Poor Man’s Chop Suey Recipe

Poor Man's Chop Suey Recipe
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Are you looking for a quick and easy way to cook Chinese food at home? If yes, you should try out this simple recipe called poor man’s chop suey recipe. This dish is very similar to the famous American dish, except that it uses fewer ingredients and requires no cooking skills.

Chop Suey is a classic American dish that originated in New York City. The name comes from the Cantonese word for stir-fried vegetables. Chop Suey was initially served in restaurants as a cheap meal option. Today, it has become a favorite dish across America.

If you’ve never tried it before, you might be surprised at its deliciousness. The secret lies in its simplicity. You can make this recipe in less time than it takes to watch an episode of “GOT.”

Poor Man's Chop Suey Recipe

Know About the Poor Man’s Chop Suey Ingredients

This article shows how to prepare poor man’s chop suey using only five ingredients.

Soy sauce: We use soy sauce in Poor Mans Chop Suey Recipe to add flavor without adding sodium. We are using ½ cup soy sauce.

Sugar: Sugar is used in poor mans chop suey recipe to make up for the lack of flavor in the meat. However, this can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Therefore, sugar should only be consumed in moderation. We are using 1 tsp sugar.

Cornstarch is used as an emulsifier in poor man’s chop-suey recipes. Cornstarch is made by grinding dried maize into flour. It can be found in most grocery stores. We are using 1 tbsp cornstarch.

Ground beef: Chop suey was initially made by Chinese immigrants who could not afford meat. Ground beef is cheap and easy to prepare. We are using 1 pound of ground beef.

Green cabbage: green cabbage is used in good man’s chop suey recipes to add flavor and color. Back then, Chinese immigrants were forced to use whatever ingredients they could find. Today, we can make this dish using fresh vegetables and spices. We are using 1 head of green cabbage.

Method of Preparing Poor Man’s Chop Suey

Chop suey is a Chinese American dish made with stir-fried vegetables and meat. It is usually served over rice but can also be eaten with noodles. Follow these step-by-step instructions to make this traditional dish without any hustle and in a short time.

Step 1: Start by combining all the ingredients and mixing well.

Step 2: Next, heat up your wok on high heat.

Step 3: When hot, pour in 1/4 cup oil and wait until it starts smoking.

Step 4: Then add your chopped onions and garlic.

Step 5: Stir fry for about 30 seconds and then add the beef mixture.

Step 6: Let it cook for another minute while stirring constantly.

Step 7: Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Step 8: Cover the wok and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 9: Finally, remove the lid and let it continue to cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

You can serve it immediately or store it in the refrigerator for later consumption.

How to Make Chop Suey With Bean Sprouts?

You can chop suey with bean sprouts by adding them to stir-fry vegetables. Sprout beans are very nutritious and contain high levels of protein, fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making chop suey with bean shoots:

Step 1: Chop Vegetables

You’ll need to cut up some vegetables like carrots, celery, green onions, and bell peppers.

Step 2: Cook Beans Sprouts

Cooking beans sprouts takes just 5 minutes!

Step 3: Add Meat

Add ground beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu to the pan.

Step 4: Mix Ingredients Together

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.

Step 5: Serve

Serve chop suey over rice or noodles.

What is American Chop Suey?

American Chop Suey is a dish consisting of meat, vegetables or seafood, noodles, and gravy. It was popularized by Chinese immigrants who came to America during the late 19th century.

It was named after the chop suey restaurant chain that started in San Francisco in 1882. The first location was opened by Mr. Wong, a former railroad worker. He created his own version of the traditional Chinese dish. His restaurant became so successful that he had to expand it several times.

American Chop Suey Ingredients

A typical American chop suey recipe includes

meat: Beef is the most common type of meat used in American chop suey. Other types of meat used are lamb, veal, pork, and poultry.

Vegetables: Vegetables used in American chop suey include mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, spinach, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and eggplant.

Noodles or rice: Noodles used in American chop suey include spaghetti, vermicelli, rice sticks, and lo mein.

Sauce: We are using oyster sauce

seasoning: Seasonings used in American chop suey include salt, pepper, soy sauce, sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.

How to Make American Chop Suey?

Chop suey was invented by Chinese immigrants who came to America during the late 19th century. They brought their cooking traditions with them, including recipes for dishes like this one. Now, this dish is quite famous among Americans.

Step 1: Start by chopping up some vegetables. Cut up carrots, celery, bell peppers, green onions, and mushrooms into small pieces.

Step 2: Next, place the vegetables into a large pot. Heat up the pot on medium heat. Once the pot is hot, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Wait until the oil starts smoking before adding the meat.

Step 3: After the meat has been added, cover the pot and let it cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, check the meat. If there is still too much liquid left, turn the heat low. Let the meat simmer for another 15 minutes.

Step 4: After 15 minutes, remove the lid from the pot. Check the meat again. If there is still enough liquid left, turn off the stove. Otherwise, continue to cook the meat for another 20 minutes.

Step 5: When the meat is cooked through, remove it from the pot. Set aside.

Step 6: Now, it’s time to prepare the sauce. Mix 1 cup of cornstarch and 3/4 cup of water in a bowl. Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the bowl. Whisk vigorously until smooth.

Step 7: Add the mixture to the pot containing the meat. Cook the sauce over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to low. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens.

Now it’s time to assemble the dish. Place the cooked meat onto a plate. Top it with the prepared sauce. Garnish with chopped scallions. Serve immediately.

Poor Man's Chop Suey Recipe

Poor Man’s Chop Suey Recipe

Learn how to make poor man's chop suey recipe at home using ingredients you probably already have around the house. This Chinese recipe is great to enjoy anytime.
Print Pin
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 254kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp  sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 head of green cabbage

Instructions

  • Combine everything and mix well
  • Heat on high heat
  • When hot, pour in 1/4 cup oil
  • Add chopped onions and garlic
  • Stir fry then add the beef mixture
  •  Cook for another minute
  • Add remaining ingredients and mix well
  • Cover the wok and simmer
  • Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Poor Man's Chop Suey Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
254
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
 
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Cholesterol
 
54
mg
18
%
Sodium
 
1158
mg
50
%
Potassium
 
502
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
7
g
8
%
Protein
 
17
g
34
%
Vitamin A
 
148
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
 
55
mg
67
%
Calcium
 
78
mg
8
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, poor man’s chop suey recipes aren’t hard to make. They’re cheap, easy, and delicious. So, if you want to save money without sacrificing flavor or serve up a quick meal for the entire family, whip up a batch of poor man’s chop suey instead of ordering Chinese food.

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