Chow Mein with Vegetables

Chow mein simply means "fried noodles", and that's precisely where the whole dish lives or dies. Egg noodles are stir-fried over roaring heat until they get a light crust, then mixed with still-crisp vegetables and a sauce of light and dark soy sauce and oyster sauce that coats everything beautifully. The key is speed and a really hot wok - that way you prevent the noodles from steaming soft instead of frying. The dish welcomes whatever you have: chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, making it a grateful weeknight savior.

• Cuisine: Chinese
• Time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Boil the egg noodles one minute less than indicated on the package, drain them in a sieve, and rinse them quickly with cold water. Toss them with a drop of sesame oil to prevent them from sticking together.
2. Whisk the sauce together in a small bowl: light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, a little sugar, and a dash of sesame oil.
3. Slice the spring onions, bell pepper, and carrot into thin, uniform strips so they cook quickly and evenly.
4. Heat the wok until it's almost smoking, add neutral oil, and sauté the garlic and ginger for a moment until fragrant.
5. Add the harder vegetables first - carrot and bell pepper - and stir-fry quickly for a couple of minutes before adding most of the spring onions.
6. Push the vegetables to the side, add the noodles, and let them rest for a moment against the hot bottom to get a slight crust before tossing everything.
7. Pour the sauce along the edge of the wok and toss vigorously until everything is coated and glossy.
8. Serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining spring onions and fresh chili to taste.

Tips

• Chow mein is best cooked over very high heat and for short periods, so the noodles get a slight crust.
• Don't use too much liquid or sauce at once, otherwise the noodles will boil instead of fry.
• Cook in batches if your wok is small - an overcrowded wok will result in a boiled rather than fried dish.
• Feel free to add fresh slices of chicken or firm tofu along with the harder vegetables if you want a more filling meal.