what is chop suey

Chop suey is a dish from American Chinese cuisine and other forms of overseas Chinese cuisine. It typically consists of meat (such as chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or fish) and eggs, cooked quickly with vegetables like bean sprouts, cabbage, and celery, all bound in a starch-thickened sauce. It is usually served with rice, but can also be served with noodles like chow mein. The dish originated as a Chinese-American creation, with its name coming from Cantonese and Mandarin phrases meaning "odds and ends" or "miscellaneous broken pieces," reflecting its nature as a dish made from various leftover ingredients. It has many variations depending on the chef's preferences. Chop suey is characterized by a thicker, gravy-like sauce and flexibility in ingredients, unlike chow mein which is a more specific traditional Chinese dish served with stir-fried noodles. Chop suey is often cooked by stir-frying meat and vegetables separately and then combining them with rice or noodles topped with the sauce. It is a versatile, quick-to-make dish that can include various meats, vegetables, and sometimes eggs, making it an adaptable meal popular in many Chinese communities overseas and American Chinese cuisine.