Indian Chinese- American Chop Suey

Check out this figure friendly recipe with air fried noodles! 

Wow ! Talk about fusion cooking! Indian Chinese is one of the most popular cuisines in India. This cuisine is said to have originated over 100 years ago in India, and boy is it popular ! Not only has it stuck around for 100 years but it also has become mainstream cuisine in restaurants and food carts in India ! One of the reasons, I believe, is because is well suited to the Indian palette as is evident in many of the dishes that blend fiery sauces with some of the Chinese cooking techniques. One such dish is the American Chop Suey!

I am thinking both of my mother and my daughter when I write this. My mother taught Indian Chinese cooking in her classes. I remember her getting up early in the morning for the prep work, mainly cutting the vegetables into fine slivers and match sticks. That is a hallmark of the Indian Chinese food too. I now admire my mother’s patience and diligence in cutting all the  vegetables for so many recipes and also for so many people attending her class.

 My daughter loves this American Chop suey so much that I remember once she had ordered it ‘to go’, just as we were leaving for the airport, on our way back from India. She just had to have it one more time before we left. And she was such a finicky eater back then too ! So she inspired me to create the Indian Chinese American Chop Suey here in America.

The noodles in this dish are traditionally deep fried until crispy. I have air fried these noodles and let me tell you, I did not miss the deep fried ones.

The temperature and timing for the air fryer is according to the Insta Turbo Air fryer. Timing may vary depending on your air fryer brand.

Look at these golden brown and crispy air fried noodles!

This dish can also be made with chicken and veggies. It may also be served topped with an egg cooked ‘sunny side up’.

So this is what I used-

Ingredients

For the noodles-

• 1 packet Ramen noodles. I discarded the flavor pkt.
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil ( I use Kadoya brand)

For the vegetables- (l measured all vegetables after cutting them)

• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 cup green beans sliced thinly at an angle
• 1 cup carrots, cut into matchsticks about 1/8 inch thick
• 1 cup green pepper, sliced (I used yellow pepper because I had it at home)
•  3 cups white cabbage, 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup lotus root peeled and sliced (optional) We love it so I add it.
•  sea salt to taste
•  7 to 8 shakes white pepper

For the sauce, mix together-

• 3 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Chinese black vinegar (you may use apple cider vinegar if you have that on hand)
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 4 shakes of white pepper powder
• 1 teaspoon tapioca starch combined with 3/8 cup of water. You may also use corn starch.

For topping-

2 thinly sliced scallions- cut at an angle, both white and green part or toasted sesame seeds.

To make the Indian Chinese style American Chop Suey-

1. Remove noodles from package and separate into 2 squares across the thickness. I did not use the flavor packet. Cook noodles according to the package directions , drain and dry them well.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Use the teaspoon of sesame oil to coat the noodles. Place the noodles in a single layer in the airfryer and set the timer to 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, using tongs, turn the noodles and air fry for another 3 minutes, or until the noodles are golden brown and crispy.
3. In a stir fry pan or a wok, add the 2 teaspoons of sesame oil on medium high to high heat. Add the garlic and fry until  few seconds. Add the onion and all the vegetables  in the order given, stir frying 2 to 3 seconds between the different vegetables. Add the salt and pepper, stir and remove mixture to a plate or bowl. The key is to have the vegetables tender crisp.
4. Reduce heat, add the sauce to the pan and let it simmer for a minute or so.
5.  Turn off the heat. Add the stir fried vegetables to the sauce and serve immediately.
6. In the serving bowl, add the crushed noodles ,then the hot vegetables and sauce and top with the sliced scallion.The hot sauce warms up the noodles as they soak in the yummy sauce.

Yumminess is all yours! Enjoy!

Love,

Sandhya