Minnesota-Style Chow Mein
Minnesota-Style Chow Mein
If you live in the Midwest, specifically Minnesota, you’ve probably eaten what we recognize as chow mein. MN chow mein can be traced back as early as the 1920s; adapted to fit the American palate. Actual Chinese chow mein is a lot closer to what we know as lo mein; stir fried noodles with meat and vegetables. Our version of chow mein consists of a brown slurry of ground pork and celery served over rice, topped with crispy fried chow mein noodles. Additions to the chow mein can include chicken, mushrooms, shrimp, and a variety of vegetables. You can find this particular style of chow mein on just about every Chinese American menu. You won’t find our indigenous version of chow mein in China.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 bunch celery chopped 1/2” thick
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 8 oz mushrooms thinly sliced
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup cold water
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tsp beef bouillon
- 1 tsp molasses
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- white rice cooked
- chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Brown the ground pork in a large sauté pan over medium high heat.
- Add the celery, onions, and mushrooms. Continue cooking for 5 minutes.
- Pour in 1 cup of water. Cover. Reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mix together the cold water, cornstarch, soy sauces, molasses, and beef bouillon.
- Pour the slurry in the chow mein.
- Simmer for 2 minutes until thickened.
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