Fake Lo Mein

Well, not really even that. But, combining chicken, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, spaghetti noodles, and teriyaki sauce, reminded me of Americanized "lo mein" recipes that I have seen. So, in my mind, this dinner was fake lo mein. Even though, of course, that's a misleading title and it's not (which is usually one of my pet peeves).


First make the teriyaki sauce, and start the noodles.


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Teriyaki Sauce

Adapted from Teriyaki Sauce recipes Karen Joy & Ma'am I Am posted on a homeschooling forum, years ago.

• 1/2 C Soy Sauce
• 1/2 C Brown Sugar
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder, or 1 clove Garlic, minced.
• 1 tsp grated Ginger
• 1 tsp Dark Sesame Oil
• 1 1/2 TBSP Rice Vinegar

Stir.

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• 16 oz Spaghetti Noodles
• 1 TBSP Dark Sesame Oil

Toss the boiled and drained noodles with the sesame oil.

• 3 TBSP Canola, or any mild flavored, Oil
• 1 Onion (mine was huge, but I love onion), chunked
• 2 Orange Bell Peppers, chunked
• Broccoli Florets, about 1 1/2 LBS (I stir-fried mine, another option is to add them to the pasta near the end of cooking time and boil the broccoli along with the pasta). 
• 1 1/4 C. Water
• 16 oz, approximately, raw Chicken Breast, chopped
• 1 TBSP Red Pepper Flakes (I don't remember when I added the chile flakes, just do it when it feels right).

Preheat a large stainless steel pan on med-high, 2 minutes.

Add 1 TBSP oil. Stir-fry the onion and bell pepper.

But, If you walk away and forget about the pan, as I did, reduce heat before you
add the oil and the veggies.

Here's a confession:

Stir fry.

I don't stir fry in an authentic, traditional sense.

Mine is more of sit, stir, sit fry. Referring to the food, not me. Ha!

I don't have a wok, either. 

Remove onion and bell pepper to a large stainless steel mixing/serving bowl.

Immediately add 1 TBSP oil to the pan. Add the broccoli. After you've stirred the broccoli
a few times, add 1/4 C. of the water (careful of the steam). Stir. Once the water evaporates, add another 1/4 C. Stir. Evaporate. Add another 1/4 C. Stir. Evaporate. If necessary, repeat...I needed a total of 1 1/4 C. water.

Once the broccoli is done, move it to the bowl. As it sits in the bowl, it may continue to cook, or steam, so don't overcook it.

Add 1 TBSP oil to the pan. Add chicken to the pan. Once the chicken is mostly cooked, add Teriyaki sauce to chicken in pan. Cook a couple of minutes.

Spoonula in to the bowl and toss with your noodles and veggies. 


Serves four, or more, as a one dish dinner.

Leftovers will taste good eaten cold, as a Teriyaki flavored pasta salad, at lunch.

Made and served 4-28-2011