Turkey Chow Mein
This easy turkey chow mein recipe uses thin strips of poultry rather than minced turkey. You could make it as a chicken chow mein recipe, too – it makes little difference to the end result. Unlike some similar chow mein recipes, this one isn’t a minced or ground turkey chow mein. Nor is there any oyster sauce in the chow mein gravy. This is something of a special chow mein, though, as there is a secret – and very British – ingredient. Marmite.
Why Marmite? The idea for its inclusion was provided by a pouch of chow mein stir fry sauce. I was wondering how to make chow mein at home, so I read the ingredients in the ready-made chow mein sauce for inspiration. ‘Yeast extract’ was listed, hence my trying the addition of Marmite in these noodles. And although this might not be a traditional chow mein recipe, it really worked. We are talking about a very small quantity – about a teaspoon, rather than a tablespoon, of the ubiquitous yeast extract.
Why order a takeway chow mein when a quick chicken chow mein can be stir fried in minutes? Using a pre-prepared stir-fry vegetable pack cuts out so much prep time, and these are now widely available in a choice of combinations. If you want a turkey chow mein with cabbage, for instance, or a mushroom chow mein recipe, then pick your pack accordingly. While it’s not, perhaps, an authentic chicken chow mein recipe, it does taste really good. It is also pretty healthy, being packed with lean protein and vegetables. You can use egg or rice noodles here – the straight-to-wok kind are best as they are also a time-saver.
Cooked poultry could also be used here to create a leftover turkey stir fry – such as after Christmas. Simply miss out first step and add the cooked meat alongside the vegetables. Make sure it is thoroughly heated before serving. If you want a Chinese turkey recipe, then do try this.
This easy chow mein recipe serves 2
Turkey chow mein ingredients
- Turkey breast steaks (or chicken), sliced into thin strips
- Sesame oil, 2 tsp
- Soy sauce, 3 tbsp
- Garlic, 2 cloves, crushed
- Marmite, 1 tsp
- Stir fry vegetables, 1 pack (of your choice)
- Noodles, 1 pack (straight to wok type)
Equipment
How to make Chow Mein at home
- At least 15 minutes before cooking, mix the sliced turkey (or chicken) with 1 tsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp soy sauce. Leave to marinate for about 10-15 minutes minimum. Cover with cling film and refrigerate if marinating for longer.
- Heat 1 tsp sesame oil in a non-stick wok. When it’s almost at smoking point, add the poultry pieces and stir fry for a few minutes, until browned and sealed all over.
- Add the garlic, Marmite and vegetables, plus another 1 tbsp soy sauce. Stir fry for around 5 minutes (or as per vegetable pack instructions) until cooked through.
- Add the noodles and 1 more tbsp soy sauce. Stir fry until thoroughly heated – as per noodle pack directions – then serve immediately.
Related recipes:
- Beef mince noodles
- Vegan Pad Thai
- Prawn noodles with pineapple
- Thai Turkey Larb
- Thai minced turkey noodles
- Satay noodles with chicken
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