Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 1 vote

Jan 18, 2023, Updated Nov 20, 2023

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Eating long noodles on Lunar New Year signifies good luck & long life, so ordering Lobster Noodles was a must when my family would go out to celebrate the new year! It’s a dish that I always assumed would be difficult to make until I tried it at home – try it out and you can enjoy this classic Chinese dish all year long at home!

Watch the Lobster Noodles Recipe Video Below!

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Ingredients for Lobster Noodles

These Lobster Noodles are perfect for Lunar New Year and sharing with friends and family! Here is what you’ll need for the recipe:

Lobster

  • 12ozlobster tails, cut to 2″ pieces
  • 1cupcornstarch
  • 1tspsalt
  • 1/2tspwhite pepper
  • 1cupneutral oil for fryingI used avocado oil

Sauce Base

  • 1.5tbspoyster sauce
  • 1.5tbspsoy sauce
  • 1/2tbspsugar
  • 1tspwhite pepper
  • 1tbspShaoxing wine
  • 1tspsesame oil
  • 1/4cupchicken broth – I always recommend Kettle & Fire – use code CJPINS for 20% off your order here!
  • 1/4tspmsgoptional

Remaining Ingredients

  • 8scallionschopped, greens and whites separated
  • 5clovesgarlicminced
  • 2inchgingersliced
  • 16oznoodlesfresh or dried; E-Yu, Yi Mein, or Shanghai noodles recommended
  • 1.5cupschicken broth

Cornstarch Slurry

  • 1tbspcornstarch
  • 3tbspwater
Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (3)

Lobster Noodles: Recipe Instructions

Choosing your Noodles

Lobster Noodles can be made with a variety of types of noodles! I prefer the fresh variety from my Asian grocer’s noodles section, but traditionally they are made with E-Fu or Yi Mein (flat Cantonese Egg Noodles) noodles. You can typically find them in the dried section of your Asian grocer’s noodle aisle.

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (4)
Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (5)

INGREDIENTS TIPS

NOODLES
The #1 question I get asked if what kind of noodles I used! This dish is traditionally made with E-Fu or Yi Mein (long life) noodles, which are fried and then dried. You should be able to find these in the dried noodle section of your Asian market. (Second photo on the right – the circular package with the yellow label.) I used fresh Shanghai noodles instead because I prefer the bounciness and chewiness. (First photo on the left – rectangular package with the green label.) I included photos of both noodles for you to reference!

LOBSTER
I used lobster tails in my recipe because that is what I preferred; however, you can use a whole lobster if you want! The cornstarch dredging and frying will be exactly the same.

SHAOXING WINE
If you cannot or do not want to use wine, you can sub with sherry, mirin, or chicken stock!

WHITE PEPPER
I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)

CORNSTARCH SLURRY
A cornstarch slurry is a mixture of cornstarch and water that is used in cooking to thicken WITHOUT powdery lumps or additional flavors/colors! This is the secret to so many of your favorite Chinese dishes. My #1 tip is make sure your cornstarch slurry has not separated before adding it in – I always try to re-stir right before!

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.

Preparing the Lobster

To prepare the lobster, cut the lobster into 2″ pieces using a heavy knife or cleaver. A whole lobster or lobster tails are fine, but you want to have around 12 oz of lobster, including the shell for this recipe.

Once the lobster is cut into pieces, dredge them in the seasoned cornstarch mixture. Fry them at 350F for about 1-2 minutes until bright red and cooked through.

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (6)

Once the lobster is cut into pieces, dredge them in the seasoned cornstarch mixture. Fry them at 350F for about 1-2 minutes until bright red and cooked through. Cook your noodles until al dente then add to a bowl.

In a large pan or wok, add 1 tbsp of oil and stir fry garlic, ginger, and scallion whites for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Immediately add lobster and stir fry for 1 minute.

Add premixed sauce and stir over high heat, then combine chicken stock and heat until boiling, then simmer for 4-5 minutes to reduce slightly.

Add scallion greens and mix through, then add cornstarch slurry and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Pour over noodles in a large bowl, serve, and enjoy!

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (7)

RECIPE TIPS

DRAIN & RINSE YOUR NOODLES
If you are using fresh noodles: After boiling, rinse the noodles immediately with cold water to stop the cooking. Shake them dry and then toss in a tablespoon of sesame oil to prevent the noodles from sticking while you prepare & cook the other ingredients.

REDUCE THE LOBSTER IN THE SAUCE & CHICKEN STOCK
Do not skip this step! Reducing the lobster in the sauce & chicken stock for 4-5 minutes will enhance the lobster flavor – this will take your dish to the next level!

If you liked this Lobster Noodles recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese recipes on the blog!

  • Chicken Lo Mein
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Beef and Broccoli
  • Sesame Chicken
  • String Bean Chicken

5 from 1 vote

Lobster Noodles

Servings: 4

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Save

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (8)

These Lobster Noodles are wok fried with garlic, scallions, and served in a rich brown gravy over bouncy, chewy noodles! This Cantonese banquet dish is a Lunar New Year staple that is perfect to celebrate with friends and family!

Ingredients

Lobster

  • 12 oz lobster tails, I used 3 x 4oz lobster tails, cut to 2" pieces
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • 1 cup neutral oil for frying, I used avocado oil

Sauce Base

Remaining Ingredients

  • 8 scallions, chopped, greens and whites separated
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 inch ginger, sliced
  • 16 oz noodles, fresh or dried; E-Yu, Yi Mein, or Shanghai noodles recommended
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth

Cornstarch Slurry

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Using kitchen shears or a cleaver, cut lobster tails to 2 inch pieces leaving the shell on.

  • Premix sauce base by combining oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, msg, and chicken broth and set aside.

  • To a large bowl, add cornstarch and season with salt and white pepper. Lightly dust lobster pieces in the seasoned cornstarch, shaking off any excess.

  • Heat oil in a large wok or pan, then fry the lobster at 350F for 45 seconds – 1 minute until the lobster is bright red and cooked through.

  • Cook noodles and boiling water and drain immediately and rinse with cold water to remove starch and stop the cooking processes.

  • In a large pan or wok, add 1 tbsp of oil and stir fry garlic, ginger, and scallion whites for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Immediately add lobster and stir fry for 1 minute.

  • Add premixed sauce and stir over high heat, then combine chicken stock and heat until boiling, then simmer for 4-5 minutes to reduce slightly.

  • Add scallion greens and mix through, then add cornstarch slurry and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Pour over noodles in a large bowl, serve, and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (9)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Lobster Noodles (Lobster Yee Mein) - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein? ›

Chow Mein And Lo Mein Use Different Noodles

Lo mein typically uses fresh noodles, while chow mein can be made with fresh or dried. Lo mein noodles are typically thick and chewy. Stir-fried noodles in chow mein are thinner and cooked to a golden crisp.

What is the best way to cook lobster? ›

Bring water to a heavy boil. Using gloves or tongs, place the Maine lobsters into the pot, cover tightly. When the water returns to a heavy boil, turn the heat down to a rolling boil and start the timer. Steam lobsters for 9 minutes for the first pound, and add 4 minutes for each additional pound.

What is usually in house lo mein? ›

Most commonly, lo mein involves chicken, beef, pork, turkey, shrimp or tofu. Sauce components: Lo mein sauce is mainly composed of sesame oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce and a dash of sugar. If you like your noodles to have a little heat, you can sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

What tastes better lo mein or chow mein? ›

Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

Which is healthier chow or lo mein? ›

From a nutritional standpoint, lo mein is better than chow mein, hands down. "Lo mein would be considered more nutritious because the noodles are not fried and there is less oil used in the cooking," Jaelin says. "Lo mein has less than half the calories and fat found in chow mein.

How do you make lobster taste better? ›

What can I do to make lobster taste better? Crack the claws a little so the steam escapes, brush the tail meat with olive oil, and put meat side down on a medium heat grill for 6 minutes, then flip over and cook another 5 minutes.

How do you cook lobster so it's not chewy? ›

Overcooking lobster tails will result in tough, chewy meat, so be sure to keep a close eye on the tails as they cook. As soon as the shell transforms into that classic fire truck red hue and the meat is opaque, pull it from the water and don't look back.

Do you crack the lobster before boiling? ›

It's not necessary, but if you'd like to kill the lobster before cooking it, do so by driving a knife into the center of its head and pushing down to split it open.

Do you crack the shell on lobster tail before cooking? ›

Basically, it involves cracking open the hard top shell so the meat underneath can come through. As it cooks, the lobster meat will start to puff up over the shell. High-class restaurants love this showy presentation.

Do you split lobster tails before or after cooking? ›

Place the tails in the boiling water. Once the water reboils, reduce the heat and cook for the specified times based on the size of the tails. After cooking, you can either use kitchen shears to remove the meat from the shell or split the tails to expose the lobster meat.

Do you peel lobster tail before cooking? ›

Before poaching, you remove the lobster from the shell in one piece, which takes some cutting and careful wiggling so it doesn't tear into pieces. (This is the only method where the shell is discarded before cooking.)

What are the best noodles to use for lo mein? ›

You want to buy an egg noodle or pasta that's relatively thin and has some tooth. Some common names will be lo mein, chow mein, egg noodles or pancit noodles. Most markets have Japanese yaki soba noodles in the cold case, and those would work perfectly.

What is the sauce in lo mein made of? ›

Lo mein sauce

The sauce is what makes this dish so addictive. It's a simple umami filled mix of light and dark soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and a hint of ginger. It's super easy to make a batch of lo mein sauce and keep it in the fridge so you can easily make lo mein whenever the craving hits.

Can you use spaghetti noodles as lo mein? ›

15 Minute Lo Mein! Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, ramen noodles or spaghetti noodles, and any veggies or protein you like. SO YUMMY!

Which has more sauce lo mein or chow mein? ›

Since the real star of any lo mein dish is the sauce, it's not surprising that lo mein recipes often use more sauce than chow mein recipes.

Which noodles are thick lo mein or chow mein? ›

Traditional lo mein recipes usually call for fresh (not dry) noodles that are thick and chewy. On the other hand, chow mein can be made with both fresh and dried noodles, but these noodles are much thinner which makes them great for stir-frying in a wok.

What is chow mein sauce made of? ›

Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

What is NY style chow mein? ›

In New York, if you order it from a Chinese takeout restaurant, you'll get vegetables cooked in white sauce (with a protein of your choice) served with white rice. You'd probably find a small bag of crackers in the delivery bag.

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