The Difference Between Chop Suey and Chow Mein in Chinese Cuisine (2024)

FAQs

The Difference Between Chop Suey and Chow Mein in Chinese Cuisine? ›

The sauces for each dish are markedly different, with chop suey usually having a thicker, starchy gravy-like sauce, while chow mein is prepared with a thinner soy-sauce based topping.

The Base: It's crispy stir-fried noodles. In fact, this is the easiest way to spot the difference between chow mein and chop suey. If there's rice, it's chop suey. If there are noodles, it's probably chow mein.

Chop Suey – a saucy chicken stir fry loaded with tender pieces of chicken, vegetables and smothered in Chinese brown sauce just like you get at the best Chinese restaurants! Use any vegetables you want in this quick and easy stir fry.

Literal meaning. (probably) odds and ends. assorted pieces/mixed and broken.

Chop suey and lo mein offer contrasting eating experiences. Chop suey is typically served without noodles and features a mix of crunchy vegetables and tender proteins, providing a satisfying contrast of textures that range from crisp to soft. On the other hand, lo mein is known for its smooth and silky noodles.

Chow mein is a traditional Chinese dish made with egg noodles and stir-fried veggies. We love adding a protein and our favorite is chicken, but you can try different meat or tofu.

Difference between American Chopsuey and Chinese Chopsuey

The American Chopsuey is sweet and sour with a bright orangish-red colour. It is like a one-pot macaroni pasta meal cooked with beef and vegetables in a sweet tomato sauce. Whereas the Chinese Chop Suey is savoury and spicy, served with rice or noodles.

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

Chop suey sauce is made of soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, white pepper, and water.

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

Are there noodles in chow mein? ›

Both lo mein and chow mein are made with Chinese egg noodles—wheat flour noodles with egg added. Fresh egg noodles (preferably about 1/4-inch thick) are best for lo mein, while either fresh or dried can be used to make chow mein. Either way, the noodles need to be softened in boiling water before cooking.

However, it isn't a healthy dish as it increases blood sugar levels. Chow mein noodles' main ingredient is refined flour maida, that's packed with carbohydrates. Consider replacing processed white carbs maida noodles with millet noodles. Millet is nutritionally superior to other grains and also has a low GI.

Chop suey is another stir-fry dish made from meat, eggs, and thinly sliced vegetables in a light sauce. It's often made with pork, although some varieties may contain chicken, beef, or tofu. Like other stir-fries, it's a healthier choice because it's made from a protein source and vegetables.

Both dishes are flavorful and satisfying, but chow mein tends to be lighter and more noodle-focused, while chop suey is heartier and more sauce-focused. When it comes to choosing between the two, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you're in the mood for.

In Mandarin, the dish is called lāo miàn.

Steamed chow mein can have many different kinds of vegetables in the finished dish, most commonly including onions and celery but sometimes carrots, cabbage and mung bean sprouts as well. Crispy chow mein is usually topped with a thick brown sauce, while steamed chow mein is mixed with soy sauce before being served.

In China, a chop suey is a simple vegetable stir fry with sauce. When this came to India, it was Indianised and served with crispy fried noodles - a genius addition that takes this stir fry to another level. The best chop suey is served fresh, with the vegetables still crunchy.

Origin of the Title

Chop Suey is a dish that originated from China. It is a stew made from fish or meat with onions, bamboo sprouts and rice. But believe it or not, the song isn't about the dish! The song's title was supposed to be Suicide, but it was later changed by Columbia Records to make it more radio friendly.

It's thought to be a transcription of “tsa tsui,” which is Mandarin for “a little of this and that.” In time, “chop suey” became a dish containing a loose assortment of bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, celery, soy sauce, and either pork or chicken, which went on to become one of those Chinese-American dishes popular in ...

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.