Easy Shanghai Fried Noodles
These Restaurant style Shanghai fried noodles is quick and easy meal and it takes only a minutes to make it at home but it is important to get all your ingredients ready to go as the cooking part goes by really fast.
If you're looking for an easy Chines dish. Shanghai fried noodles is my go-to one-pan dish. Simple, yet absolutely packed with cracking Chinese flavors, the stir-fry sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and savoury and would work equally well with this dish.
What are Shanghai Fried Noodles?
Shanghai fried noodles (Cu Chao Mian - 上海粗炒面) are made of thick and chewy noodles are typically stir fried with pork, beef or even shrimp along with cabbage, mushrooms, green onions and savory sauce!
This is a popular dish found in most Chinese food markets, and in Shanghainese or Chinese restaurants all over the world, especially in Hong Kong.
These Shanghai noodles are packed umami flavors that you won't be able to get enough!
If you like noodles as a quick and light meal, this is a must-try one. These dish are perfect for a busy weeknights when you're craving Chinese takeout but want something homemade!
Ingredient's You'll Need
- Noodles - You will need thick noodles for this recipe, if you don't have shanghai noodles you can sub with your preferred long noodle such as fresh or frozen udon. I used dried udon noodles works well (which the only packed left in my pantry)
- Meat - This dish traditionally contains pork but i used beef this time or you can replace with chicken or shrimp.
- Veggies - You can use any Asian veggies such as green cabbage, carrots, bok choy or yu choy sum.
- Mushroom- Using fresh shiitake mushrooms (you can use any other mushrooms too). If using dried shiitake mushrooms, to reconstitute dried shiitake mushrooms, soak them in hot water for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Aromatics - Onion, garlic and ginger is the best in any stir- fry dishes.
- Beef Marinade - Combination of soy sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch.
- Stir Fry Sauce - Combination of regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce (dark soy is needed for Shanghai-style fried noodles’ signature dark color, oyster sauce (gives great umami flavor),chicken stock, sesame oil ( adds flavor) sugar ans cornstarch.
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Simple, yet absolutely packed with cracking Chinese flavors, the stir-fry sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and savoury.
- 250 grams beef (cut into strips)
- 200 grams udon noodles (dried or fresh)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 1 onion
- 5 shiitake mushroom
- 2 cups cabbage (chopped)
- 1 carrot
- 3 spring onion (cut into 2 inch pieces)
- oil for cooking
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/3 cup chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Heat a large pot of water over high heat. Cook dried udon noodles according to package directions.
In a bowl, combine beef, soy sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch. Mix well until combined. Set aside until ready to use.
In another bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix well.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or frying pan over high heat. Add beef strips, spreading them all over the wok and letting them cook undisturbed for a minute. Flip and cook the other side until it’s brown all over, then remove it to a plate and set it aside.
Using the same wok, saute onion until translucent. Then, add garlic and ginger saute until fragrant. Add in carrots and spring onion and mushrooms, stir fry for 2 minutes.
Add the beef back to the wok, add in cabbage and udon noodles then, pour in stir fry sauce. Toss until everything is well combined and the cabbage start to softened.
Turn off the heat. Serve immediately!
- If using dried mushroom- to reconstitute dried shiitake mushrooms, soak in hot water for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
- Protein - You can replace beef with chicken or pork, or any seafood that comes in handy. The fried noodles taste equally delicious.
