Go Back
+ servings
Square cropped close up of a white plate loaded with tofu chow mein and black chopsticks.
Print

Vegan Chow Mein with Tofu

This easy vegan chow mein recipe uses tofu, lots of vegetables and a flavorful sauce to create a delicious weeknight meal that is also great to meal prep. Learn how to make chow mein without eggs.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese-inspired, Vegan
Keyword Tofu chow mein, Vegan chow mein
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 638kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Noodles

  • 225 grams chow mein noodles (½ of a 450 g pack)

Stir Fry

  • 350 grams tofu (I use extra firm)
  • 3 cloves garlic (8 g)
  • 1 cup onion , sliced (140 g)
  • 1 cup bell pepper , sliced (120 g)
  • 1 cup carrot , julienned (130 g)
  • 1 cup mushrooms , sliced (100 g)
  • 1 cup edamame , shelled (155 g)
  • 2 cups snow peas (215 g) *
  • ½ cup green onion , sliced (35 g)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (to fry tofu)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (to fry vegetables)

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine **
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (white pepper if you have it)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep Vegetables and Tofu

  • If you typically press tofu, start by doing that. I buy extra firm tofu that doesn’t require pressing.
    350 grams tofu
  • Crumble or cube the tofu.
  • Mince the garlic. Don’t crush or press it or it’ll burn quickly in your hot pan.
    3 cloves garlic
  • Thinly slice the onion, peppers, carrot and mushrooms.
    1 cup onion, 1 cup bell pepper, 1 cup carrot, 1 cup mushrooms
  • Shell some edamame if needed.
    1 cup edamame
  • Remove snow pea tops and pull-out strings if needed. Leave them whole or cut in half.
    2 cups snow peas
  • Slice the green onion.
    ½ cup green onion

Step 2: Prep Chow Mein Sauce

  • Whisk all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl or shake together in a jar with a lid.
    2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce, 2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon water, 2 teaspoons corn starch, ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Step 3: Cook Noodles

  • Cook your noodles 1 minute less than package directions. When cooked, drain away the hot water then rinse the noodles with cold water or dip into an ice bath. Cold water stops the noodles from cooking further and prevents them from becoming mushy.
    225 grams chow mein noodles

Step 4: Stir Fry

  • Warm some vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and cook until browned, about 10 min.
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 350 grams tofu
  • Remove tofu from pan.
  • Add remaining oil to pan, then add onion and cook for 2 minutes.
    2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 cup onion
  • Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
    3 cloves garlic
  • Add carrots, bell pepper, mushrooms and edamame. Cook for another 2 minutes.
    1 cup bell pepper, 1 cup carrot, 1 cup mushrooms, 1 cup edamame
  • Add snow peas, green onion, the cooked noodles, browned tofu and sauce.
    225 grams chow mein noodles, 2 cups snow peas, ½ cup green onion
  • Cook, tossing everything together for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Serve hot, topped with sesame seeds, extra green onion, hot sauce or whatever you like!

Notes

* can use snap peas or bean sprouts (or substitute for another type of vegetable).
** aka Shaosing/ Shaoxing wine. Can substitute for mirin or dry cooking sherry.
Accuracy of nutrition information cannot be guaranteed (certain ingredients may not have all nutrients listed in the database); amounts may vary (and will vary depending on brands of ingredients used); all nutrition fact values rounded to the nearest whole number.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving (¼ of recipe) | Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 1465mg | Potassium: 883mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 7420IU | Vitamin C: 80mg | Calcium: 413mg | Iron: 9mg