Description
This healthy beef chow mein recipe combines lean fillet steak with wholemeal noodles and fresh vegetables, stir-fried to perfection using minimal oil. Packed with flavor from tamari, ginger, and garlic, it’s a nutritious and satisfying Asian-inspired dish that’s quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 2 wholemeal noodle nests (85g)
Beef and Vegetables
- 2 tsp rapeseed or sesame oil
- 200g lean fillet steak, fat removed and cut into strips
- 1 small red onion (100g), finely chopped
- 15g piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 160g chestnut mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 160g ready-to-eat beansprouts
- 4 spring onions (65g), cut into diagonal lengths
Sauce
- 1½ tsp tamari
- 1 tbsp brown rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Cook the noodles: Prepare the wholemeal noodles by following the package instructions until they are just tender. Drain and set aside while preparing the rest of the dish.
- Stir-fry the beef: Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a wok over high heat. Add the lean fillet steak strips and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until browned on the outside. Remove the beef from the wok and set aside on a plate.
- Cook the aromatics: Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to the wok. Stir-fry the chopped red onion and finely chopped ginger until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add a drop of water if the mixture starts sticking or burning. Cover the wok to help the ingredients steam during this step.
- Add mushrooms and garlic: Stir in the sliced chestnut mushrooms and finely chopped garlic. Fry for around 3 minutes until the mushrooms begin to soften and release their moisture.
- Cook beansprouts: Add the ready-to-eat beansprouts, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until they are heated through but still crisp.
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the tamari, brown rice vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water to make the sauce.
- Combine noodles and sauce: Add the drained noodles back into the wok and toss everything well to combine. Pour in the tamari and vinegar mixture, then add the spring onions and cooked beef strips.
- Final stir-fry: Stir-fry all ingredients together for a few minutes until everything is heated through and well coated with the sauce. Season generously with black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve the healthy beef chow mein hot, straight from the wok for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using wholemeal noodles adds extra fiber compared to regular noodles.
- Lean fillet steak keeps the dish low in fat while providing a tender texture.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute the beef with firm tofu or extra vegetables.
- Adjust the tamari quantity to control saltiness, especially if using regular soy sauce which tends to be saltier.
- To prevent burning when stir-frying onions and ginger, adding a splash of water helps create steam and soften ingredients gently.
- Cook the beef quickly over high heat to maintain juiciness and avoid overcooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: healthy beef chow mein, wholemeal noodles, lean beef stir-fry, quick Asian recipe, low fat chow mein
