Make deliciously spicy desi chow mein at home with stir-fried lean chicken, assorted veggies, and juicy flavored noodles. These Pakistani noodles are so good and easy to make!
I’ve been making chow mein for decades but it has always been spontaneous and taste-test cooking. So when a sweet follower asked about my chow mein recipe. I had to make sure it is the easiest and tastiest version with the simplest ingredients. So I tried this recipe 3 times before I was happy with result that tasted like true desi chow mein.
What is Desi Chow mein?
When Chinese restaurants flourished in India and Pakistan they developed recipes and food to cater desi taste. With that developed many versions of desi chow mein.
When you say spicy desi chow mein you mean lots of black pepper, chilies, and sweet and sour taste. This recipe does not produce dhaba style taste but more like a restaurant's flavor. If you wish to give it a more desi and home-style feel. Consider adding black pepper, and little ginger too.
Few tips
- The texture of noodles: When it comes to chow mein, looks can matter a lot. So try to get good quality noodles. Cook noodle a minute less than mentioned on the pack so when you cook it in the gravy, it doesn't get mushy. Another thing that really helps is cooking noodles in advance. That is when cool or room temperature noodles are added to gravy holds their texture very well compared to freshly boiled hot noodles.
- Stir fry noodle: Desi Chow-mein is stir fry noodles. So like any stir-fry, a wide cookind surface like that of a wok or a large fry-pan can help reach that high temperature and allow plenty of space for stirring.
- Cooking on high heat: Cooking on high heat can really help you to get that stir fry taste that is very distinct from Chinese food. Obviously, keep stirring and adjust heat as needed between steps.
- Work in batches, if doubling recipe : Crowding the pan can effect the texture and taste so if you decide to double the recipe. Please work in batches.
- Prep ideas: If you plan to do preps of chow mein a night ahead. You can make sauce, boils noodles, marinate chicken and cut veggies in advance. Stir fry just before serving and this would take less than 20 minutes.
Variation in Indian/Pakistani noodles:
- Veggies: You may add less or more of any veggies you like best. Other veggies that can go best are baby corns, mushrooms, asparagus, sprout, and so on.
- Protein: You can sub chicken with quick-cooking beef like undercut, shrimps, or scrambled egg. Mushroom and cashew nuts can be used for a vegetarian Chow mein.
- Noodles: You can use any long noodles that you have in hand, cooked or dry. If using cooked noodles, take 450 grams.
- Sesame oil: Sesame oil has many health benefits and it’s totally worth every penny. It adds to the taste of chow mein. If you are skeptical about how to use sesame oil, you can use it in salad dressings and most Chinese and Asian cooking. In fact, you can consume a teaspoon daily for health benefits.
- Hoisin sauce: Hoisin can be substituted with oyster sauce. Both are rich in umami flavors and add restaurant-style flavors. You can sub it with more soy sauce.
- Chicken cube: This adds a savory chicken flavor and is used to omit Chinese salt or monosodium glutamate that is often added in desi Chow mein. But you can fairly do without it if you can’t find msg free bullion. You can also use msg-free chicken powder.
How to make Desi Chow Mein?
The recipe is super simple, check the pictorial below for quick grasping.
- Start by mixing all ingredients of sauce in a bowl. Also, boil spaghetti 1 minute less than the instructions on the packet. Then transfer spaghetti to the colander and drain the liquid. Wash spaghetti with cold water while still in the colander to stop cooking. Then apply few drops of oil all over the spaghetti and let it cool. Set aside. You can find detailed instructions to boil noodles here.
- Take 2 tablespoons of sauce and mix with the chicken. Mix well and marinate chicken for 20 minutes.
- Fry garlic and chiles to season the oil. (You can use any dry or fresh whole red chilies.)
- Add chicken and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes on high heat until cooked.
- Stir in veggies except for green onions and continue to stir fry for 2 minutes until soft.
- Mix in the prepared sauce too.
- Add noodles and mix well with a noodle spoon. Continue to stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Finally, sprinkle green onion. Mix well and serve Desi Chow mein.
Hungry For spicy Desi Chinese? Check these!
Desi Chicken Chow Mein Indian/Pakistani style
Make deliciously spicy desi chow mein at home with stir-fried lean chicken, assorted veggies, and juicy flavored noodles. These Pakistani noodles are so good and easy to make!
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Servings : 4 servings
Calories: 576kcal
Ingredients
- 225 grams spaghetti or other long noodles, about half family pack
For sauce
- 4 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoon hoisin sauce, or more soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoon sesame oil , or peanut oil or any oil
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- ½ tablespoon red chilli flakes , or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper, or black pepper
- ½ chicken cube or bullion
Stir-Fry
- 350 grams chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 3-4 round button chilies , or any spicy red chili
Veggies
- 1 medium onion, about ¾ cup
- 1 thick carrot, Julienned about ¾ cup
- 1 large capsicum, about ½ cup
- ½ cabbage shredded, about 1 cup
- 3 stalk green onions, white and green part seperated.
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti 1 minute less than the instructions on the packet.
- Mix all ingredients of sauce in a bowl.
- Take 2 tablespoons of sauce and mix with the chicken. Marinate chicken for 20 minutes.
- Fry garlic and chiles to season the oil. Add chicken and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes on high heat until cooked.
- Stir in veggies except for green onions and continue to stir fry for 2 minutes until soft.
- Mix in the prepared sauce and noodles. Mix well and continue to stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle green onion and mix well. Serve.
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