This Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey is a perfect, quick and satisfying meal. Packed with tender pieces of chicken and a variety of vegetables, all smothered in a delicious Chinese brown sauce, this dish is reminiscent of your favorite Chinese takeout. With a few key techniques—velveting the chicken and using Chinese cooking wine—this stir-fry is as good as the one from the best Chinese restaurants!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Tenderised Chicken (Optional):

• 180g (6oz) Chicken breast, thinly sliced

• ½ tsp Baking soda (bi-carb, optional)

For the Sauce:

• 1 tbsp Cornflour (corn starch)

• 1 ½ tbsp Light soy sauce (or all-purpose soy sauce)

• 1 tbsp Oyster sauce

• 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine or Mirin

• ½ tsp Sesame oil (optional)

• Dash of white pepper (or black pepper)

• ¾ cup (185 ml) Water

For the Stir Fry:

• 1 ½ tbsp Vegetable oil (or any cooking oil)

• 2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped

• ½ Onion, sliced

• 5-6 stems Choy sum (or any Asian greens)

• 1 medium Carrot

• ½ cup Sliced mushrooms (shiitake preferred)

• 1 cup Bean sprouts

Directions

1. Tenderise the Chicken (Optional):
   If using chicken breast, sprinkle the sliced chicken with baking soda. Mix it through and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse well and pat dry.

2. Prepare the Sauce:
   In a bowl, mix cornflour with soy sauce to make a smooth paste. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and stir to combine.

3. Prepare Vegetables:
   Trim the ends off the choy sum and cut into 7cm (3”) pieces. Slice the carrot thinly, and cut mushrooms into slices.

4. Stir Fry:
   Heat oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add garlic and stir quickly, then add onions. Cook for about 1 minute until softened.
   Add the chicken and cook for 1 minute until it turns white. Then, add choy sum stems, carrots, and mushrooms, stir-fry for another minute.
   Add choy sum leaves and bean sprouts, then pour in the sauce. Stir-fry for another 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

5. Serve:
   Serve immediately over rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Nutrients (per serving, assuming 2 servings)

• Calories: 298 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 18g

• Protein: 25g

• Fat: 14g

• Saturated Fat: 9g

• Cholesterol: 57mg

• Sodium: 1112mg

• Potassium: 1071mg

• Fiber: 4g

• Sugar: 5g

• Vitamin A: 12155 IU

• Vitamin C: 34.3mg

• Calcium: 103mg

• Iron: 3.4mg

What Makes This Chicken Stir Fry So Special?

At its core, Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey is a simple yet delicious dish that’s filled with tender chicken and fresh vegetables. The dish is typically served with a savory brown sauce made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Chinese cooking wine, giving it a depth of flavor that’s both rich and comforting. The stir-fry is balanced with a variety of vegetables, adding both color and texture, making it a satisfying, one-pan meal.

What sets this stir fry apart from others is the careful preparation of the chicken. By tenderizing the chicken using a method known as “velveting,” the meat becomes incredibly tender and juicy. Velveting is a Chinese technique where the chicken is marinated in a mixture that helps it retain moisture and stay soft while cooking. It’s an easy step that transforms an otherwise ordinary stir-fry into something truly exceptional.

Another key component is the use of Chinese cooking wine (or Mirin), which gives the sauce its signature depth and complexity. If you don’t have Chinese cooking wine on hand, you can substitute it with Mirin, which offers a similar sweet and savory flavor. The combination of these ingredients is what elevates this dish from good to great.

The Velveting Process: The Secret to Tender Chicken

One of the signature techniques in Chinese cooking is “velveting,” a method that keeps the chicken juicy and tender, even when stir-fried. This technique involves marinating thin slices of chicken breast in a mixture of baking soda, soy sauce, and water for about 20 minutes. The baking soda helps break down the proteins in the chicken, ensuring a soft and tender texture when cooked. After 20 minutes, you simply rinse the chicken to remove any excess baking soda and pat it dry before cooking.

While this step is optional, it makes a significant difference in the texture of the chicken. It ensures that your chicken remains moist and tender, absorbing all the flavors of the stir-fry sauce. If you’re looking for the best texture, velveting is highly recommended.

The Flavorful Sauce: A Savory Balance of Soy, Oyster, and Sesame

The sauce is the heart of this stir fry. Made from a combination of light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Chinese cooking wine, it offers a savory, umami-packed base that coats the chicken and vegetables beautifully. The soy sauce adds saltiness and depth, while the oyster sauce provides a slightly sweet and rich flavor. The Chinese cooking wine brings a subtle tang and complexity that is essential to authentic Chinese stir-fry recipes.

To thicken the sauce, a bit of cornflour (cornstarch) is added, which gives it a glossy, velvety texture that clings to the chicken and vegetables, making each bite even more flavorful. A dash of sesame oil adds an optional nutty aroma, while white pepper provides a hint of heat to round out the flavor.

This sauce is not overly thick, so it doesn’t overwhelm the dish; instead, it enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and vegetables, making it a perfect complement to the stir-fried ingredients.

The Vegetables: Fresh and Colorful

In Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey, the vegetables are just as important as the chicken. The dish is typically made with a variety of colorful vegetables, each contributing to the overall texture and flavor. For this recipe, we use choy sum (or any other Asian greens), carrots, mushrooms, and bean sprouts.

• Choy Sum: These leafy greens add a slight bitterness that balances out the sweetness of the sauce. If you can’t find choy sum, you can easily substitute with bok choy or spinach.

• Carrots: Sliced thinly, they provide a natural sweetness and a crunchy texture that contrasts with the tender chicken.

• Mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms, in particular, bring a rich umami flavor that complements the savory sauce.

• Bean Sprouts: These add a crisp, refreshing bite and a slight sweetness that lightens up the dish.

Together, these vegetables add color, texture, and balance to the stir fry, ensuring that every bite is flavorful and satisfying.

How to Make Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey

Making Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey is quick and simple, especially with the right preparation. The entire dish can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect option for a busy weeknight meal. Here’s a breakdown of the steps:

1. Tenderize the Chicken: (Optional) If you’re using chicken breast, thinly slice it and sprinkle it with baking soda. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and pat it dry.

2. Prepare the Sauce: Mix cornflour with soy sauce to make a smooth paste, then add the remaining sauce ingredients (oyster sauce, Chinese cooking wine, sesame oil, white pepper, and water) and stir to combine.

3. Prepare the Vegetables: Trim and chop the vegetables. Cut the choy sum into 7 cm pieces, slice the carrots thinly, and cut the mushrooms into slices.

4. Stir-fry: Heat oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onions and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the chicken and cook until it turns white. Then, add the choy sum stems, carrots, and mushrooms. Stir-fry for another minute.

5. Add the Sauce and Remaining Vegetables: Add the choy sum leaves and bean sprouts to the pan, followed by the sauce. Stir everything together and cook for another 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

6. Serve: Serve the stir-fry immediately over steamed rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Why This Stir Fry Is Perfect for Any Occasion

Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey is perfect for a variety of occasions. It’s a quick, satisfying meal that’s ideal for weeknight dinners, but it’s also impressive enough to serve at a dinner party or family gathering. The balance of tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and flavorful sauce makes it a well-rounded meal that will please even the pickiest eaters.

It’s also highly customizable—feel free to switch up the vegetables or add extra protein like shrimp or tofu to make it your own. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or a crowd, this dish is sure to be a hit.

Conclusion: A Delicious, Quick, and Healthy Stir Fry

Chicken Stir Fry Chop Suey is a quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying dish that combines the best of Chinese cooking with fresh, healthy ingredients. The velveting process ensures the chicken stays tender, while the savory brown sauce ties everything together in a deliciously balanced dish. Whether you’re looking for a weeknight dinner or a dish to impress guests, this stir fry is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.

Give it a try and experience the savory, tender, and flavorful goodness that this dish has to offer!