Millet Chowmein is a healthier take on the popular street food Chowmein. Loaded with veggies and protein, makes for a quick and hearty meal.
Chowmein is an Indio-Chinese favourite among Indians living in their homeland and abroad. Quick to make, easy on the wallet, loaded with veggies (and sometimes protein too), a popular street food, Millet Noodles Chowmein is a current family favourite. Generally we make Hakka Noodles (another popular street food) with all-purpose flour based noodles, but the millet-noodles is super kid (and gut) friendly!
As moms are always on the lookout for healthier alternatives, this dish has evolved to be a weekend favourite for the kids. A fusion take on Indo Chinese would be this very popular Idli Manchurian made with leftover idlies. Kids (and shhhh… Adults too) wouldn’t suspect a thing!
Let’s get to it.
FAQs to make Millet Noodle Chowmein
- Can I add any veggies and / or protein ? You can add any veggies / protein (shredded chicken / tofu / paneer – cottage cheese etc) to suit your palate. As we paired it with the air fryer manchurian for a complete meal, I am sticking to the basic trio of veggies in Indo-Chinese cooking – cabbage, carrots and bell peppers (capsicum) . One can add tofu / shredded chicken / paneer (cottage cheese / Tempeh for a protein add on.
- Can I make it with everyday hakka noodles? Absolutely. Cook time might slightly vary.
- How can I customise this more? Add a different set of sauces – schezwan, chilli garlic, smoked barbeque for a different take on the Indo Chinese. Also, mushrooms, broccoli, snap peas may also be sneaked in for picky eaters.
Other Indo Chinese crowd favourites you make like on the blog:
Air fryer Gobi Manchurian
An Indo-Chinese delicacy made healthy with an Air fryer. Contains no Soya, is Gluten Free and Vegan tooÂ
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Spicy Homemade Schezwan Sauce | How to make Schezwan Sauce | Easy Condiments
Homemade Spicy Schezwan Sauce is from the Indo Chinese Cuisine and makes for a spicy dip with Momos or Dumplings. Also used in Stir fries or added to fried Rice or Noodles for an Umami hit !
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Hot and Sour Veggies with Three Pepper Rice | Chinese Combo Meal
Hot and Sour Veggies is a bursting medley of flavours of Asian Veggies in a tangy, Spicy Umami Sauce. Served with Steamed Three pepper Rice.
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Baked Gobi Manchurian Recipe
Baked version of the popular Street food , totally guilt free too!
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Prep time – 20 mins, Cook time – 10 mins ; Serves – 2
Served for brunch or dinner
PIN FOR LATER
Tips for making the best Millet Noodle Chowmein:
- Sesame oil is best for Indo Chinese cooking, use the best quality oil and sauces for best results
- Shred all the veggies in the even size – this helps quick cooking
- While a wok is preferred for Indo Chinese, ensure that whatever pan you use is heated well.
- Prep all sauces, veggies before hand as the cook time is very less and needs to be done on high flame only and tossed vigouroyly to get that smoky flavour
- Adjust spice according to taste, For us following measurements works well.
What you need for Millet Noodle Chowmein:
- 1 pack Millet Noodles (any brand will do, you can sub with Hakka Noodles too not Instant variety)
- 1 onion (medium – thinly sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (capsicum – use any colour)- thinly sliced
- 100 grams cabbage (fine julienned)
- 1 carrot (julienne)
- 1/2 cup spring onions (scallions- diced fine)
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp dark soya sauce
- 1/2 tsp Green Chilli sauce (adjust spice)
- 1 tsp Red Chilli sauce (adjust spice)
- 1 TBSP garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp ginger (minced)
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp pepper (crushed)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (toasted)
How to make Millet Noodle Chowmein:
- Cook Noodles as per pack instructions, drain and keep aside.
- Heat the wok / pan to high heat.
- Meanwhile, mix all the sauces well.
- Add the sesame oil, saute the ginger, garlic, onion on high heat till smoky.
- Then add the shredded veggies, salt it liberally and keep tossing
- The veggies should be slightly smoky but retain their crunch
- Add the mixed sauces, salt, pepper and toss again
- Now add the cooked and drained noodles and toss vigrorously.
- Finish with toasted sesame seeds and shredded scallions.
- Toss once more and serve immediately with more scallions as garnish
This noodle Chowmein goes to the A-Z alphabet challenge curated and hosted by our wonderful hostess, Wendy. Click on the following links to see what the others have dished out.
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Beef Stew with Noodles
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chicken Caprese Noodle Salad
- Food Lust People Love: Duck Egg Narjissiya
- Blogghetti: Grilled Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
- Sizzling Tastebuds: Millet Noodle Chowmein
- Sneha’s Recipe: Naturally Fermented Appam Using Homemade Toddy
- Mayuri’s Jikoni: Navratan Korma
- Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Nectarine Caprese Salad
- A Messy Kitchen: Nutella Oatmeal Cookies
- Magical Ingredients: Nutella Rolls
- Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Smoky Southwestern Seasoning (No-Salt)
Millet Noodle Chowmein
Millet Chowmein is a healthier take on the popular street food Chowmein. Loaded with veggies and protein, makes for a quick and hearty meal.
Equipment
- Kadai / Wok sub with a heavy duty pan
- Knife and Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 1 pack Millet Noodles any brand will do, you can sub with Hakka Noodles too not Instant variety
- 1 onion medium – thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper capsicum – use any colour- thinly sliced
- 100 grams cabbage fine julienned
- 1 carrot julienne
- 1/2 cup spring onions scallions- diced fine
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp dark soya sauce
- 1/2 tsp Green Chilli sauce adjust spice
- 1 tsp Red Chilli sauce adjust spice
- 1 TBSP garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper crushed
- 1 tsp sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- Cook Noodles as per pack instructions, drain and keep aside.
- Heat the wok / pan to high heat.
- Meanwhile, mix all the sauces well.
- Add the sesame oil, saute the ginger, garlic, onion on high heat till smoky.
- Then add the shredded veggies, salt it liberally and keep tossing
- The veggies should be slightly smoky but retain their crunch
- Add the mixed sauces, salt, pepper and toss again
- Now add the cooked and drained noodles and toss vigrorously.
- Finish with toasted sesame seeds and shredded scallions.
- Toss once more and serve immediately with more scallions as garnish
Notes
Tips for making the best Millet Noodle Chowmein:
- Sesame oil is best for Indo Chinese cooking, use the best quality oil and sauces for best results
- Shred all the veggies in the even size – this helps quick cooking
- While a wok is preferred for Indo Chinese, ensure that whatever pan you use is heated well.
- Prep all sauces, veggies before hand as the cook time is very less and needs to be done on high flame only and tossed vigouroyly to get that smoky flavour
- Adjust spice according to taste, For us following measurements works well. Â Â
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Noodles are always a favorite around here, and we love Asian flavors. Those kid’s chopsticks are adorable.
Yes, Noodles are kids’ favorites
Those noodles look amazing. I’ve never seen them made with millet. Everything sounds so good.
Thanks Karen
Definitely gotta try this! I know it will be a hit. I really love the flavor of millet so I’m excited to get my hands on some of these noodles.
Thanks Kelly. Do try
Another item to add to my shopping list for when I next go to my favorite Indian grocery store! I’ve never seen millet noodles there but, then again, I’ve never looked for them. *crossing my fingers* What a pretty, colorful dish, Kalyani! I see why your children love it.
yay!Go for it, Stacy. You would surely like this a lot
Such a gorgeous and colorful recipe! I’ll definitely be looking for millet noodles the next time I go to the market.
Thanks Colleen. Please do try
I love the idea of swapping with millet noodles. Chowmein is one of our house favorites and I will try this recipe soon.
Thanks Radha, Do try whenever you can – am sure you would love this
A filling and delicious meal. Love how you used millet noodles. Have not tried them but your recipe is encouraging me to do so.
Thanks Mayuri. Please do try them