Description
Vietnamese Garlic Noodles, or Mì Xào Tỏi, are a deliciously simple yet flavorful side dish featuring chewy lo mein noodles tossed in a rich, buttery, garlicky sauce with umami notes from oyster, soy, and fish sauces. This quick and easy recipe is perfect to complement any main course and is always a crowd favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb refrigerated lo mein noodles
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 12-15 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1-2 green onions, sliced and chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar until well combined. Set aside.
- Boil water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil; keep it ready while you prepare the noodles.
- Cook garlic: In a large skillet or wok, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently. Be careful not to brown the garlic; you want it lightly cooked to keep the flavor mild and fresh.
- Cook noodles: Add the refrigerated lo mein noodles to the boiling water. Gently agitate the noodles to separate them without breaking. Boil for no more than 30 seconds to soften, then quickly use tongs to transfer them immediately into the skillet with the garlic butter.
- Combine and season: Give the reserved sauce a quick whisk, then pour it over the noodles in the skillet, making sure to add all the sugary goodness. Lightly season with salt and pepper to taste, then toss and stir everything together to evenly coat the noodles with the flavorful sauce.
- Finish: Turn off the heat. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped green onions to the noodles. Toss gently to combine and adjust seasoning if needed before serving.
Notes
- Use refrigerated lo mein noodles for best texture; if unavailable, fresh egg noodles can be substituted.
- The key to perfectly flavored garlic noodles is to not overcook the garlic as it can turn bitter.
- Boil noodles only briefly to keep them chewy and prevent sogginess.
- This dish works great as a side or a base for adding proteins like grilled shrimp or chicken.
- You can adjust the amount of garlic to your preference; the recipe calls for a generous amount for maximum flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 465 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 787 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 86 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg
