The 10 Best Sauces for Lo Mein Noodles

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy meal, lo mein noodles are the way to go.

These Chinese-style noodles can be cooked in minutes and served with a variety of sauces that will make your mouth water.

The trick is finding the right sauce to pair with your lo mein noodles.

From sweet and sour to spicy and savory, there are plenty of options out there.

In this article, I’m going to share my top 10 favorite sauces for lo mein noodles – so you can take your dish from good to great!

Read Also: What Vegetables Go in Lo Mein? (15 Best Veggies)

What is Lo Mein?

Lo mein is a Chinese dish made with egg noodles, vegetables, and meat or seafood.

The noodles are boiled until they are soft and then stir-fried in a wok with the other ingredients.

Lo mein can be served as either a main course or side dish. It is often flavored with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and chili paste for added flavor.

Lo mein is one of the most popular dishes in Chinese cuisine due to its versatility and ease of preparation.

It can be customized to suit individual tastes by adding different types of vegetables such as bok choy, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, snow peas or broccoli; proteins like chicken breast strips or shrimp; and seasonings like oyster sauce or hoisin sauce.

Lo mein also makes an excellent vegetarian meal when prepared without meat or seafood.

The 10 Best Sauces for Lo Mein Noodles

Lo mein noodles are a delicious and versatile dish, but to really make them shine you need the perfect sauce.

Here are ten sauces that will perfectly complement your lo mein noodles:

1. Hoisin sauce

Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark-colored condiment made from fermented soybeans, garlic, chilies, and various spices.

It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine as a glaze for meats or as an ingredient in sauces and marinades.

Taste: Hoisin sauce has a sweet and savory flavor with hints of garlic and spice. Its texture is similar to that of molasses or barbecue sauce. The sweetness comes from the addition of sugar or honey during the fermentation process.

2. Black bean sauce

Black bean sauce is a Chinese condiment made from fermented black soybeans.

It has a salty, slightly sweet flavor and is often used as an ingredient in stir-fries or as a dipping sauce.

Taste: The taste of black bean sauce can vary depending on the brand and recipe, but it generally has a salty, umami flavor with hints of sweetness. It also has a slight pungency that comes from the fermentation process.

3. Oyster sauce

Oyster sauce is a thick, dark brown condiment made from oyster extract, sugar, salt, and other seasonings.

It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine as a flavoring agent for stir-fries and noodle dishes.

Taste: Oyster sauce has a sweet and salty flavor with hints of umami. The sweetness comes from the sugar that’s added to the oyster extract during production. The umami flavor comes from the naturally occurring glutamates found in the oysters themselves.

4. Chili-garlic sauce

Chili-garlic sauce is a spicy condiment made from chili peppers, garlic, and other ingredients such as vinegar, sugar, and salt.

It is commonly used in Asian cuisine to add flavor and heat to dishes.

Taste: Chili-garlic sauce has a strong garlicky flavor with a hint of sweetness and a kick of heat from the chili peppers. The level of spiciness can vary depending on the type of chili pepper used in the recipe.

5. Sweet and sour sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is a popular condiment used in Chinese cuisine.

It is made from a combination of vinegar, sugar, and other ingredients such as ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers.

The flavor of the sauce can vary depending on the proportions of each ingredient used.

Taste: Sweet and sour sauce has a sweet-tart flavor that comes from the balance between the sweetness of sugar or honey and the tartness of vinegar. It also has savory notes from soy sauce and umami flavors from garlic or ginger. Depending on how much chili pepper is added to it, it can also have some heat to it as well.

6. Teriyaki sauce

Teriyaki sauce is a sweet and savory Japanese condiment made from soy sauce, mirin (a type of rice wine), sake, sugar, and ginger.

It is used as a marinade for meats and vegetables before grilling or roasting them.

• Taste: Teriyaki sauce has a salty-sweet flavor with hints of umami from the soy sauce. The sweetness comes from the combination of sugar and mirin, while the ginger adds a subtle spiciness to the mix.
• Common Uses: Teriyaki sauce can be used as a marinade for meats such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish before grilling or roasting them. It can also be used as an ingredient in stir-fries or added to noodles like lo mein for extra flavor.

7. Creamy Toasted Sesame Dressing

Creamy Toasted Sesame Dressing is a popular condiment made from toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and other seasonings.

It has a creamy texture and a savory-sweet flavor that pairs well with many Asian dishes.

• Taste: The dressing has a rich nutty flavor from the toasted sesame oil combined with the sweetness of the sugar and saltiness of the soy sauce. It also has an acidic tang from the rice vinegar which helps balance out all of the flavors.
• Common Uses: Creamy Toasted Sesame Dressing is commonly used as a dipping sauce for dumplings or spring rolls, as well as in stir-fries or noodle dishes like lo mein. It can also be used as a marinade for meats or vegetables before grilling or roasting them.

8. Peanut sauce

Peanut sauce is a condiment made from ground peanuts, garlic, ginger, and other spices.

It is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine as a dipping sauce or to add flavor to dishes such as noodles and stir-fries.

• Taste: Peanut sauce has a creamy texture with a nutty flavor that is slightly sweet and savory. The addition of chili peppers can give it some heat.
• Common Uses: Peanut sauce is often served with lo mein noodles, spring rolls, dumplings, satay skewers, and other dishes. It can also be used as a marinade for meats or vegetables before grilling or roasting them.

9. Soy sauce

Soy sauce is a dark, salty liquid condiment made from fermented soybeans, wheat, salt, and water.

It is an essential ingredient in many Asian cuisines and has been used for centuries as a flavor enhancer.

• Taste: Soy sauce has a salty taste with hints of sweetness and umami (savory) flavors. The flavor can vary depending on the brand or type of soy sauce used. Some are milder while others have more intense flavors.
• Common Uses: Soy sauce is most commonly used as a condiment to enhance the flavor of dishes such as stir-fries, soups, marinades, sauces, and dressings. It can also be used to season meats and vegetables before cooking or added at the end of cooking for extra flavor.

10. Szechuan sauce

Szechuan sauce is a spicy, savory condiment made from garlic, chili peppers, and other spices.

It originated in the Sichuan province of China and has become popular around the world.

The sauce is usually red or brown in color and has a thick consistency.

• Taste: Szechuan sauce has a complex flavor profile that combines sweet, salty, sour, and spicy notes. It is often described as having an umami flavor with hints of garlic and ginger.
• Common Uses: Szechuan sauce can be used to add flavor to stir-fries, noodles dishes such as lo mein, dumplings, egg rolls, fried rice dishes, soups, salads and more. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or potstickers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a variety of delicious sauces that can be used to enhance the flavor of lo mein noodles.

From hoisin sauce to sesame oil to peanut sauce, there are many options to choose from.

The best sauces for lo mein noodles are hoisin sauce, black bean sauce, oyster sauce, chili-garlic sauce, sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, peanut sauce, soy sauce, and Szechuan sauce.

Each of these sauces offers its own unique flavor that can take your lo mein dish to the next level.

So, the next time you make lo mein noodles, don’t forget to add a flavorful sauce to really give it that extra kick!