American Chop Suey is a dish that is a mix of Indian and Chinese flavours that we love. It features crispy fried noodles, a variety of colourful vegetables and a thick, tangy sauce. At Indian Chinese restaurants and also on the street food scene, it is very popular, which we attribute to the fact that it is a sweet, spicy and savoury balance. What is great about making it at home is you can play around with the ingredients, the heat and the consistency to suit your taste.
If you like your noodles on the crispy side and your gravy full of flavour, this is a recipe you should try. Also, it makes a great evening snack or special weekend meal for the family.
Ingredients Required for American Chop Suey
The below-listed ingredients are for two servings.
For the crispy noodles:
- 180 grams of regular or Hakka noodles
- 4 cups of water
- ½ tsp of salt
- 2 tablespoons of corn flour
- Cooking oil for frying noodles
For making vegetable sauce:
- ½ cup of shredded cabbage
- ½ cup of thinly sliced carrots
- â…“ cup of chopped capsicum
- ¼ cup of chopped spring onions
- ½ tsp of finely chopped ginger
- ½ tsp of finely chopped garlic
- 3 tbsp of tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp of soy sauce
- ½ tbsp of red chilli sauce
- 1½ cups of water
- 2 tbsp of corn flour diluted with water
- ¼ tsp of pepper
- 1 tsp of vinegar
- ½ tsp of sugar
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp of sesame oil/sunflower oil
Procedure for preparing American chop suey
Step 1: Cooking the noodles
Boil water in a deep vessel, and add salt and a little oil. Now add noodles and cook them till they are almost cooked and still have a crunch to the bite. Now drain the water and wash the noodles in cold water to stop them from cooking.
Spread the noodles on a plate and let them dry. Dust the noodles with corn flour and gently mix. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed vessel and fry the noodles in small batches till golden brown and crunchy.
Step 2: Prepare the veg sauce.
In a wok or kadai, heat the sesame oil. Add chopped ginger and garlic and sauté a little until fragrant. Add spring onions, cabbage, carrots and capsicum. Stir-fry the vegetables over medium-high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes. Keep them a little crunchy; do not cook them completely.
Step 3: Make that zesty gravy.
Take a smaller bowl and combine ketchup, soy sauce and hot sauce. Pour it over the vegetables and mix well. Following that, add the water as well.
Put the cornflour into the liquid by stirring it continuously, making sure it doesn’t end up clumping together. Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, vinegar and sugar. Allow the sauce to cook on medium heat for a few minutes until the sauce thickens well.
Step 4: Plate and serve the dish.
Take the fried noodles on a serving plate and cover them well with the vegetable sauce while garnishing them with spring onions or coriander leaves for taste. The combination of the crunchy noodles and spicy sauce will just leave your guests craving more.
Tips to prepare the best American Chop Suey.
- Make sure to dry the noodles completely before frying for better results.
- Avoid putting in too much at a time while you are frying, which in turn will affect the texture.
- Tweak the ketchup, vinegar and chilli sauce to your taste.
- Add in some mushrooms, baby corn, sweet corn or broccoli.
- Prepare the gravy right before service to avoid the fried noodles becoming soggy.
Final Thoughts
American Chop Suey is a dish that takes an ordinary meal and elevates it to a special occasion. As for me, what I love is the textural play of crispy noodles and the zesty vegetable gravy. I do recommend enjoying it fresh, which is when the noodles still have that crunch and the sauce is at a warm temperature. For a weekend treat or when you are looking to break out of your routine with your family, in 2026 this homemade American Chop Suey is a great option to put on the table.
About the Author
