Home cook, Maria Keenan, who has released a series of cookbooks has shared her recipe to create the perfect Chinese takeaway-style chow mein – using her ‘secret sauce’
For those yearning for that perfect Chinese takeaway taste but want to skip the hassle and cost, cookbook author, Maria Keenan has just the trick up her sleeve. Known as Oxford Girl Cooks on social media, the culinary expert took to TikTok armed with her mouth-watering chow mein noodles recipe, promising that its “addictive” flavours rival even the best local takeaway establishment.
“Ever wondered how you local takeaway makes those addictive chow mein noodles?” Maria posed to her followers “Let me show you how – it’s easier than you think,” she said, diving into her tutorial while parading her choice of ingredients on the screen.
Kicking off the cooking demonstration, Maria instructed: “First add some oil to the pan, then add some chopped spring onions and sliced white onions.” She didn’t stop there; noodles hit the wok next, soon followed by a pairing of garlic and ginger.
But the real game-changer in her dish was soon unveiled as Maria shared her “secret sauce” mix that turns plain noodles into an irresistible takeaway treat. The concoction is simple yet effective – a trio of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce. “Add a pack of beansprouts, and that’s it,” she declared.
Closing, Maria further enthused: “Chow mein is such a versatile dish – you can go green with baby corn and maybe mangetout, or throw in some scrambled egg. Fancy meats? Toss in some cooked chicken, sliced beef, or juicy prawns, and you’ve got yourself a feast.”
She concluded: “Either way, it’s a great meal to suit anyone’s palate – and not only that, it is so cheap, it’s quick and easy to make and you’ll save time and money by making everyone’s favourite takeaway meal.”
A fan of Maria’s recipes responded with enthusiasm. They said: “Followed your recipes and now we love homemade chow mein, and I can’t cook! Thank you for sharing.” Another joked: “Omg I want that now for dinner – gonna have to call my takeaway now!”
When a TikTok user with allergies inquired about an oyster sauce substitute, asking: “Looks lovely, can you suggest an alternative to oyster sauce or just leave it out?”
Maria replied that it’s not the end of the world. She advised: “Just leave it out but it won’t taste the same unfortunately, add white pepper, bit of sugar.”
Whilst a fourth TikTok user sought more ingredient specifics: “Please post the amount of soy sauce etc etc and I’ll give it a go.”
Maria duly provided the details, adding: “I think I used 1tbsp dark soy, 3 tbsp light, 3tbsp oyster, 1/4 tsp white pepper, 1 tbsp sesame oil.”
One thing is certain – this dish is stirring up some serious cravings!
