Chop suey is a popular Chinese-American dish that is known for its unique combination of flavors and textures. It is a stir-fry dish that typically includes a variety of vegetables, meat or seafood, and a flavorful sauce. The name chop suey is derived from the Cantonese words meaning “mixed small pieces.”

In this article, we will walk you through the steps to make your own delicious chop suey at home.

First, gather all the ingredients you will need. Traditional chop suey ingredients include a mix of vegetables such as bell peppers, cabbage, onions, and bean sprouts. You can also add your choice of protein like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. For the sauce, you will need soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch for thickening.

It is important to prepare all the ingredients before you start cooking. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces, slice the meat or seafood thinly, and mince the garlic and ginger.

Once all the ingredients are prepped, it’s time to start cooking. Heat a wok or a large frying pan over high heat. Add some cooking oil and give it a swirl. Toss in the minced garlic and ginger and stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant.

The Essential Steps for Cooking Delicious Chop Suey

If you’re a fan of Chinese cuisine, then you’ve probably heard of chop suey. This popular stir-fry dish is a delicious combination of meat, vegetables, and sauce. By following these essential steps, you can easily cook up a mouthwatering plate of chop suey at home.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

To cook chop suey, you will need the following ingredients:

1 pound of meat (such as chicken, pork, or shrimp)
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage)
1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 2: Prepare the Meat and Vegetables

Start by cutting the meat into thin strips. Season it with salt and pepper. Then, chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Cook the Meat

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the meat and cook until browned. Remove the meat from the skillet and set it aside.

Step 4: Sauté the Vegetables

In the same skillet, add the onion and garlic. Cook until they become fragrant and slightly translucent. Add the mixed vegetables and cook until they are crisp-tender.

Step 5: Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken or vegetable broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the vegetables.

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Step 6: Combine Everything

Add the cooked meat back into the skillet and stir everything together. Continue to cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens and everything is well coated.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer the chop suey to a serving dish and garnish with some chopped green onions, if desired. Serve it hot with steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy your delicious homemade chop suey!

Gathering the Ingredients

Before you start cooking chop suey, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Protein:

You can use any kind of protein for your chop suey, such as chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp. Aim for about 1 pound of protein.

2. Vegetables:

Chop suey is known for its variety of vegetables. Some traditional options include cabbage, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and bean sprouts. Feel free to add any vegetables you like or have on hand.

Here’s a list of suggested vegetables:

  • Cabbage
  • Bell peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Carrots
  • Bean sprouts

3. Sauce:

The sauce for chop suey is typically made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch. You’ll need about 1/4 cup of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Additionally, you can add some garlic, ginger, and sesame oil for extra flavor.

Make sure you have all these ingredients ready before you start cooking chop suey. Once you do, you’ll be ready to move on to the next step!

Preparing the Vegetables

Chop suey is traditionally made with a variety of vegetables, so it’s important to prepare them properly before cooking. Here’s how you can get your vegetables ready:

Gather Your Ingredients

Before you start, make sure you have all the vegetables you need for your chop suey recipe. This typically includes cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, onions, and bean sprouts. You can also add other vegetables like mushrooms or snow peas if desired.

Cutting the Vegetables

Wash all the vegetables thoroughly under cool running water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry with a clean towel. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the cabbage into thin strips, shred the carrots, dice the bell peppers, and slice the onions.

Vegetable Cutting Method
Cabbage Thin strips
Carrots Shredded
Bell Peppers Diced
Onions Sliced
Bean Sprouts Left whole

Once all the vegetables are cut, you can proceed with cooking your chop suey according to your recipe’s instructions. Enjoy your delicious homemade chop suey!

Marinating the Meat

Marinating the meat is an essential step in preparing chop suey as it helps to infuse the meat with flavors and tenderize it. Here’s how you can marinate the meat for your chop suey:

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Ingredients: Instructions:
1 pound of sliced chicken, beef, or pork 1. Place the sliced meat in a bowl.
2 tablespoons of soy sauce 2. Add soy sauce to the sliced meat and mix well to ensure all the meat is coated.
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce 3. Add oyster sauce to the meat mixture and stir until well combined.
1 tablespoon of cornstarch 4. Sprinkle cornstarch over the marinated meat and mix well to coat the meat evenly.
1 teaspoon of sesame oil 5. Finally, add sesame oil to the marinated meat and mix well.

Once the meat is marinated, let it sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat. This marinated meat will then be ready to be stir-fried with the rest of the ingredients to create a delicious chop suey dish.

Stir-Frying the Ingredients

Once you have prepared all the ingredients, it’s time to start stir-frying. Follow these steps to ensure the perfect chop suey:

  1. Heat a wok or a large skillet over high heat.
  2. Add cooking oil to the hot wok and swirl it around to coat the sides.
  3. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the meat or protein of your choice and stir-fry until it is cooked through.
  5. Remove the cooked meat from the wok and set it aside.
  6. Add more oil to the wok if needed and let it heat up.
  7. Add the vegetables to the wok and stir-fry for a few minutes until they are crisp-tender.
  8. Return the cooked meat to the wok and stir-fry everything together for a couple of minutes.
  9. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch slurry.
  10. Pour the sauce mixture into the wok and stir-fry until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients.
  11. Remove the wok from the heat and serve the chop suey over steamed rice.

Remember to stir-fry the ingredients quickly over high heat to retain their natural flavors and textures. Enjoy your homemade chop suey!

Adding the Sauces and Seasonings

Once the vegetables and proteins are cooked, it’s time to add the flavorful sauces and seasonings to your chop suey dish. This step is crucial to infuse the dish with delicious flavors and enhance the overall taste.

Sauce Options

There are several sauce options that can be used to add richness and depth to your chop suey. The most common choices include:

  • Soy sauce: This classic Chinese sauce adds a salty umami flavor to the dish.
  • Oyster sauce: Made from oysters, this sauce is rich, savory, and slightly sweet.
  • Hoisin sauce: A thick, dark sauce with a sweet and tangy flavor that adds depth.
  • Sesame oil: A fragrant oil that lends a nutty flavor to the dish.
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Seasoning Options

In addition to sauces, there are also various seasonings you can use to further enhance the taste of your chop suey. Some popular options include:

  • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a pungent and aromatic flavor to the dish.
  • Ginger: Grated ginger adds a zesty and slightly spicy taste to the chop suey.
  • Chinese five-spice powder: A blend of cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fennel, and Szechuan peppercorns that adds complexity to the dish.
  • White pepper: This mild pepper variety provides a subtle heat to the chop suey.

When adding sauces and seasonings, it’s important to taste and adjust the flavors according to your preference. You can start with small amounts and gradually add more until you reach the desired taste.

Remember to stir the sauces and seasonings well into the dish to evenly distribute the flavors. Continue cooking for a few more minutes to allow the sauces and seasonings to meld with the other ingredients.

Q&A

What is chop suey?

Chop suey is a Chinese-American stir-fry dish made with various vegetables and meat or tofu.

What are the main ingredients in chop suey?

The main ingredients in chop suey usually include cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, celery, and a protein source like chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp.

How do I cook chop suey?

To cook chop suey, start by sautéing vegetables and protein in a wok or large skillet. Then add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other seasonings of your choice. Cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp and the sauce has thickened. Serve hot with rice.

Can I make vegetarian or vegan chop suey?

Yes, you can make vegetarian or vegan chop suey by using tofu or tempeh as the protein source and omitting any animal-based ingredients such as oyster sauce or fish sauce. You can use soy sauce or tamari instead for the umami flavor.

Is chop suey a healthy dish?

Chop suey can be a healthy dish if you use lean protein sources, plenty of vegetables, and limit the amount of added sauces or oil. It is a good way to incorporate a variety of vegetables into your diet.

What is chop suey?

Chop suey is a Chinese stir-fry dish that typically includes meat (such as chicken, pork, or beef), mixed vegetables, and a savory sauce. It is often served over rice or noodles.

What are the main ingredients in chop suey?

The main ingredients in chop suey are meat (such as chicken, pork, or beef), mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, and bean sprouts), and a sauce made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other seasonings.