Description
This Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe recreates the flavorful and comforting stir-fried noodle dish, featuring tender ramen noodles tossed with crisp cabbage, celery, green onions, and a savory homemade sauce. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal, it captures the classic taste of the popular takeout favorite with simple ingredients you can make at home in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (add more if you like the sesame oil flavor)
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1-2 Tbsp water or chicken stock
- Pinch white pepper
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
- 3-4 cups thinly shredded cabbage
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- 4 green onions, chopped into 1-2 inch segments
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 3 packages (~8-10 ounces total cooked weight) ramen noodles (dry yakisoba ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ramen Noodles: Cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions, then spin them in a salad spinner or drain well to remove excess water. Toss with a little oil to prevent sticking and set aside. Cook them just before adding into the dish to avoid clumping.
- Make the Sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, toasted sesame oil, oyster sauce, cornstarch, water or chicken stock, and white pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until hot. Add the shredded cabbage and sliced celery. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until vegetables are tender but still retain a slight crunch. Push the vegetables to the side of the wok.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add a bit more oil to the empty side of the wok. Add chopped green onions and roughly chopped garlic. Stir-fry quickly for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then mix together with the cabbage and celery.
- Add Noodles and Sauce: Add the cooked ramen noodles and the prepared sauce into the wok. Stir-fry everything together over medium heat until the noodles are heated through and evenly coated with the sauce.
- Serve: Transfer to serving plates and garnish with additional chopped green onions if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with more soy sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use yakisoba-style ramen noodles or comparable stir-fry noodles for best texture.
- To prevent noodles from sticking, toss cooked noodles with oil immediately after draining.
- You can substitute chicken stock for water in the sauce for more depth of flavor.
- The cooking time for vegetables is kept short to maintain crunch, a signature texture in chow mein.
- Feel free to add protein such as sliced chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a heartier meal.
