Simple and Tasty Chow Mein

This is a very simple chow mein recipe and yet delicious.

Ingredients:

2 packages of chow mein noodles.
3 tablespoons of oyster sauce (if you like it salty add a bit more but use caution oyster sauce is really salty.).
1 teaspoon of sugar (some people like to omit the sugar for a salter noodle taste.).
1 to 1 1/2 cup of chopped meat (Char siu, chicken, pork, beef, luncheon meat or what ever is left over in the fridge).
16 oz package of frozen stir fry vegetable mix or 2 to 3 cups of chopped stir fry vegetables (carrots, onions, broccoli,  mushrooms, zucchini, green onion, baby corn, sugar snap peas, bell peppers.).
4 cloves of garlic, chopped.
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
1 teaspoon of sesame oil for taste (optional).

Some people want more meat, others want more vegetables, feel free to modify the recipe towards your taste.

It's important to prep the noodles and ingredients:

Before doing any cooking, prepare the ingredients a head of time.  I highly suggest reading the chow mein noodles directions on the package on how to prepare it.  Some chow mein noodles would have the words "ready to eat" on the package.  Naturally, people would assume that the noodles can be fried out of the package with out any preparation.  Unfortunately, I was one of those people.  In a bad case scenario the noodles would come out hard (not crispy) after frying them because they weren't prepared properly.  To properly prepare them, you can put them in boiling water for a few minutes, about 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft.  Do not leave the noodles in the water after you are done preparing it or they will get soggy.  The goal is get the noodles soft not soggy.  Drain them of the water and set it aside.

Time to cook the meat and vegetables:

After preparing the noodles, heat up the wok, or large frying pan if you don't have a wok, and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into the wok.  After the oil is heated, put the meat into the wok.  When the meat is heated and cooked thoroughly, transfer it to a bowl and set it aside.  Then stir fry vegetables into the wok and stir fry it until it is soft.  When the vegetables are soft, transfer it to a bowl and set it aside.

Fry the noodles without breaking them:

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil into the wok.  Wait until the oil is heated and then add the 4 cloves of chopped garlic.  Stir the garlic for about 30 seconds before adding the chow mein noodles.  Be careful how you handle the noodles, it breaks really easily.  I recommend using two long chop sticks and toss or swirl the noodles in a loop while cooking.  Add the oyster sauce and sugar to the noodles.  Swirl the noodles in a loop for about a minute or so and then add the meats and vegetables that was set aside into the wok.  Swirl the noodles in a loop again for about a minute or so to mix the meat, vegetables, and noodles together.  Finally add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil into the noodle mixture and swirl the noodles again for about a minute or so to distribute the oil throughout the mixture.  The sesame oil is just for the taste.  If you don't like sesame omit the oil.

Well that is all there is to making a very simple yet delicious noodle dish.  Just remember, the longer you fry the noodles the crisper they get, just don't over do it because burnt noodles aren't very tasty.  I hope you enjoy preparing this dish.  If you have any questions or suggestions please post a comment below.