-4 minutes, until they have little spots of char on the outside.

The char gives them extra flavor. Add the green onions and stir fry 1 minute.

Add the vegetables, shrimp and sausage and sauce into the wok. Toss with tongs and cook for 1-2 minutes until sauce has thickened and coated the noodles.

Remove from heat and serve.

close up shot of noodles in shrimp lo mein

Other Protein Options

If you don't care for shrimp or are allergic you can replace it with thinly sliced beef, chunks of chicken or pork, or tofu. You can also just keep it strictly vegetables and add your favorite veggies.

Expert Tips

To make the meal even quicker, you can prep all the vegetables and mix the sauce in advance. Then when you're ready to cook it's really easy!
Make sure the cooking oil is VERY hot before cooking any of the elements - if it's not hot enough, the meat/vegetables/noodles will just steam instead of stir fry.
Any type of oil with a high smoke point can be used - i.e. vegetable oil, canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil.
Stir fry in batches to prevent overcrowding the pan.
Add additional oil to the pan if it is dry between all the different elements. Let the oil heat to smoking.
Any vegetables can be substituted for the veggies in the recipe. The veggies I chose work great, but if you want to add something different, go for it!
You can make this a combination lo mein recipe by adding chicken, pork, beef, fish, tofu, etc.

shrimp lo mein with veggies and sausage in a bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between shrimp chow mein and shrimp lo mein?

Chow mein is very similar to lo mein in it is also made with Chinese egg noodles. However, chow mein is typically fried, instead of just being stir in sauce like lo mein (which typically uses boiled noodles).

What noodles are used in lo mein?

Lo mein typically uses Chinese egg noodles, which are just wheat noodles that have egg added to them. They are springy and slightly chewy. I always recommend using fresh egg noodles when you can.

Is shrimp lo mein healthy?

The large amount of vegetables used in shrimp lo mein provides a lot of vitamins and minerals. However, there is typically a lot of oil used to stir fry the meats, veggies and noodles which can add a lot of fat to the dish.