Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What are Panda Express chow mein made of? ›

Ingredients: cabbage, wheat flour, celery, carrots, water, mung bean vermicelli, green onions, modified corn starch, contains less than 2% of: ginger & garlic oil, sesame oil, salt, sugar, dehydrated soy sauce, onion powder, natural stir-fry flavor, spices, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, soybean oil, sodium ...

Chow mein: thin, dried noodles that are parboiled for 5-6 minutes, and fried alongside veggies and meat. Lo mein: fat, chewy noodles that are boiled for a few minutes, then added to stir-fry after veggies and meat is cooked.

If you're someone who likes texture, a Panda Express chow mein may be the best bet for you as it has the crunch from the vegetables and crispy noodles. But if you want a saucy dish with chewy noodles you can slurp, a hot and sour shrimp lo mein will surely satisfy you.

Noodles used in classic chow mein are Chinese egg noodles. Their composition is very similar to spaghetti but the texture and flavour are noticeably different. They usually come in a round (or roundish) shape and have a quite pronounced yellow colour.

"Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young.

Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

If you are unable to find noodles that are specifically labeled as chow mein noodles or lo mein noodles, you can use linguine noodles, regular Italian spaghetti noodles, or another type of Asian noodle as a similar substitute.

Chow mein can provide vital nutrients such as carbs, protein, and veggies. Healthy Chow Mein Suggestions: Choose whole-wheat noodles, lean protein sources, and veggies in plenty. Use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.

From a nutritional standpoint, lo mein is better than chow mein, hands down. "Lo mein would be considered more nutritious because the noodles are not fried and there is less oil used in the cooking," Jaelin says. "Lo mein has less than half the calories and fat found in chow mein.

Does Panda chow mein have meat? ›

Chow Mein. The Panda Express spokesperson confirmed that chow mein isn't made with any animal products, however, it is also tossed in woks that may contain cross-contamination. If that's okay with you, you'll get to enjoy a tangle of wheat noodles with softened onion slivers, celery, and cabbage.

Yes, it is possible to substitute spaghetti for chow mein noodles by boiling it with a small amount of baking soda. The baking soda alters the pH level of the spaghetti, giving it a similar texture and flavor to chow mein noodles. They can then be used in any dish that calls for chow mein noodles.

Crispy chow mein is usually topped with a thick brown sauce, while steamed chow mein is mixed with soy sauce before being served. There is a regional difference in the US between the East and West Coast use of the term "chow mein". On the East Coast, "chow mein" is always the crispy kind.

"The Chow Mein, although a popular noodle dish you might want to dig into, packs 23 grams of fat and nearly half of a day's worth of sodium in one dish," says Ehsani.

Chow Mein. The Panda Express spokesperson confirmed that chow mein isn't made with any animal products, however, it is also tossed in woks that may contain cross-contamination. If that's okay with you, you'll get to enjoy a tangle of wheat noodles with softened onion slivers, celery, and cabbage.

Types of Chow Mein Noodles

Panda express uses Stir Fried Wheat Noodles similar to these. I used these Chow Mein noodles for this recipe. You can find them in your local grocery store where they have a dedicated section for Asian ingredients.

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.