Veg Chow Mein | Indian Chinese Style Veg Chowmein Noodle

Veg Chowmein Noodles are stir fried noodles with vegetables, sometimes including meat or other protein sources and served as such or with a gravy.

Chowmein is different from Hakka Noodles, though both use noodles and are cooked with vegetables. Hakka Noodles have its roots in the Hakka Han or Han Chinese, whereas chowmein is from Taishan.

Essentially Chow Mein is a kind of boiled noodles that are stir fried and cooked with vegetables, meat and sauces. Whereas Hakka Noodles are tossed with vegetables and meat.

Since a lot of people from these Chinese regions migrated to India, especially Kolkata, the Indian version has Bengali flavours to it. So we can find in the Indian Chinese cuisine, more usage of lots of green chilies, chilli garlic sauce and hot garlic sauce.

So we have both Indian versions of Hakka Noodles and Chow Mein. While the non vegetarian version can include meat, the vegetarian version can include cabbage, bamboo shoots, pea pods, green peppers, and carrots. In certain parts of North, you can find even paneer or scrambled eggs included.

Is Hakka Noodles and Chow Mein the same or different?

After having read so many sources and notes, I had to conclude that both Hakka Noodles and chow mein are made using noodles and similar kinds of vegetables are added to it.

Still the recipes online say that there is a slight difference between the two. It is said that Hakka noodles have dominant Bengali flavours whereas chow mein has flavours that can be closely associated with Chinese flavours. Moreover, Hakka noodles are cooked by tossing and frying the noodles. On the other hand, chow mein is made by stir-frying or boiling the noodles.

Basically Veg Chow mein makes a fantastic dish as part of a meal or platter and kids simply would love it!

Why am I talking about Chow Mein and platters? Well, we are starting our April Mega BM themed on Thalis and Platters.

My Day 1 in the Platters is all about Indo Chinese Platter. This Indo Chinese Party Menu will surely get your kids all excited! This Veg Chowmein is a typical Indo Chinese Dish. For ides on other Indo Chinese dishes, you can check my collection!

Since I am doing the same subtheme on both my sites for each week, SYL will feature platters that will appeal to kids more. Hop over to SYL to check what I have for Day 1 under Platters.

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Step By Step Pictures for making the noodles   

Veg Chow Mein | Indian Chinese Style Veg Chowmein Noodles

How to make chow mein Noodles

Boiling the noodles:

In a wide pot bring the water to a rolling bowl.
Once the water starts boiling, add the noodles.
Using a tong, loosen the noodles and let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Make sure the noodles are cooked just right and not become mushy.
Drain the water. Run under running water to stop the cooking process.
Then add a teaspoon oil and toss the noodles so they do not stick to each other. Keep it aside.

Making veg chow mein noodles:

Heat a nonstick pan with oil
Once hot add the chopped garlic and celery. Stir and saute for a few seconds.
Now add sliced onions, spring onion white and mix. Keep stirring till onions get soft and translucent.
Then add all the prepped vegetables and mix well.
Cook for 2-3 minutes to make sure the veggies are just soft and not fully cooked.
Next add all the sauces and mix well.
At this time add salt and pepper to taste.
Add boiled noodles and spring onion greens.
Toss everything together till noodles are coated with sauces and vegetable mixture well.
Serve hot.

Veg Chow Mein | Indian Chinese Style Veg Chowmein Noodles

Veg Chowmein Noodles are stir fried noodles with vegetables, sometimes including meat or other protein sources and served as such or with a gravy.

• CourseDinner
• CuisineIndo Chinese
• By Cook MethodStovetop
• OccasionHoliday Special, Party, Weekend Special
• By DietKid Friendly, Vegetarian
• Dish Type30 Minutes Meal
• KeywordIndo Chinese Platter, Veg Chowmein

Servings3 people

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1packet Hakka Noodles
• Water as required for boiling
• 2tbsp Cooking Oil
• 2tsp Garlic minced
• 1tbsp Celery finely chopped
• 1/2cup Onion sliced
• 1/2cup Carrot finely chopped
• 1cup Capsicum(I used Red, Yellow and Green Bell Peppers)
• 1/2cup Cabbage finely chopped
• 1tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1.5tbsp Tomato Ketchup
• 1.5tbsp Green Chilli Sauce
• 1.5tsp Vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Pepper Powder to Taste
• 1/4cup Spring Onions White
• 1/4cup Spring Onion Green

Instructions

Boiling the noodles:

1. In a wide pot bring the water to a rolling bowl.
2. Once the water starts boiling, add the noodles.
3. Using a tong, loosen the noodles and let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Make sure the noodles are cooked just right and not become mushy.
4. Drain the water. Run under running water to stop the cooking process.
5. Then add a teaspoon oil and toss the noodles so they do not stick to each other. Keep it aside.

Making veg chow mein noodles:

1. Heat a nonstick pan with oil
2. Once hot add the chopped garlic and celery. Stir and saute for a few seconds.
3. Now add sliced onions, spring onion white and mix. Keep stirring till onions get soft and translucent.
4. Then add all the prepped vegetables and mix well.
5. Cook for 2-3 minutes to make sure the veggies are just soft and not fully cooked.
6. Next add all the sauces and mix well.
7. At this time add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Add boiled noodles and spring onion greens.
9. Toss everything together till noodles are coated with sauces and vegetable mixture well.
10. Serve hot.

The post Veg Chow Mein | Indian Chinese Style Veg Chowmein Noodle appeared first on Cooking 4 all Seasons.

Posted in: Indian Cook