Filipino Chop Suey

Filipino Chop Suey is a popular stir-fried vegetable, meat, or seafood in the Philippines that has a Chinese influence and has been adopted to suit Filipino flavors. It is a tasty, savory, and healthy dish rich in thick umami sauce. It is a delicious main dish served over rice with other side dishes.

If you love vegetable stir-fries, you will surely love this 20-minute vegetable stir-fry! My mom often makes this dish when all the vegetables are seasoned. They taste better and are affordable when they are in season.

Why you will love this recipe

• Cultural experience: Trying new foods is a great way to learn about other cultures and expand your culinary horizons. Chopsuey Filipino-style is a dish that reflects the blend of American-Chinese and Filipino cultures, and trying it is a great way to experience a little of both worlds.
• It's delicious: This dish is a flavorful and satisfying dish that combines the savory taste of meat or seafood with the natural sweetness of fresh vegetables. The thickened sauce adds a savory and rich flavor that ties everything together, making it a comforting and satisfying meal.
• It's easy to make: It is a simple and straightforward dish to make, with minimal preparation required. It's a great option for a quick and easy weeknight meal or as a dish to prepare for a larger group of friends and family gatherings.
• It's nutritious: This savory stir-fried vegetable Pinoy dish is loaded with vegetables, which are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The meat or seafood is a good source of protein, making it a completely satisfying meal that will leave you feeling full and energized.
• It's versatile: One of the great things about this Filipino dish is that it can be customized to your preferences. You can use a combination of meat or seafood and most of the vegetables you like to add. Then you can adjust the seasoning and spiciness according to your taste.

Ingredients

With just a few veggies and protein sources, we can make the best Chopsuey Filipino Recipe. Check the recipe card for a printable full recipe.

• Vegetables - For this recipe, I use cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and orange bell pepper. I also add mushrooms which are a type of fungus, as a substitute for meat. You can add your favorite stir-fry vegetables of your choice. Be sure to chop them in uniform.
• Meat or seafood - This chop suey consists of shrimp and pork as a protein. But Filipinos have their own favorite proteins to add, such as chicken, beef, and with quail egg. If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can substitute meat with mushrooms and tofu. Check my pan-fried tofu recipe.
• Aromatics - You know me, I can't cook stir-fries without onion and garlic. They add tons of aroma and flavors.
• Sauce - The sweet and savory sauce consists of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch mixture. This sauce is amazing!

Instructions

1. In a wok, heat two tablespoons of cooking oil and cook shrimp. Sprinkle salt to season it. Cook until it changes to orange. It will take a minute or two for a perfect cook shrimp that is not overcooked and dry. Take it out and set it aside.
2. Add a few more splashes of cooking oil and cook minced garlic and chopped onion together until translucent. You will know it's cooking when you smell the aroma of the garlic and onion in a good way.
3. Add pork slices, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Stir fry these for 5-7 minutes or until the pork is tender and light brown.
4. Toss the mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes or until they caramelize a little bit.
5. Add carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and bell pepper. Stir fry for a few minutes on high heat.
6. Add the cabbage and stir-fry for a minute.

Last but not least, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch with half a cup of water. Dissolve the cornstarch mixture and add it in. If you want a more saucy chop suey, add a cup of water. Continue to stir until the sauce will thicken.

Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Add the cooked shrimp to the wok. Serve with rice while it's hot.

Helpful Tips

• Use fresh vegetables if possible: Use fresh vegetables to ensure that the dish is packed with flavors, nutrition, and crunchy texture. Some popular vegetables to include are cabbage, carrots, green beans, bell peppers, broccoli, and snow peas.
• Cut the vegetables in uniform sizes. It's important to cut the veggies into even sizes so that they cook evenly. This makes the dish look more visually appealing too.
• Use high heat: When stir-frying the vegetables and meat, use high heat to achieve a crispy texture and to prevent the vegetables from becoming soft and mushy.
• Season well: the sauce is what ties everything together in chopsuey. Make sure to season it well with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other seasonings to give the dish a savory, umami flavor. For the thick sauce, use cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca powder dissolved in water.
• Add some crunch: Adding some fried wonton strips or crushed nuts on top of the dish can give it some added texture and flavor.
• Serve hot: This dish is best served hot and fresh. Try to serve it immediately over warm rice after cooking.

Storage and reheating tips

• Storage: Allow the dish to cool, and store your leftover chop suey in an air-tight container with a tight lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. It won't be as crunchy because of the freezing and thawing process, but it is still delicious and nutritious to eat.
• Reheating: To reheat, transfer it into a skillet and reheat in medium heat. Add a few splashes of water, stir, and let it reheat until warm through.