The Many Origin Stories of Chop Suey (2024)

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The Many Origin Stories of Chop Suey? ›

Li Hongzhang, a diplomat from China, was visiting the city and hosting American guests for dinner. Rather than risk preparing authentic Chinese food for them, Hongzhang asked his personal chef to invent a dish that would appeal to both Chinese and American palates. Chop suey was born.

This was, perhaps, an exaggeration; but chop suey was indeed of Chinese origin. Where exactly its roots lay has been debated; but it was probably first cooked in Taishan, in Guangdong, where most early immigrants had grown up.

noun. chop su·​ey chäp-ˈsü-ē : a dish made chiefly from bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, onions, mushrooms, and meat or fish and served with rice and soy sauce. Etymology. from Chinese (dialect of Guangzhou and Hong Kong) jaahp seui, literally, "odds and ends"

The song was originally titled either "Suicide" (according to the bassist, Shavo Odadjian) or "Self-Righteous Suicide" (according to Rubin), but the name was changed in response to real or anticipated pushback from Columbia Records.

Fun facts about Chop Suey: A whole variation of origin stories exist for chop suey. Some say it was created by Chinese Americans. Other say it was developed by Chinese immigrants working on the Transcontinental Railway during the 1800s. Others say it was created from scraps to serve to miners in San Francisco.

Another tale is that it was created during Qing Dynasty premier Li Hongzhang's visit to the United States in 1896 by his chef, who tried to create a meal suitable for both Chinese and American palates.

Chop suey is a dish you'll see on almost any Chinese takeout menu—but that doesn't mean it comes from China. According to culinary legend, the dish of stir-fried meat, egg, and vegetables was invented on August 29, 1896, in New York City.

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.

Chow mein vs chop suey are both popular Chinese dishes that are often confused with each other. Chow mein is a stir-fried noodle dish that typically includes vegetables and meat, while chop suey is a dish made up of meat, vegetables, and sometimes noodles that are cooked in a thick sauce.

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.

Why is chop suey healthy? ›

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.

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.

Noun. suey (countable and uncountable, plural sueys) (slang) Suicide (act of self-killing). (uncountable, slang) Suicide (children's ball-throwing game).

While it has its roots in Chinese-American cuisine, Filipinos have so lovingly accepted Chop Suey into their cooking repertoire that it has since evolved into its own well-known Filipino recipe. It is a vegetable dish that you mix with a meat or two or three of choice.