About the Recipe
This street-style Veg Chowmein is a popular Indo-Chinese noodle preparation featuring springy noodles tossed with colourful vegetables and aromatic ingredients over high heat. The noodles are partially cooked, cooled and coated with oil before being stir-fried in a hot wok. A balanced combination of soy sauce, chilli sauces, ketchup and seasonings gives the chowmein its savoury, spicy and slightly tangy flavour.
Ingredients
NOODLES
Noodles: 200 g
Water: As required for boiling
Salt: As required
Oil: As required
VEGETABLES
Carrot: 70 g, sliced and julienned
Green Capsicum: 80 g, julienned
Spring Onion Whites: 25 g
Spring Onion Greens: 25 g
Onion: 80 g, sliced
Garlic: 15 g, finely chopped
Ginger: 12 g, finely chopped
Green Chilli: 2 pcs, finely chopped
SAUCE MIXTURE
Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp
Red Chilli Sauce: 1 tbsp
Green Chilli Sauce: 1 tsp
Tomato Ketchup: 1 tbsp
Sugar: ½ tsp
MSG: ½ tsp
White Pepper: ½ tsp
Black Pepper: ¼ tsp
FINAL SEASONING
Vinegar: 1 tbsp
Garam Masala: 1 tsp
Preparation
PREPARING THE NOODLES
Step 1
Bring water to a rolling boil. Add salt and the noodles.
Step 2
Cook the noodles until they are approximately 80% done.
Step 3
Drain the noodles and rinse them with ice-cold water.
Step 4
Coat the noodles with a little oil and spread them out to air dry.
PREPARING THE SAUCE MIXTURE
Step 1
Add soy sauce, red chilli sauce, green chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, sugar, MSG, white pepper and black pepper to a bowl.
Step 2
Mix everything well and keep the sauce mixture ready.
Step 3
Keep the vinegar and garam masala ready for the final adjustment.
STIR-FRYING THE VEGETABLES
Step 1
Place the largest wok over high heat and allow it to become very hot.
Step 2
Add a little oil and heat briefly for approximately 15 seconds. If seasoning the wok, remove the oil, wipe the wok and then add fresh oil.
Step 3
Add the chopped ginger, garlic and green chilli. Stir-fry for approximately 15 seconds.
Step 4
Add the sliced onion and spring onion whites.
Step 5
Add the capsicum and carrot. Stir-fry the vegetables over high heat for 1-2 minutes.
ADDING THE NOODLES AND SAUCE
Step 1
Add the prepared noodles to the wok and stir-fry for approximately 10 seconds.
Step 2
Pour the prepared sauce mixture around the edges of the hot wok.
Step 3
Toss and stir-fry everything together over high heat for another 1-2 minutes.
FINAL SEASONING AND SERVING
Step 1
Step 2
Add the garam masala and vinegar.
Step 3
Toss well over high heat, then turn off the flame.
Step 4
Finish with the spring onion greens.
Step 5
Serve the Veg Chowmein hot.
Tips and Tricks:
Cook the noodles only until approximately 80% done so they do not become mushy during stir-frying.
Rinse the noodles with ice-cold water immediately after draining to stop the cooking process.
Coat the noodles lightly with oil and spread them out so they dry properly before stir-frying.
Use a large wok and get it very hot before adding the ingredients.
Stir-fry everything over high heat to achieve the characteristic smoky wok flavour.
Avoid overcooking the vegetables; they should remain slightly crunchy.
Add the sauces around the hot edges of the wok for better caramelisation and flavour.
Add vinegar and garam masala towards the end to retain their aroma and flavour.
Serve immediately for the best texture.

