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Pork Chow Mein (Classroom-Friendly)

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A simple pork chow mein made with tender pork, crisp vegetables, and a savory sauce. This classroom-friendly version focuses on basic stovetop skills like stir-frying, simmering, and thickening sauces—perfect for group cooking.
  • Category: Dinner
  • Stovetop
  • Skill Level: Beginner
pork chow mein - chgt

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Yield: 4–6 servings

Ingredients

Pork & Vegetables

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • Boneless pork, cut into strips or cubes
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1/2 cup sliced celery
  • 4 cups fresh bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions

Sauce

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger

Thickener & Serving

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Chow mein noodles or cooked rice

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pan or wok. Stir-fry pork until browned and cooked through.
  2. Add carrots and celery. Stir in water, soy sauce, brown sugar, bouillon, garlic, and ginger.
  3. Cover and simmer 4–5 minutes, until vegetables are tender but still crisp.
  4. Stir in bean sprouts and green onions.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the hot mixture.
  6. Cook, stirring, until sauce thickens.
  7. Serve over chow mein noodles or cooked rice.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Kids can measure sauce ingredients and whisk the cornstarch slurry.
  • Teach “tender-crisp” vegetables by tasting carrots as they cook.
  • Use low-sodium soy sauce for a milder classroom version.

Notes

Chicken can be substituted for pork if needed. Sauce thickens quickly—add a splash of water if it becomes too thick.

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Recipe, image and content from Kids-Cooking-Activities.com