Difference Between Chow Mein and Chop Suey
Whenever you are in a mood to taste Chinese Cuisine, then you always think of stir-fried vegetable rice or noodles, which translate into two most popular dishes, “Chow Mein and Chop Suey.” However, people who eat these dishes often wonder about the difference between Chow Mein and Chop Suey. If that’s what you are wondering at the moment, it’s time to continue reading and find out what’s the difference between both cuisines.
Table of Contents
- What Is Chow Mein?
- What Is Chop Suey?
- Main Difference Between Chow Mein and Chop Suey
- Nutritional Values
- Main Ingredients
- How to Make Chow Mein?
- Chow Mein Recipe
- How to Make Chop Suey?
- Chop Suey Recipe
- Cooking Styles
- Chop Suey
- Chow Mein
- Wrap up
What Is Chow Mein?
I’m sure that many of you have already tasted chow mein. It is a famous Chinese Cuisine where stir-fried vegetables are mixed with boiled noodles. You can find Chow Mein in two different variations: vegetables are fried and tossed with boiled noodles. You get a chance to taste soft noodles.
Another variant of this dish is Hong Kong Style; in this dish, noodles are fried, not boiled before adding into a stir-fried vegetable mixture.
What Is Chop Suey?
In this particular American-Chinese dish, vegetables and meat are stir-fried and then served with Fried rice and gravy. It’s an entirely different cuisine than Chow mein, but people often get confused between both.
Main Difference Between Chow Mein and Chop Suey
Here are highlight some main differences
- Origin – Chow mein is a classic Chinese cuisine that was first made in China. On the flip side, Chop Suey is an American dish inspired by Chinese cooking and ingredients.
- Gravy Texture – Chow mein always has a thin gravy texture as it mostly has soy sauce. Nothing is added to thicken its sauce. Contrary to this, Chop Suey is always served with thick gravy.
- Main Ingredient – Once vegetables are fried, then they are always mixed with noodles in Chow Mein, while the main ingredient of Chop Suey is rice. Therefore, when you want stir-fry vegetables with rice, ask for chop suey, not Chow mein.
People get confused when stir-fried vegetables are served with stir-fried noodles and thick gravy. They don’t know whether it is chow mein or Chop Suey. The right answer is Chop Suey. Are you still confused? It’s time to find out the main difference, so next time when you order and eat something, you are sure what you are tasting.
Nutritional Values
Chow Mein is made with fewer ingredients than Chop Suey. Thus it contains fewer calories. | Chop Suey is made with more ingredients than Chow Mein. Thus it contains more calories. |
In one cup of vegetable chow Mein, you can find: 240 Calories 14 grams of Fat 4 grams of Protein 26 grams of Carbohydrates |
In one cup of 56g vegetable Chop Suey you can find: 282 Calories 16 grams of Fat 23 grams of Protein 12 grams of Carbohydrates |
In case you are on a diet or weight loss target, you shouldn\’t go with fried-noodles as the oil contains cholesterol and fat. It\’s better to toss your vegetables with steamed noodles. | In case you are on diet or weight loss target, then always stir-fry all vegetables and consume them with boiled rice, not with fried noodles. |
In case you don\’t want to rely only on veggies and need some protein as well that add Chicken, Mushrooms meat, or shrimp. | People who have heart issues must use low-cholesterol oil for frying all the vegetables. They can skip meat and seafood from their Chop Suey. |
Main Ingredients
The difference between Chow Mein and Chop Suey can also be noticed during cooking and gathering ingredients. There is a story in America where a Chinese Chef had to make the most of all available ingredients in the kitchen and leftovers in the fridge to make something for American guests, and it’s when Chop Suey came to life.
Noodles (Steam or Fried) | Rice (Deep or Fried) |
Celery | Celery |
Broccoli | Broccoli |
Bean Sprouts | Bean Sprouts |
Mushrooms | Snow Peas |
Red Bell Pepper | Ketchup and Sugar |
Onion | Cabbage |
Cornstarch | Cornstarch |
Sesame Oil | Vegetable Oil |
Soy Sauce | Soy Sauce |
Oyster Sauce | Oyster Sauce |
Chicken Breast | Shrimp, Chicken, Beef, or Pork (Choose One) |
How to Make Chow Mein?
You will notice the difference while cooking both cuisines as slight changes in the recipe are present.
Chow Mein Recipe
How to Make Chop Suey?
It takes a little more time to make Chop Suey compared to Chow Mein.
Chop Suey Recipe
Cooking Styles
Expert chefs always keep some differences between Chow mein and Chop Suey. You can see this difference in their cooking styles. You might add steamed noodles in Chow mein, but when you plan to mix noodles in Chop Suey, the only option you have is fried noodles.
Chop Suey
Although Chop Suey is an American-Chinese Cuisine, you can see its variants in different countries like India and Indonesia. When you follow an Indonesian version of Chop Suey, you don’t add meat but keep all your focus on adding as many varieties of vegetables as you can.
Chow Mein
When you order Chow Mein in East America, then it always comes with crispy deep-fried noodles. In case you want steam noodles, then you need to order Lo mein there. As far as the West is concerned, you always get Chow Mein with Steamed noodles. In case you are in the mood for crispy noodles, then order Hong Kong Style Chow Mein.
Wrap up
I’m sure after reading this post, you would be able to make a big difference between Chow mein and Chop Suey. You won’t have any confusion anymore.
Also Read: How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce