Spicy Beef Lo Mein
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When you want authentic Asian food look no further. This Spicy Beef Lo Mein is all you need! As usual my friends at America’s Test Kitchen have come through again!
I’ve made quite a few lo mein recipes looking for just the right flavor and ingredients. Some had way too much five spice in them, some were way too spicy, some not no where near spicy enough.
This recipe uses Asian Chili Garlic sauce. That is what gives it it’s spiciness. I used 1 tablespoon, what the recipe call for, but may use a hint more next time. You want to be careful when adding.
The original recipe called for pork. I didn’t have any, but did have an Angus strip steak n the fridge so I used that. I just sliced really thin and cut those pieces into thirds to come up with tiny pieces. You can use boneless country style pork ribs or pork tenderloin in place of the beef. The original recipe called for Shittake mushrooms, scallions and a small head of Napa cabbage. I also added some thin pieces of red bell pepper. I only added a half of the cabbage because it looked like way too much raw. In the finished product you can barely see the cabbage.
This is the type dish you can add anything you like. If you don’t like mushrooms replace with carrots. Replace the scallions with sliced onion. Replace the beef for pork, chicken or what ever you like. The options are endless.
As with most Asian recipes, it is much easier to get all you ingredients prepared ahead of time and ready for cooking.

If possible, use a cast iron or really heavy pan for cooking. It will create the best sear on the protein.
If you are in the mood for really really good Lo Mein look no further. Get cooking!

Spicy Beef Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1/4 tsp Five Spice Powder
- 1 pound Beef, cut into thin slices
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 4-1/2 tsp vegetable oil
- 4 Tbsp Shoaxing Wine or Dry Sherry
- 1/2 pound Shittake Mushrooms, chopped, about 3 cups
- 1 whole Red Bell Pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 bunches scallions, chopped , about 2 cups
- 1/2 small head Napa Cabbage, chopped, about 4 cups
- 12 ounces Chinese Egg Noodles, fresh
- 1 Tbsp Spicy Asian Chili Garlic Sauce
Instructions
- Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven over high heat.
- Whisk soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and five-spice powder together in medium bowl. Place 3 Tablespoons soy sauce mixture in large zipper-lock bag; add beef and liquid smoke, Press out as much air as possible and seal bag, making sure that all pieces are coated with marinade. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Whisk broth and cornstarch into remaining soy sauce mixture in medium bowl. In separate small bowl, mix garlic and ginger with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil; set aside.
- Heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in12-inch cast-iron or nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add half of beef in single layer, breaking up clumps with wooden spoon. Cook, without stirring, 1 minute. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons wine to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is reduced and beef is well coated, 30 to 60 seconds. Transfer beef to medium bowl and repeat with remaining beef, 1 teaspoon oil, and remaining 2 tablespoons wine. Wipe skillet clean with paper towels.
- Return skillet to high heat, add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, and heat until just smoking. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add scallions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until scallions are wilted, 2 to 3 minutes longer; transfer vegetables to bowl with beef.
- Add remaining teaspoon vegetable oil and cabbage to now-empty skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until spotty brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Clear center of skillet; add garlic-ginger mixture and cook, mashing mixture with spoon, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir garlic mixture into cabbage; return beef-vegetable mixture and chicken broth-soy mixture to skillet; simmer until thickened and ingredients are well incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
- While cabbage is cooking, stir noodles into boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Drain noodles and transfer back to Dutch oven; add cooked stir-fry mixture and garlic-chili sauce, tossing noodles constantly, until sauce coats noodles. Serve immediately.
I cannot get to the recipe
Sorry Rhonda. I switched my recipe plugin and they were suppose to all switch over. I have relisted it. It looks daunting, but is really super easy after you have prepared all the ingredients ahead of time!