Friday, September 17, 2010

Beef Chow Mein

Beef Chow Mein [photo]

If you really want to put a smile on TheHusband's dial, there are a few things you can do.
Agree to watch a "boy" movie with him, ply him with a catalog* or two, (preferably showcasing the newest electronics) or treat him to one of his favourite meals: 
  • Hotdogs - with real German sausages or good old cheesegrillers (the cheesier, the better)
  • Pizza - homemade or takeaway, either will do
  • Chinese takeaway
And if Chinese takeout is your chosen bribery tactic smile generator, there is one dish that will warm TheHusband's heart above any other. Chow Mein. Whether it's beef, chicken or pork is irrelevant, the thing that's non-negotiable is that unmistakably umami sauce coating the noodles. 

There isn't even a lick of glamour about a big bowl of greasy chow mein but this doesn't faze him. In fact, he is of the opinion that more is more. More noodles? Bring it. In fact, don't try to ply him with anything but the "large" chow mein. You'd be wasting your time.

Beef Chow Mein [photo]
So it was only natural that I had to attempt this classic at home. After all, I couldn't allow a middle-aged Chinese man to hold the keys to TheHusband's heart, now could I? And so I turned to my trusty friend google and gathered up the necessary ingredients.

Luckily for me chow mein could not be easier to make. As with all stir fries, the key lies in prepping your ingredients ahead of time, so take a few minutes beforehand to slice your protein of choice and chop up your veggies. Briefly fry it, then cook your noodles in the oh-so-salty mixture of soy and oyster sauce, add back your fried meat and veggies, give it a few stirs and sit back while your beloved slurps up the goodness. 

Smile generator? You can say that again.

*the man is a catalog addict
Beef Chow Mein [photo]


Beef Chow Mein
Adapted from Rasa Malaysia

Serves 4 

250g Chinese egg noodles
vegetable oil
500g beef strips
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into strips
1/2 red bellpepper, cut into strips 
4 spring onions, chopped
1/4 cup beansprouts 
1/2 tsp minced garlic
3 - 4 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup water

1. Soak noodles in boiling water for 2 - 3 minutes to soften slightly. Drain and set aside. 
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a wok and fry beef strips in batches until browned. Remove meat from wok.
3. Add more oil to the wok, then add carrots and stirfry for 1 - 2 minutes before adding bell pepper. Stir fry another 2 minutes or until tender crisp, then add spring onions and bean sprouts and fry for another 30 seconds. Remove and set aside.
4. Add about a teaspoon of oil to the wok, then add garlic, frying briefly until fragrant, before adding oyster sauce, soy sauce and water. Add noodles to the sauce, stirring to coat, then lower heat and cook, stirring every so often until noodles are almost cooked through. This will take about 5 - 6 minutes. Add more water if necessary to stop noodles from sticking to the wok.
5. Return beef and vegetables to the wok, stirring to mix with the noodles and distribute the sauce evenly. Heat through, then serve immediately.

27 comments:

Marisa on September 18, 2010 8:43 am said...

Weeeeelll TheHusband would go crazy over lasagna too!

Marisa on September 18, 2010 8:44 am said...

Thanks Eliana! Why don't you whip up a batch? :-)

Debs said...

Brilliant, we were planning on having a chinese meal tonight. I already have some char siu pork in freezer, plus some crispy beef. Last night I bought some lovely beef tenderloin steaks and was thing what to do with them.

Thanks, we will now have beef chow mein with crispy shredded beef and special rice with some pieces of char siu added. Pop over to my blog & check out my recipes for the char siu & crispy beef.

Marisa on September 18, 2010 8:55 am said...

Thanks Eliana! Why don't you whip up a batch? :-)

Marisa on September 18, 2010 8:55 am said...

Weeeeelll TheHusband would go crazy over lasagna too!

Eliana on September 18, 2010 8:55 am said...

Whoa - this looks amazing and better than any take out chow mein I have ever seen. Wish I had a bit bowl of it right now.

Joanne Bruno on September 18, 2010 8:55 am said...

Ah so chow mein is the way to a man's heart! And to think, all this time I thought it was lasagna!

This looks delicious. I'm pretty sure it might be the way to my heart as well.

Nina on September 18, 2010 8:58 am said...

Love the pics and love the Chow Mein!!

Marisa on September 18, 2010 8:58 am said...

Thanks Nina! See what I meant about it being very similar to your bread pic? Obviously great minds think alike.

Marisa on September 18, 2010 9:10 am said...

Thanks Nina! See what I meant about it being very similar to your bread pic? Obviously great minds think alike.

Hila (LadyRaven) said...

My first job I worked for a Chinese couple. Almost every friday she would order pork chow mein with extra chillies and ginger for us.

Marisa on September 18, 2010 9:10 am said...

Sounds like my dream job. :-)

Duisendpoot said...

Okay! I'm buying Beef Chow Mein for supper tonight!

Marisa, are you available for hire?
I'd like to hire you every day when you prepare for another blog post please!

Tandy on September 18, 2010 9:10 am said...

I love the way you have with words. Your photography surpasses all the other blogs out there!

Marisa on September 18, 2010 9:10 am said...

Will invite you over for supper next time, promise. :-)

Marisa on September 18, 2010 10:43 pm said...

Your planned meal sounds super yum! Send me some leftovers, will ya? :-)

Lori on September 19, 2010 4:19 am said...

Around here we add watch an American football game with him. Ha! This meal would work too. It looks so great!

LimeCake on September 19, 2010 12:22 pm said...

yummy this looks dark and delicious!

Faith on September 19, 2010 11:21 pm said...

I love making homemade versions of fast-food classics! This looks fantastic...better than any take out I could order! :)

heather on September 22, 2010 9:01 pm said...

curious what cut of beef you opted for here. looks fantastic!

*heather*

Marisa on September 23, 2010 8:57 am said...

Sorry to say I'm not exactly sure what it was - just bought a packet of beef strips from the supermarket! :-)

Joanne Bruno on October 17, 2010 11:31 am said...

Ah so chow mein is the way to a man's heart! And to think, all this time I thought it was lasagna!

This looks delicious. I'm pretty sure it might be the way to my heart as well.

Marisa on October 17, 2010 11:31 am said...

Thanks Tandy! Your kind words mean a lot.

Marisa on October 17, 2010 11:31 am said...

Will invite you over for supper next time, promise. :-)

Joanne Bruno on November 09, 2010 4:08 pm said...

Ah so chow mein is the way to a man's heart! And to think, all this time I thought it was lasagna!

This looks delicious. I'm pretty sure it might be the way to my heart as well.

Jenny said...

Wow I absolutely ADORE your blog! I strive to cook as tactfully as you! Great photos, great recipes, great blog!

Natasha on January 21, 2011 7:02 pm said...

Chow Mein is my fail safe meal that I cook for me and my husband whenever we don't have a lot of time but want to feel healthy.

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