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Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein- $2.45 per serving

 Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein 

Normally when we get Chinese takeout the bill will run between $30-$35.00.   Although we do have leftovers for lunch the next day this is really expensive.    This Beef and Broccoli meal cost significantly less to make and we have ingredients leftover to make more dishes.


Serves: 6-8 


Ingredients:  (serves about 6-8)

  • 10 oz Shredded Beef

  • 1/4 tsp baking soda

  • 3 Tbsp cornstarch

  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce + 2 Tbsp (divided)

  • 3 Tbsp canola oil, plus 3 Tbs. for cooking

  • 16 oz linguine noodles

  • 3 - 4 cups shredded Napa cabbage

  • 2 cups of Broccoli 

  • 2 medium Carrots thinly julienned 

  • 1 red or green pepper, julienned

  • 4 green onions/scallions, cut into 2 - 3" pieces

  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 Tbsp rice wine vinegar

  • 3 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

  • 1 tsp chili garlic sauce

  • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar


Instructions: 

  1. Mix baking soda, cornstarch, soy sauce, and oil into a marinade.   Then stir in the shredded beef and allow to marinate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.   

  2. Cook the linguine. 

       

  1. Chop the vegetables into bite-size pieces.

  2.   Prepare the sauce by mixing rice wine vinegar, sesame garlic chili sauce, and brown sugar.  Set aside. 

  3. Prepare the Wok by getting it extremely hot without any ingredients in it.   This will cook each part of the meal very quickly when you start to add each ingredient, so have everything ready to go into the Wok. 

  4. Add oil to the Wok and wait for it to get up to temperature.   Then add the beef and cook it until done.   Then push the beef up onto the sides of the wok before adding the next ingredient.  

  5. Add the hard vegetables (carrots and peppers) next.   Once cooked push these ingredients up onto the sides of the wok.  

  6. Add the Broccoli and cook until done and repeat by pushing it up onto the sides of the Wok.  

  7. Finally, add the Napa Cabbage and cook until finished.   

  1. Add the sauce and stir and then add the linguine and stir again until all ingredients are incorporated into the dish.   

  1. Plate it up and top with green onions.  


~ Savings ~

Cost Breakdown:


10 oz Shredded Beef - $5.99

1/4 tsp baking soda- $0.01

3 Tbsp cornstarch- $0.08

3 Tbsp soy sauce - $0.18

3 Tbsp canola oil, plus 3 Tbsp for cooking - $0.44

16 oz linguine noodles- $1.25

3 - 4 cups shredded Napa cabbage= $2.50

2 cups of Broccoli - $0.90

2 medium Carrots thinly julienned - $0.25

1 red or green pepper, julienned- $0.80

4 green onions/scallions, cut into 2 - 3" pieces- $0.15

2 large cloves garlic, minced- $0.17

3 Tbsp rice wine vinegar- $0.24

3 Tbsp toasted sesame oil- $1.14

1 tsp chili garlic sauce- $0.09

1 Tbsp light brown sugar- $0.05


Total Recipe Cost = $14.69

Cost per Serving = $2.45

NOTE- I used this recipe serving only 6 servings.


The Contender

Great Asian Restaurant: 

Beef Lo Mein - $13.95 / $6.98 per serving


Savings: 

The entire recipe is within a $1.00 of 1 order of beef lo mein from my local restaurant.    We will eat this meal again the next day, so no food will go to waste.   Therefore, I compared the per serving prices to calculate the savings percentage. 

Savings= 65%

Since this is a treat during the year, we only have it a few times and if money doesn’t permit this recipe to be made, then we opt for a cheaper dinner option. 
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