Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein

This Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein is a great homemade option to amazing take-out flavors in one single bowl. Made in just 30 minutes, this lo mein is smothered in a sweet + slightly spicy sauce, with hints of garlic and savory flavors, and is perfect with any form of long noodles like spaghetti, bucatini, lo mein, etc. Jam-packed with veggies like carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, and green onions, this dish is classic! Absolutely delicious for the entire family! Vegan + Gluten-free options.

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Regardless of the occasion, I always love a good takeout meal. However, in the past year or so, I've made it a mission and goal to cook more at home for my family and this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein is absolutely a favorite for my husband and I. Nothing says I Love You than a delicious meal with candle lights and a glass filled with wine (or a Mocktail)---right? Well, if you're planning to celebrate Valentine's Day at all or you just need ideas for a nice romantic dinner, then this recipe is sure to do the trick!

Of course, if you don't want noodles or are looking to switch things up, I recommend trying my Honey Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli, which is another takeout classic dish.

One thing about this lo mein recipe is that is uses all organic ingredients and has plenty of room for you to personalize your dish based on your tastebuds and dietary preference. Don't like or eat shrimp? ------ No worries. Substitute with your favorite meat like chicken, beef, or lobster, or go entirely meatless with tofu, tempeh, additional veggies, or cauliflower. Either way---I can guarantee that this lo mein will be a hit!

Overall, this lo mein dish is definitely comfort food in a bowl, includes simple steps, and can totally be enjoyed as a weeknight meal or weekend vibe for the entire family.

My Other Top Shrimp Recipe Faves:

Jamaican Spicy 'Pepper' Shrimp

Gochujang Shrimp Tacos

Parmesan Garlic Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

Spicy Southern Shrimp + Grits

How to Make Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein

In this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein dish, I chose to use spaghetti because it's much thinner than original lo mein noodles. However, if you want to get even fancier or original, you can opt in for lo mein noodles, bucatini, or other egg noodles. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating a great dish.

To get started----Start by cooking the noodles, draining it, and setting it aside. Then, In a medium 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 Tbsps of butter until melted. Add in the shrimp (seasoned) and cook on both sides (about 3-4 minutes), until pink and cook through. Once done, remove from skillet and set aside.

After that, whip together your sauce in a large 12-inch skillet or wok pan, add the veggies, toss everything together (including noodles and shrimp), and wallah!

Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein Ingredients

Here’s what you need for this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein:

• Shrimp. I use jumbo or colossal, which are the biggest and sweetest. Feel free to sub with chicken, beef, or lobster. For a vegan option, sub with cauliflower, mushroom, tofu, tempeh, broccoli, sautéed cucumbers, or other veggies.
• Arrowroot. for thickening purposes. You can also use all-purpose flour, starch, or tapioca flour.
• Butter. I recommend unsalted.
• Veggies. I love adding carrots, onions, garlic, and mini sweet peppers. Also, feel free to add bell peppers to the mix.
• Honey. I use organic and raw. You can sub with maple syrup.
• Soy sauce. I use low-sodium No Soy vegan Soy. Feel free to use regular soy, if desired. For gluten-free, use tamari.
• Worcestershire sauce. You can use dark soy sauce for a nice brown color to noodles instead.
• Olive oil. You can also use Grapeseed oil or sesame oil.
• Noodles. I like to use organic and a high-quality brand of noodles like spaghetti, bucatini, lo mein, or another egg noodle! Use GF-friendly noodles for that option!
• Vegetable stock. Use store-bought organic, low-sodium broth or make your own! For non-vegan option, feel free to use seafood stock/broth or water.
• Herbs + Seasonings. A great addition of flavor to the shrimp. I use salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, + thyme.
• Rice vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also works.
• Sesame seeds. I like to garnish with these seeds.
• Green onions (aka scallion). Adds great flavor and is great as additional garnish when chopped.

BEST TYPES OF PASTA GO WITH DATE NIGHT LO MEIN

If you're thinking of using a different type of noodles other than actual lo mein noodles for this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein, then I'm so with ya! When it comes to pasta, you can use long pastas like Spaghetti, Buccatini, Pappardelle, Fettuccine, or other egg noodles, etc. if desired.

I would recommend tossing your pasta in the sauce with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated.

Do I Need to Cook the Veggies First?

Quickly boil or steam your veggies for a few minutes until “al dente” if you don’t want to have a little crunch adding them directly to the skillet. DO NOT COOK UNTIL SOFT! Once cooked, drain, and add to a large bowl of iced cold water immediately to stop the cooking process. Resume with recipe.

5 REASONS WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS LO MEIN

• It's packed with flavor from the sauce and shrimp, but can also be Meatless and work for any type of eater.
• Super easy to make and quick.
• Full of earthy, nutty, + delicious flavor! (The best reason!)
• Very kid-friendly and can be enjoyed by adults only too!----think candlelight, wine, etc.!
• Done in just 30 minutes---hello weeknight meal goals!

What Other Meats Work for this Date Night Lo Mein

For this specific recipe, I chose to use shrimp, however, there are so many options that can help to elevate this entire Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein dish outside of shrimp based on the use of any of the following:

• Chicken breasts
• Steak
• Lobster
• Beef
• Cauliflower,
• Tofu or tempeh
• Sautéed cucumbers
• Scallops
• Mushroom
• Grilled or roasted veggies (like broccoli, asparagus, etc.)

How To Best Cut Veggies For This Lo Mein

When it comes to this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein, I love cutting my veggies (specifically the carrots + peppers) Julienne-style. Personally, I find the veggies easy to cook and consume when cut into thin, "matchstick-like" shapes. Of course, you can totally cut them into Baton or Batonnet styles if preferred.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS LO MEIN!

Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein. Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, Wok pan, wooden spoons, high-powered blender, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Storing + Reheating Leftover Lo Mein

Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet when ready to serve.

Can I Make This Lo Mein Vegan and/or Gluten-Free?

Absolutely! To make this dish GF-friendly, simply ensure that the soy sauce and noodles are gluten-free. To make this dish entirely vegan, simply omit the shrimp and ensure that you use vegan soy sauce, and vegan butter. For a meaty feel, you can sub with cauliflower, mushroom, tofu, tempeh, broccoli, sautéed cucumbers, or other veggies.

More Delicious Weeknight Dinner Ideas

If you are a fan of this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein, then you’ll most certainly enjoy the following weeknight dinner options:

• Creamy Tuscan Lobster Pasta
• BBQ Jerk Salmon Burgers
• Creamy Lemon Pesto Gnocchi with Broccoli
• Orange Salmon Bowl
• Weeknight Tomato Kale Ravioli Bake
• Plant-based Sesame ‘Chicken' + Noodles
• Vegan Cheese Polenta with Pesto + Chickpea
• Creamy Lemon Herb Parmesan Chicken

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you make this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein recipe or any other recipe from us, be sure to tag us on Instagram at #Orchidsandsweettea so that we can share the love!

Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein

February 3, 2023 •

By Shanika

5 from 3 votes

Nothing beats making takeout for dinner at home, especially during special occasions like Valentine's Day like this Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein!

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Serves: 4 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

• 1 (16 oz.) package organic noodles, premium (I love using spaghetti, bucatini, lo mein, or other egg noddles)
• 2 organic carrots, peeled + sliced into julienne-style
• handful of organic mini sweet peppers, sliced into julienne-style (That's about 2 cups)
• ½ red onion, chopped (You can also use yellow onion)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3-4 stalks green onions, chopped (Aka scallions)

SHRIMP:

• 1-2 lbs. wild-caught jumbo or colossal shrimp, deveined
• 2 Tbsps unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

SAUCE:

• 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil
• 2 Tbsps Worcestershire sauce, organic
• 2 Tbsps soy sauce, low-sodium (I love using vegan soy sauce for a soy-free option)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (You can also use white rice vinegar)
• 2 tsps arrowroot + 2 Tbsps WARM water
• ¼ cup organic vegetable stock/broth (You can also use water instead)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (See Notes)
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (Adjust based on spicy flavor preference)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

COOK THE NOODLES:

• Cook your noodle of choice according to packaging. NOTE: Spaghetti cooks about the same time as other long pastas, usually 11-13 minutes, depending on brand. Once done, drain and set aside.

SAUTE THE SHRIMP:

• In a bowl, add the shrimp along with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, parsley, garlic powder, and thyme, mixing everything together until shrimp are coated.
• In a medium 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter until melted. Add in the shrimp and cook on both sides (about 3-4 minutes), until pink and cook through. Once done, remove from skillet and set aside on a plate.

MAKE THE SAUCE:

• In a large 12-inch skillet (or Wok pan) over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and onions, sautéing them for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add in the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, veggie stock, honey, and pinch of red pepper flakes, stirring until everything is combined. Lastly, add in arrowroot mixture and stir until sauce has thickened.
• Add in chopped carrots, peppers, and chopped green onions, sautéing in the sauce for about 3-4 minutes or until the veggies soften a bit.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the drained cooked noodles, tossing them using tongs until fully coated. Lastly, add in the shrimp and toss again until combined.
• Remove from heat and garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet when ready to serve.
• VEGGIES: Quickly boil or steam your veggies for a few minutes until "al dente" if you don't want to have a little crunch adding them directly to the skillet. DO NOT COOK UNTIL SOFT! Once cooked, drain, and add to a large bowl of iced cold water immediately to stop the cooking process. Resume with recipe.
• STARCH: If you don't have arrowroot starch, you can simply substitute with all-purpose flour, starch or tapioca flour.
• GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this dish GF-friendly, simply ensure that the soy sauce and noodles are gluten-free. 
• VEGAN OPTION: To make this dish entirely vegan, simply omit the shrimp and ensure that you use vegan soy sauce, and vegan butter. For a meaty feel, you can sub with cauliflower, tofu, tempeh, broccoli, sautéed cucumbers, or other veggies.

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 316mg | Sodium: 3579mg | Potassium: 476mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1519IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 2mg

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Date Night Healthy Shrimp Lo Mein.

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