Mie Goreng (Indonesian Fried Noodles)

Mie Goreng is a fried noodle dish that is a staple street food in Indonesia. It’s simple to make and comes together in just 15 minutes for a hearty, tasty meal that is perfect for your next weeknight dinner!

What is Mie Goreng?

If you’re a fan of sweet, savoury and salty noodles then you’re going to love this Mie Goreng recipe. This dish is made with egg noodles that cook up quickly for an easy meal that’s on the table in just 15 minutes.

So what exactly is Mie Goreng? It’s an Indonesian stir-fried noodle dish that is made with yellow noodles, (such as egg noodles or ramen noodles) cabbage, egg, proteins (often shrimp/prawns or chicken) and stir-fry sauce.

It’s a very popular dish in Indonesia that you’ll often find from street vendors, but also in higher-end restaurants. (Though it is originally considered “street food.”) “Mie Goreng” translates to “fried noodles” so this recipe translated is simply Indonesian Fried Noodles. It is similar to the dish Mee Goreng from Malaysia, but the two are not the same.

While many recipes for Mie Goreng are made with chicken, beef or shrimp, this recipe just sticks to vegetables and eggs to keep it vegetarian. (Though feel free to add in whatever you like!)

What noodles are best for Mie Goreng?

Mie Goreng is traditionally made with yellow wheat noodles, similar to the type of noodles you’d use to make Chinese Lo Mein. There are many different varieties of wheat noodles that can be used to make Indonesian fried noodles from fresh noodles to instant noodles. Here are a few options:

• Chow Mein Noodles: yellow wheat noodles will often be labelled “chow mein noodles” on the package and are perfect to use to make this recipe. You can find these dried or fresh at your local Asian grocery store.
• Instant ramen noodles: these are probably the quickest and easiest noodles you can use that can be found are all large chain grocery stores.
• Spaghetti noodles: this is definitely not a traditional type of noodle to use, but if you only have spaghetti on hand in your pantry it will work just fine in this recipe!
• Rice ramen noodles: this is a gluten-free option that can be used if you want to make this recipe without wheat noodles.

Ingredients for Mie Goreng

• Noodles: you can use instant, dried or fresh noodles to make this recipe. Traditionally egg noodles are used, but you can also just use a packet of instant ramen noodles or any other noodles suggested in the section above.
• Scallions/green onions:  I absolutely love the taste of sautéed scallions in a stir-fry! You can substitute a regular onion, but you won’t get the same delicious flavour.
• Garlic: This is a must in Indonesian fried noodles!
• Cabbage: you can use regular green cabbage or a Nappa cabbage. This adds some veggies and more body to the stir fry.
• Egg: the egg is optional but added to a traditional Mie Goreng to create little pieces of the omelette in the noodles. Not only does it taste delicious but adds some protein to the dish.
• Stir fry sauce: the sauce for these noodles is made with a combination of Kecap Manis, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetarian oyster sauce and sesame oil.

Substitute for Kecap Manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce)

First of all, what exactly is Kecap Manis?

It’s a thick and dark sauce that resembles molasses and is made with palm sugar, soy sauce and some other seasoning. This sauce is also referred to as “sweet soy sauce” and has a very rich and unique taste that is a signature in a Mie Goreng.

You can find Kecap Manis at most Asian grocery stores or even on Amazon, or you can make your own. (Here is a recipe if you want to try making it.)

If you can’t get your hands on Kecap Manis to make this recipe, here are a few options for substitutes:

• Equal parts dark soy sauce and honey
• Equal parts regular soy sauce and honey
• Equal parts soy sauce and brown sugar
• Hoisin sauce

How to make Mie Goreng (step by step instructions)

Step 1

Add the eggs to a bowl and whisk together to combine. This will make it easier to turn the eggs into an “omelette” when you add the egg to the pan.

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Step 2

Heat a pan on medium-high heat and spray it with some vegetable oil. Then pour the egg into the pan and swirl it around so the egg covers the base of the pan. Let the egg cook for 1-2 minutes on each side.

Tip: it’s ok if the omelette breaks when you try to flip it! You’re going to be cutting it up into small pieces anyway.

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Step 3

Once the omelette is cooked, remove it from the pan and cut it into strips or small pieces. This will be added back into the stir fry with the noodles.

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Step 4

Heat some vegetable oil in the pan and add the shallots, cabbage and garlic and sauteé for 2 minutes on medium-high heat. Then add cooked noodles and the omelette to the pan with the vegetables.

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Step 5

Pour the stir-fry sauce into the pan and mix everything together until well combined.

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Step 6

Mie Goreng is best enjoyed fresh off the stove, so make sure to serve it right away! You can serve the noodles with some additional sliced scallions, chili pepper or lime.

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Optional add-ins:

There are many different variations of Mie Goreng and many different add-ins and mix-ins you can try to customize this dish to your liking. Here are some common add-ins you can try. I’ve suggested some vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian protein options below.

Vegetables:

• Bean sprouts
• Carrots
• Red pepper
• Garlic sprouts
• Tomato
• Mushrooms
• Chinese Broccoli
• Bok Choy

Protein:

• Tofu
• Tempeh
• Shrimp/prawns
• Chicken
• Beef
• Pork

How to store and reheat stir-fried noodles

Store: store any leftover Mie Goreng noodles in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This recipe does not freeze well and I don’t recommend freezing the noodles once they’re made.

Reheat: to reheat your noodles add them to a pan and stir-fry them on medium heat, or warm them up in the microwave. If you find the noodles are sticking together after being in the fridge try adding a splash of water to the noodles when heating them up. This will help them break apart more easily.

Mie Goreng FAQ

More delicious noodle recipes to try

• Yaki Udon
• Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
• Life-Changing Peanut Butter Noodles
• Thai Drunken Noodles
• Teriyaki Noodles
• Sesame Ginger Noodles

If you tried this Mie Goreng or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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