Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles
on Feb 01, 2022, Updated Oct 06, 2023
Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles (Prawn Chow Mein) is a no-fuss, easy one-pot meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients. Say no to takeaways and make these Cantonese-style shrimp noodles at home using my easy recipe.
Here are some more noodle recipes that you may like: Shrimp Mei Fun, Thai Chicken Drunken Noodles, Vegan Pad Thai Noodles, Veg Hakka Noodles, and Chilli Garlic Noodles.
I love noodles. They are the most versatile dish to make. Change the sauces here and there, add a few extra or fewer ingredients, and you can make new versions all the time. They are filling, loaded with flavors, and healthy if you add enough veggies and protein.
I made shrimp chow mein for yesterday’s dinner. Now, in India, noodles tossed with sauces are called chow mein. In certain parts of the world, chow mein is essentially crispy noodles tossed with sauces. But what’s in the name, friends? This dish turned out extremely delicious, and that is all that matters. Do try this recipe and send me love in the comments!
About Shrimp Chow Mein
Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles (Prawn Chow Mein) is a classic Chinese (Cantonese style) dish made with egg noodles, juicy shrimp (prawns), veggies and sauces.
It is a shrimp stir-fry tossed with noodles and sauces. Most Chinese restaurants serve it.
Chow mein means “fried noodles,” but don’t let the word “fried” mislead you. Very little oil is used to make this dish.
This shrimp noodles recipe comes together in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients. It is fuss-free, one-pot, and tastes much better than the takeaways.
Shrimp chow mein is a complete meal in itself. It contains carbohydrates from the noodles, protein from the shrimp, vitamins and minerals from the veggies, as well as the required fat.
You can also serve this noodle dish with gravies or stir-fries such as Hibachi Chicken, Hunan Shrimp, or Chinese Mango Chicken Stir Fry.
The best part is that you can easily customize this recipe. Add more or fewer sauces, replace shrimp with other seafood, chicken, or eggs, or use the vegetables you like.
If you want your noodles to be crispy, you can do that. I have mentioned the process in the recipe below.
Ingredients
You will get all the ingredients at your local Asian grocery store or in the Asian aisle of supermarkets.
Noodles – Chow Mein is traditionally made using medium-sized Chinese egg noodles. You can also use Yakisoba Noodles or Linguine Pasta.
Hongkong Noodles, Chow Mein Noodles, Hakka Noodles, or Thin Wonton Noodles also work perfectly.
To make this dish’s healthy, low-carb version, replace noodles with spiralized zucchini.
Shrimp – You can use fresh or frozen uncooked shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, bring them to room temperature before using them.
I have used wild-caught medium-sized shrimp (shells and veins removed), but you can choose any easily available size. The cooking time will differ, though.
Vegetables – I have added fresh vegetables like red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, green cabbage, carrots, moong bean sprouts, etc., for a nice crunch.
You can also add green beans, mushrooms, snow peas, spinach, purple cabbage, celery, bok choy, broccoli, bamboo shoots, cauliflower, zucchini, baby corn, etc.
Tip – To save time, you can buy already shredded cabbage and carrots
Sauce – Sauces like soy sauce, white vinegar, Sriracha sauce (or any other hot sauce), and oyster sauce add a nice Asian flavor to this dish.
Others – You will also need fresh ginger, garlic, honey, sesame oil, lime juice, red chili powder, salt, and pepper.
If you do not like sesame oil, you can replace it with olive oil, peanut oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil.
Tip – You can buy pre-cooked noodles and premade Asian vegetable mix to save time.
You can also add fish sauce, hoisin sauce, or Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine) for a taste change.
How To Make Shrimp Chow Mein
Preparation
Make sure to keep the ingredients ready before starting to make the chow mein. You need to stir fry the ingredients on high flame for the best flavor, and if they are not handy, you might burn them in the wok.
Clean and devein 15-18 medium-sized shrimps.
Mince garlic and ginger, cut carrots into thin juliennes, shred green cabbage finely, and cut red and yellow bell peppers into thin strips. To prepare the carrots and cabbage, you can use a mandoline slicer or a julienne peeler.
Chop the spring onion greens.
Gather the remaining ingredients.
Cook The Noodles
Cook 200 grams (7 oz) of medium-sized, dried egg noodles per the manufacturer’s directions.
Drain and toss with 2 teaspoon oil and set aside.
Note – Do not overcook the noodles; otherwise, the chow mein will become mushy.
Tip – You can cook the noodles in advance and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Please bring them to room temperature before using them.
Marinate The Shrimp
Add 15-18 cleaned and deveined medium-sized uncooked shrimps to a medium mixing bowl.
Add the following ingredients and coat the shrimp with the mixture.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
Set aside.
Mix The Sauces
Stir together the following ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- 4 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Make The Chow Mein
Heat a wok over high heat.
Once the wok is hot, add 2 tablespoon oil.
Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add 2 teaspoon minced ginger and 2 teaspoon minced garlic and fry for 6-8 seconds.
Add the marinated shrimp to the wok and saute for 2 minutes until pink.
Note – If using small shrimp, then saute them for 1 minute, and if using large shrimp, then saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add the following ingredients to the wok and saute for a minute.
- ½ cup finely julienned carrots
- 1 cup finely shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup thinly sliced red and yellow bell peppers
- ½ cup moong bean sprouts
Tip: Toss the vegetables only a few times. They should get a nice sear and be firm but not soggy.
Now add the cooked noodles and the sauce mixture we made earlier and toss well using 2 large spoons, large chopsticks, or a pair of tongs.
Check for salt and add more if needed.
Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve hot.
Pro Tips By Neha
To make cooking quicker, prepare the veggies while the noodles cook.
It would help to start making the chow mein only when all the ingredients are ready and near the stove. You must quickly toss the ingredients over high heat for the best flavor.
Stir-fry the ingredients in small batches to maintain their texture and prevent overcrowding in the pan. Overcrowding can lead to steaming rather than stir-frying, resulting in soggy vegetables.
Use high heat throughout the cooking process to ensure the ingredients are cooked quickly, maintaining their crispness and vibrant colors.
Use a pair of long chopsticks, large spoons, or tongs to toss and mix the ingredients. This ensures that the sauce is evenly distributed and coats all the components.
Increase the quantity of veggies to make this dish healthier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook the noodles until soft and drain them well.
Heat a wide and shallow pan on high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil to it when it is VERY HOT.
Spread ½ of the cooked noodles in a thin and even layer on the pan.
Tilt the pan in a circular motion to coat the bottom of the noodles with the oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the noodles using a large spatula or a tong and drizzle another tablespoon of oil. Tilt the pan to coat the noodles.
Don’t worry if you can’t turn the noodles in one go. Just make sure to turn all the patches. Let the other side crisp up for 2-3 minutes. Remove the noodles to a plate and fry the remaining half similarly.
Now toss the noodles with veggies and sauces and serve.
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Shrimp Chow Mein Recipe
Equipment
- Wok
Ingredients
To Marinate The Shrimps
- 15-18 medium-size shrimps (prawns) (fresh or frozen, cleaned and deveined)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
For The Sauce
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (or any other hot sauce)
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For Cooking The Noodles
- 7 ounce uncooked medium-sized egg noodles (200 g)
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
For The Chow Mein
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ cup finely julienned carrots
- 1 cup finely shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup thinly sliced red and yellow bell peppers
- ½ cup moong bean sprouts
- salt (to taste)
- ½ cup chopped spring onion greens
Instructions
Preparation
- Make sure to keep the ingredients ready before starting to make the chow mein. You need to stir fry the ingredients on high flame for the best flavor and if they are not handy, you might burn the ones in the wok.
Cook The Noodles
- Cook egg noodles as per the manufacturer’s direction.
- Drain and toss with oil and set aside.
- Note – Do not overcook the noodles otherwise the chow mein will become mushy.
Marinate The Shrimp
- Add shrimp to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add salt, black pepper, red chili powder, and lime juice, and coat the shrimp with the mixture.
- Set aside.
Mix The Sauces
- Stir together soy sauce, white vinegar, Sriracha sauce, oyster sauce, honey, and sesame oil in a bowl and set it aside.
Make The Chow Mein
- Heat a wok over high heat.
- Once the wok is hot, add oil.
- Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add ginger and garlic and fry for 6-8 seconds.
- Add the marinated shrimp to the wok and saute for 2 minutes until they are pink in color.
- Add carrots, cabbage, red and yellow bell pepper, and bean sprouts to the wok and saute for a minute.
- Tip – Toss the vegetables only a few times. They should get a nice sear and should be firm and not soggy.
- Now add the cooked noodles and the sauce mixture that we made earlier and toss well using 2 large spoons, large chopsticks, or tongs.
- Check for salt and add more if needed.
- Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds and serve hot.
The taste is fantastic! I did follow instruction and had to remove the shrimp as they were getting rubbery. I will make this again but, will make adjustments and add the shrimp towards the end and will crisp up the noodles as adding them at the end did not result crispy. But, the flavors are superb and very tasty.
This dish looks so good, I would love to have this Chow Mein for dinner, with so many vegetables, shrimps and noodles. Truly easy and satisfying recipe!
Thnx Alina. I am sure you will love it.
I have been following you on Instagram from few months!
I love your website and how get into each detail of the recipe!
Thnx a lot 🙂