I mean, with how much I love Chinese food, are you surprised I’m making Lo Mein? ?
This is the spaghetti of the Chinese-American cuisine and chances are if you head out to your favorite Chinese joint, someone in your party’s gonna order it! The only trouble is, it’s sometimes super greasy.
But this method is going to change all that!
It’s also crazy easy to make in the Instant Pot and the flavor really comes together so magically. All it takes are some good flour stick noodles, a few sauces, veggies, a protein and a few stirs and you’ll have a wonderful Lo Mein that the whole family will enjoy!
I decided to use Beef for my protein but you have the power to use any meat or seafood you’d like OR just make it vegetarian!
Here’s How I Made It:
We’re gonna start off with some flank steak that we’re going to cut into small strips.
Then we’re gonna go to the Instant Pot, throw in a little vegetable oil and sesame oil and heat it up.
Once the pot is hot and the oils are heated, add the beef along with some garlic and ginger and cook until lightly browned.
Now let’s add some Shaoxing (rice) wine, beef broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, red chile paste, scallions, mushrooms, snow peas…
…and coleslaw mix. Stir that up super well before securing the lid and cooking on high pressure.
Bring a pot of water to a boil on your stove and toss in the flour stick noodles (which can be found at most Asian markets or you can use spaghetti as a last resort)…
…and drain.
Once you remove the lid from the pot, add in the noodles along with some additional sesame oil drizzled over it. Mix to get everything tossed together.
When transferred to a serving bowl, add the final touches of some hoisin and pad thai sauces (yes, trust me) for a finishing touch!
I can tell you right now, everyone is going to prefer this over that greasy take-out Lo Mein moving forward!
Instant Pot Beef Lo Mein
Lo Mein is the spaghetti of the Chinese world and it's even better when it's made with such ease right in the Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 1 16oz package of Pancit Canton Flour Stick Noodles (I STRONGLY recommend you use these or something very similar as they are the most Lo Mein-like consistency and you can buy in many Asian markets or in the link. If you totally can’t find these, any other Asian noodle will do – or even spaghetti if you can’t find anything else)
- 1 lb of flank steak, cut against the grain and into bit sized pieces
- 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp of sesame oil (plus more for drizzling over the noodles)
- 1 bunch of scallions, chopped largely
- 1 tbsp of crushed garlic
- ½ tbsp of minced ginger
- ¼ cup of beef broth (1/4 tsp of Beef Better Than Bouillon + ¼ cup of water)
- 1 tbsp of Shaoxing wine (or Chinese rice wine)
- 3 tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp of oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp of red chile paste (this isn’t spicy)
- 8oz of sliced mushrooms (I used shiitake, but you can use any kind really)
- A generous handful of snow peas
- 1 14oz bag of coleslaw mix (no mayo – just the shredded cabbage and carrots)
- 2 tbsp of pad thai sauce
- 2 tbsp of hoison sauce
Instructions
- Add the vegetable and sesame oil to the Instant Pot then hit “Sauté” and “Adjust” so it’s on the “More” setting. Once the display reads “Hot” add the flank steak and stir for about 2 minutes until it’s browned on all sides. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for another minute
- Add in the beef broth, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, red chile paste, scallions, mushrooms, snow peas and coleslaw mix. Stir up very well
- Secure the lid and hit “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” High Pressure for 4 minutes. When done, perform a quick release
- While our Instant Pot is cooking, take a large pot of water and bring to a boil on your stove. Add the pancit canton noodles (probably in 2 batches as it’s a lot of noodles) and cook FOR ONE MINUTE ONLY! These are very delicate noodles and cook super quick so that is why I don’t think they should go in the pot while cooking the meat, veggies and sauce! When done, strain
- Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and then add the noodles and then drizzle some additional sesame oil. Mix the noodles well with the meat, veggies and sauce in the pot and then transfer to a large serving bowl
- Once in the serving bowl, add in the pad thai sauce and hoison sauce and toss and then serve!
- Enjoy!
Jeffrey's Tips
The beautiful thing about Lo Mein is you can use ANY kind of protein and vegetable you want so if you’d rather use chicken, use chicken! If you want other veggies like broccoli or water chestnuts, add them as well!
Make it vegetarian by subbing vegetable broth instead of the beef broth and using only veggies in place of the beef!
Melissa
If I wanted to use spaghetti bc that’s what I have on hand, how would I do that in the IP? Is there a way without using another pot, just do it all-in-one? Thank you so much!!
Linda
I thought the instant pot needed a cup of liquid or water. You only added a quarter cup of broth in this and some other sauces. Is it enough? I hate to get that BURN message.
Also how would I adjust the recipe if I use chicken or shrimp and could I put Ramon noodles on top and cook in the UP at the same time?
Jayne
I loved the flavor of this dish. However, I think I would cook the veggies in a wok next time, they were a bit too overcooked in the IP for our preferences. This recipe was spot on for taste!