American chop suey

Last updated
American chop suey
American Chop Suey on White Plate.jpg
American chop suey
Alternative names American goulash
CourseMain dish
Place of originUnited States
Region or state New England
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredients Macaroni, ground beef, tomato-based sauce, various vegetables (usually green peppers and onions).
Similar dishesBeefaroni, cheeseburger macaroni, chili mac, Johnny Marzetti, macaroni with beef and tomatoes

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, [1] found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. [2] [3] [4] Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names. [5] Despite its name, it has only a very distant relation to the chop suey of Chinese and American Chinese cuisine. [4]

Though this comfort food is influenced by Italian-American cuisine as well as older New England quick and practical meals like the "potato bargain" and "necessity mess," it is known as "American chop suey" both because it is a sometimes-haphazard hodgepodge of meat, vegetables and Italian seasonings, [6] and because it once used rice, a base ingredient in Chinese cuisine, instead of pasta. [4]

Standard American chop suey consists of elbow macaroni and bits of cooked ground beef with sautéed onions in a thick tomato-based sauce. [7] The dish can be served on a plate or in a bowl, usually accompanied by bread and often Worcestershire sauce.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Chinese cuisine</span> Chinese cuisine developed by Chinese Americans

American Chinese cuisine is a cuisine derived from Chinese cuisine that was developed by Chinese Americans. The dishes served in many North American Chinese restaurants are adapted to American tastes and often differ significantly from those found in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasta</span> Cooked dough food in Italian cuisine

Pasta is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Pasta was traditionally only made with durum, although the definition has been expanded to include alternatives for a gluten-free diet, such as rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils. While Asian noodles originated in China, pasta is believed to have developed independently in Italy and is a staple food of Italian cuisine, with evidence of Etruscans making pasta as early as 400 BCE in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chop suey</span> Dish in overseas Chinese cuisine

Chop suey is a dish from American Chinese cuisine and other forms of overseas Chinese cuisine, generally consisting of meat and eggs, cooked quickly with vegetables such as bean sprouts, cabbage, and celery, and bound in a starch-thickened sauce. It is typically served with rice, but can become the Chinese-American form of chow mein with the substitution of stir-fried noodles for rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravy</span> Sauce made from the juices of meats

Gravy is a sauce generally made from the juices of meats and vegetables that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with corn starch or other thickeners for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavoured with gravy salt or gravy browning or bouillon cubes. Powders can be used as a substitute for natural meat or vegetable extracts. Canned and instant gravies are also available. Gravy is commonly served with roasts, meatloaf, rice, noodles, fries (chips), mashed potatoes, or biscuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lasagna</span> Flat pasta and dishes made from it

Lasagna, also known as lasagne, is a type of pasta, possibly one of the oldest types, made in very wide, flat sheets. The same-named Italian dish is made of stacked layers of lasagna alternating with fillings such as ragù, béchamel sauce, vegetables, cheeses, and seasonings and spices. The dish may be topped with grated cheese, which becomes melted during baking. Typically cooked pasta is assembled with the other ingredients and then baked in an oven. The resulting baked pasta is cut into single-serving square or rectangular portions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goulash</span> Hungarian meat and vegetable stew

Goulash is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moussaka</span> Dish of layered vegetables, sauce and meat

Moussaka is an eggplant (aubergine)- or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, which is common in the Balkans and the Middle East, with many local and regional variations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comfort food</span> Type of food

Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone and may be characterized by its high caloric nature associated with childhood or home cooking. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual or it may apply to a specific culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotdish</span> Casserole dish

A hotdish or hot dish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup. The dish originates in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, where it remains popular, particularly in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Montana. Hotdish is cooked in a single baking dish, and served hot. It commonly appears at communal gatherings such as family reunions, potlucks, and church suppers. A classic example known as "tater tot hotdish" is made with ground beef, topped with tater tots, and flavored with thick, condensed cream of mushroom soup sauce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pastitsio</span> Greek baked pasta dish

Pastitsio is a Greek baked pasta dish with ground meat and béchamel sauce, with variations of the dish found in other countries of the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American goulash</span> American pasta and ground beef dish

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, is an American comfort food dish, similar to American chop suey. American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Marzetti</span> Italian-American pasta dish

Johnny Marzetti, or simply marzetti, is an American pasta dish in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States prepared with noodles, cheese, ground beef or Italian sausage, and a tomato sauce that may include aromatic vegetables and mushrooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunisian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Tunisia

Tunisian cuisine, the cuisine of Tunisia, consists of the cooking traditions, ingredients, recipes and techniques developed in Tunisia since antiquity. It is mainly a blend of Mediterranean and native Punic-Berber cuisine. Historically, Tunisian cuisine witnessed influence and exchanges with many cultures and nations like Italians, Andalusians, French and Arabs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macaroni casserole</span> Pasta dish

Macaroni casserole is a dish of baked pasta. It is especially known as a staple in northern European home cooking. It is a dish of cooked macaroni and a mixture of egg and milk with additional ingredients like meats, vegetables or fish. It is commonly made with cheese or breadcrumbs sprinkled on top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chili mac</span> American pasta dish

Chili mac is a dish prepared using chili con carne and macaroni as primary ingredients, which is often topped or intermingled with cheese. Some versions are made using prepared or homemade macaroni and cheese. It is a common dish in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States, and is also popular in other areas of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesian noodles</span> Indonesian dish

Indonesian noodles are a significant aspect of Indonesian cuisine which is itself very diverse. Indonesian cuisine recognizes many types of noodles, with each region of the country often developing its own distinct recipes.

References

  1. Mendelson, Anne (29 November 2016). Chow Chop Suey: Food and the Chinese American Journey. Columbia University Press. ISBN   9780231541299. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  2. Bedell, Malcolm. "Classics: American Chop Suey". From Away. fromaway.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  3. "American Chop Suey Casserole". New England Today. newengland.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 KENJI LÓPEZ-ALT, J. "American Chop Suey: The Cheesy, Beefy, Misnamed Stovetop Casserole That Deserves a Comeback". Serious Eats. seriouseats.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  5. Vargas, Sally Pasley (September 3, 2019). "Recipe: American chop suey is beloved comfort food served by families all over the country". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  6. Smith, Andrew F. (2007). The Oxford companion to American food and drink (illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN   978-0-19-530796-2 . Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  7. "What is American chop suey?". Ochef. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-28.