This easy Homemade Shrimp Chow Lo Mein Reduced Sodium recipe reflects a marriage between Chow Mein and Lo Mein. I prefer Chow Mein for its texture. A few months back, I accidently ordered Lo Mein instead of Chow Mein at a Chinese restaurant.
They may be first cousins, but their flavors and textures are not the same. Lo Mein is less appetizing in my opinion. Combinding their cooking methods is a great ways to enjoy the best of both mein worlds. However, we are delighted to share with you this delicious fusion of these two Chinese dishes. Before you get started on the dish, here are some differences between Chow Mein and Lo Mein that you might find intriguing.
Chow Mein vs. Lo Mein: What’s The Difference?
Chow Mein and Lo Mein are both popular Chinese noodle dishes. Even though they are used interchangeably in the United States, there are a few differences.
Type of Noodles Used: The main difference between chow mein and lo mein is the noodles used in each dish. Chow mein noodles are usually thin, crispy, and cooked till they are crunchy. The cooking procedure determines whether they are soft or crispy. Lo mein noodles are thicker and softer. They are cooked and then stir-fried with the remaining ingredients.
How They are Cooked: Chow Mein or CHAU-MEN is translated to mean “fried noodles.” It is made by stir-frying noodles, vegetables, meat, and sauce in a heated wok or skillet. The noodles are frequently cooked until crispy, resulting in a crunchy texture.
On the other hand, Lo Mein, or LAO-MIEN (“stirred noodles”) calls for cooking the noodles until soft before tossing them with stir-fried toppings and sauce. The noodles in lo mein maintain their silky feel.
The Ingredients: While both recipes can contain a variety of vegetables, meats, and sauces, the exact items utilized may differ. Chow mein frequently includes vegetables like cabbage, celery, onions, carrots, and bean sprouts, as well as meat like chicken, beef, or shrimp. Lo mein may have identical ingredients, but it is typically cooked with a richer sauce that coats the softer noodles.
Texture: Because of their different cooking method, chow mein typically has a crunchy texture from fried noodles, whereas lo mein has a softer, more tender texture from boiled noodles.
Chow mein and lo mein also differ by region. For example, chow mein is more usually linked with Cantonese food, but lo mein is frequently connected with northern Chinese cuisine.
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Homemade Shrimp Chow Lo Mein | Reduced Sodium
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Homemade Shrimp Chow Lo Mein | Reduced Sodium
Equipment
- Wok or large pot
- Wooden Spoon
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
Shrimp Ingredients
- 1 lb. Shrimp, peeled
- 1 tbsp. Complete Seasoning
- 2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1½ tsp. Black Pepper
Chow Lo Mein Ingredients
- 14 oz Chow Mein Noodles
- 2 cups Cabbage, roughly shredded
- 1 lb. Asparagus, cut in 1 to 2 inches
- ½ cup Carrots, shredded
- 1 tbsp. Soy Sauce
- 4 stalks Scallions or Green Onions
- 1 medium Onion
- 2 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 cups Frozen Sweet Peppers, defrosted
Instructions
Let"s Season the Shrimp
- The beautiful thing about these shrimp is that they are already deveined and easy to peel. Remove the shrimp's shell, including its tails.
- In a bowl, combine cold water and ½ lemon juice. Allow the peeled shrimp to rest in the lemon bath for approximately 5 minutes. Drain the shrimp and season with roasted garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and chill in the refrigerator overnight or for 2 hours before lunch or dinner.
Let's Prepare Vegetables for Chow Lo Mein
- Remove the shrimp from the fridge and let them remain at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Using a vegetable brush, thoroughly wash all vegetables under running tap water. On a cutting board, slice or shred the cabbage into medium-sized pieces.Shred 1 medium carrot with a grater to get around ½ to 1 cup. Cut the scallions into one-inch slices. Cube onions into ½-inch thick slices. Set these veggies aside.
- Using a knife, remove the bottom end of each asparagus stalk. This region is typically highly fibrous and not tender.
- Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
- In a saucepan, bring one quart of water to a boil. This is optional, however you can add 1 tsp salt and olive oil to the boiling water.
- Cook the Chow Mein noodles for 3 to 5 minutes or until al dente' (soft to the touch). Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, heat ¼ cup olive oil for 3 minutes. Add the chopped onion, scallions, and sweet peppers. Cook for 2 minutes, allowing them to sweat and become translucent. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the shrimp are orange-pink.
- Add the chopped asparagus, shredded cabbage, and carrots to the onion mixture. Drizzle the soy sauce over the vegetable mixture and combine thoroughly. This recipe calls for 1 tbsp of regular soy sauce. However, to further lower the dish's salt content, you can use reduced or low-sodium soy sauce.
- To the vegetable mixture, add the aldente chow mein noodles and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Mix all of the ingredients using a spoon or tongs.
- This dish serves about 6 people. Serve warm in a bowl or on a plate.
Video
Shrimp Chow Lo Mein
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Thank you for visiting. Please share your thoughts and leave a star rating.
Oooh, this sounds and looks amazing! I have to try this soon. :-)
Thank you Carolyn. You will enjoy it
This looks so delicious and healthy! Yum ;)
Thank you, Spicy Rocking chair.
I order something similar to this shrimp dish from a local restaurant. I didn’t realize how easy it is to make the homemade version. Thank you for the shrimp recommendation – it’s great they are already deveined and easy to peel. I’ll be trying this soon!
Thank you, Debbie. Glad you enjoy the Shrimp Chow Mein recipe.
This looks so good – cant wait to try!
Thank you, Morgan.
Thank you, Morgan
This looks great- I’ll be giving it a try!
Thank you Carolyn. Enjoy when you make my Shrimp Chow Lo Mein.
Thank you Carolyn
I had some gorgeous asparagus on hand so this was a perfect recipe to try. Thanks for all your tips and tricks.
Thank you, Vaishali
Looks delicious. I like shrimp very much.
Thank you, Miss Simplitty
This looks amazing! Thanks for this recipe!
You are welcome Catherine. Thank you.
I love Chinese food and can’t wait to try this dish that looks so yummy! Thanks for the detailed recipe and for the photos as well as video, as it makes it much more easier to know if I’m doing things right.
Thank you, Ginger. Happy you like my Chow Lo Mein recipe. Enjoy when you make it.
This recipe is super delicious! Love the flavors and can’t wait to try it!
Thank you Hari.
This meal looks delicious! Definitely will have to try this!
Thank you, appreciate you dropping by.
Excellent, easy to follow recipe!
I would have to leave out the shrimp, but I would love to try this out. I enjoy noodle dishes so much and this sounds delicious!
Thanks for visiting Molly. You can substitute the shrimp with tofu https://amzn.to/4cEQI6i
This recipe looks fantastic! I love that it’s a healthier version with reduced sodium. The step-by-step instructions make it look so easy to prepare. Can’t wait to try this out at home. Thank you for sharing such a delicious and mindful recipe!
Thank you Jaishree. Enjoy when you make it
Looks delicious. I like sea food.
Thank you, MS.
Thank you, Miss Simplitty
SO colourful and wonderful, looks excellent with asparagus…
Thank you for visiting, UFS.
Thank you, Under FlowerSky.
Looks great, pinning for latee!
Thank You
Thank you Carolyn