A friend has asked if I’d share the recipe for Chop Suey so I thought I’d do it on here so that others could also experiment if they so desired. This not the Asian style Chop Suey but your Kiwi/Island style. Now, I’m a total Chop Suey snob. In my opinion if you’re going to make it, you have to stick to these 3 rules:
- Only use dark soy sauce. It looks much tastier and well, it IS much tastier.
- Chicken in Chop Suey is a nice thought but a major no-no. Red meat -beef or lamb- are the only meats to use and not in mince form.
- No mixed veges! Save them to stretch another meal.
Stick to these 3 rules and your Chop Suey is sure to be a hit. With me at least, anyway.
Ingredients:
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Cube the meat and brown it in a large pot with the oil,onion and chopped garlic cloves on a medium heat.
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Whilst the meat is cooking, place the vermicelli in a large bowl full of hot water and leave to soak until soft.
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Once meat and vermicelli are ready add the vermicelli to the meat in the pot.
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Add soy sauce, a few tbsp of water and brown sugar to taste.
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Simmer on a low heat until there is no visible liquid but the vermicelli is moist and not sticky.
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If after cooking, vermicelli becomes sticky or tastes heavy/dry add a small amount of water, soy sauce and brown sugar to soften back up.
Let me know how you go!
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
you rock!
Hope you enjoy it
Thanks! I had my first attempt at chop suey last week after been subjected to cruel internet chatter of what people showing off what they were having for dinner..was so average I wasnt gonna bother again. Will give it another go this week yah
Yay go Molly! Let me know how you get on. Sorry to hear bout that first time haha. Hope this works for you
That sure brings back memories. I haven’t made it for years. I used to love it. I love coconut buns too, do you have a recipe for those?
Yes! We made coconut buns too..they’re so good today! The kids have almost eaten them all. Will get that recipe up asap
When I came back home from Sydney my mum made chop suey & I was really excited cos I hadn’t had proper Chop Suey since I left so I went to the oven straight after I gave everyone a hug and kiss, looked in the pot, turned round and asked my cousin to take me to her house cos I know her dad’s got meat in the oven.
my cousin just cracked up cos I had been catching her up in the car ride from the airport that I didn’t want to have anything chicken for @ least 2 months. Chicken & mix veges definite no-nos! The weirdest chop suey combo I’ve seen is corn beef cooked into the chop suey! So I agree with you any variations that stray too far from the original recipe is not going to be eaten by me.
There’s always, ALWAYS, discussions on who makes the best chop suey, & how in my family. My oldest sister thinks Ashtray’s girlfriend makes the best chop suey and after I tasted it they of limited taste buddies (it’s too early I forget how to spell pallet? was that it?). I said it was ok not as great as they made it out to be. My cousins on my dad’s side think my mum does & I keep telling them no, they need to keep sampling & networking amongst more Islanders. My cousin Sharna has times when she gets it perfect & times when it’s second best. But my absolute favourite Chop Suey cook is my mate & her dad. Their family owned an island catering business in Welli & many, many people can vouch for it, melt in your mouth… Yes! chop suey can melt in your mouth when it is cooked far beyond your expectations to perfection. I gotta go now my mouth is watering.
P.S I’m goin to try your recipe out.
SHUDDUP! I just saw the comment on coconut buns! I don’t know anyone that makes a good Pani Popo that I can ask for the recipe. Please notify me when this recipe is up! I think I love you now Chavah! You just don’t know how long I’ve been looking for a recipe of my favourite samoan dessert ever!
lol Lua. It sounds like there needs to be an official chop suey cook off! I forgot all about the corned beef variation! I’ve encountered it too. Definitely not the one.
Haha Lua. I’m aiming to get the recipe up this week, sooner rather than later, so will make sure you know when it’s up.
We always enjoy reading your posts, i just used this website SwapmySeeds.com, as a way of giving away my unused seeds. Anyone know what I can sell them for? I have maybe 500 geranium seeds left.
OMG! OMG!! OMG!!!
Thank you! I’m so cooking chop suey this weekend and I’m frikken excited right now!!
Yay Nic! Hope it works well for you
Already had some rave reviews from those that made it today hehehe.
I’m pleased! It’s nice to see someone very excited about what they do. Thank you.
Many posts definitely worth scanning on here and a lot of good info. If you do by any chance happen to have time, have a look at my site and glance over my posts and afford me a comment.
To be honest, there are days when I wonder if I have any at all yet it will probably lead you to rethink your ways.
Awesome, i made the chop suey and the coconut buns, massive hit in my home so thank you very much. I am half maori and half european, i had a family dinner and this went down well with all sides of our family.
much appreciated. thank you for your recipes again.
kylie
I’m so glad your family enjoyed them Kylie! Thanks for letting me know, you made my day
Hi,I live in Melbourne but will soon be retiring back in NZ end of January,I have been looking for a real good chop suey receipe and now I have one thanks to you.we all love it and when I return home I shall make some for the whanau,thanks again Marg.
Hi, how many does this serve? I’m only looking to cook it for my partner and myself.
Hi Tiddysess, this recipe makes a large pot full, enough to feed about 6-8 people. I’m used to cooking for the masses in this house sorry hehe. If you half the recipe you could have enough for dinner for your husband and yourself and then leftovers for lunch.
Hope you enjoy it.
how much brown sugar and soy sauce should one use in the chop suey
So I somehow volunteered to make something from NZ for the YM/YW activity tomorrow night at church, and I thought aaaah I’ll do chop suey – cheap and easy and will feed 30 people without costing me too much! I have made it dozens of times before but not for about a year, so I googled for a recipe, just for a refresher, and what comes up but your post! Too funny!! And don’t worry, no chicken in mine. Unfortunately beef was too expensive but pork chops were on sale, so pork it is! Still a step above chicken, right?! haha!
Haha Joanna, too cool. I hope you and the girls enjoy the recipe! Wish I had some, sooo good.
Hi how much brown sugar and soy would u use please?
For a large pot like you’d use for this recipe Alexis, about 4 Tbsp.
Hi how much brown sugar/soy sauce please
thanku
Alexis I am not sure but about 4 tablespoons of soy and 1 tablespoon of sugar…anyone can correct me if I am wrong.
Hmmm! I’ve never had chop suey with brown sugar in it before (and my family are from Samoa), however I’m going to give it a try! I disagree about the beef however, I LOVE chicken & preferably a mix of pork AND chicken! (chopped & bones included) – then & only then would I use beef. Believe me the more meat the better & if you add different meats together it is divine!
The other thing is – for 2 packets of vermicelli I’d use at least 1 bulb of garlic (no I’m not kidding!) & ginger as well YUM! Not saying mine’s better, well it is to me, but hey different strokes for different folks
Oh, and I saw a guy on youtube put chilli flakes in his sapa sui & it gave me the idea to put Kaitaia Fire on it once cooked (just for me, my kids aren’t all fans of chilli). It was good! But then I do love my Kaitaia Fire
Thanks for the recipe!
Oh and P.S I think my aunty puts chicken stock in her chop suey – it’s the best! Will have to watch her cook it one day as she doesn’t have a recipe for anything she cooks
you dont put celery in yours that is the best way to make it and mushrooms man i can give you a real way to make chop suety and got to make wontons to i use stew meat cook my meat cut my celery mushrooms onions and i use bean sprouts water chestnuts and bamboo soy sauce and a gravy you get by the soy sauce at the market.and i allway make wontons on the side cream cheese with crab green onions or use beef instead of crab meat.
very good.
Mmmm made this tonight for dinner yummo
))
Yea that was it. From NZ living in Fiji with my Filipina girlfriend.
We decided to have chop suey & I remember the delicious taste from my childhood. I saw some rice noodles(vermicelli) & chop suey sauce & bought it (delicious). My girlfriend was looking at vegetables in the market & I was saying NO! We got home & looked for it on the net, the world really doesn’t know what chop suey is. Full of vegetables & white vermicelli. Then we saw yours (delicious) thats how I remember it. Thanks. One thing though, there is no liquid to simmer off, did I miss something?
nice blog! thanks for the help.
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I tried this recipe and disagree on using casserole beef, tenderised beef is best.
Kia ora and I LOVE your 3 rules, ha! My Nan, from Templeview makes the best chop suey and of course I’ve only had it a couple times in my life. And she makes it with beef (or lamb in NZ) not the canned meat products and frozen mixed veggies our other cousins use. I need to “pin” this photo. I’m so hungry now. Thank you!
YUK!!!!!!!! That is NOT Cho Suey! Sorry BOY learn to cook!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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