American Chopsuey

American Chopsuey Video by Tarla Dalal

1. You can make the crispy noodles in advance and store them in an air-tight container.
2. Using the fried noodles, you can make another popular Indo-Chinese roadside recipe Chinese bhel. 
3. You can add an assortment of exotic vegetables like broccoli, pakchoy, baby corn, red cabbage to make this more colorful and flavorful.
4. Also, you can make use of favorite sauces like sriracha, soy sauce, schezuan sauce to make this dish more tasty. 

1. First we have to parboil the noodles i.e. to cook them 70 to 80 %. If the noodles are completely cooked they will be soggy and sticky while deep-frying. So cook them al dente i.e. firm to bite. For this boil enough water in a deep broad pan.
2. Add a pinch of salt.
3. Also add a little oil. 
4. Add the noodles and let them boil till they are 70-80% cooked.
5. Drain and rinse with cold water to avoid further cooking. Before you deep-fry the noodles see that they are well drained and dry.
6. Now heat oil in a deep non-stick kadhai, add 2 cups of hakka noodles and spread it evenly to form a layer and deep-fry.
7. Once the bottom layer is golden brown turn over the noodles and fry them on the other side, so that they are golden brown from both the sides and also crisp.
8. Drain on an absorbent paper. Similarly make one more batch of fried noodles.

1. Combine the cornflour with 1½ cups of water in a deep bowl, mix well and keep aside.
2. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan and add the sliced onions.
3. Sauté the onions on a medium flame for 1 minute.
4. Then add capsicum.
5. Add carrots.
6. Add cabbage.
7. Mix well and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Add the boiled hakka noodles and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
9. Add the tomato ketchup.
10. Add chilli sauce. The addition of different sauces gives it a sweet, tangy, spicy flavour.
11. Mix well and cook for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally.
12. Now add the cornflour-water mixture.
13. Mix well and add the vinegar.
14. Add sugar and salt to taste.
15. Mix well and cook on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes or till the sauce thickens, while stirring occasionally.

1. Place one portion of the crispy noodles on a serving dish.
2. Top it with one portion of the chopsuey evenly over it.
3. Serve immediately. Enjoy the American chop suey before it gets soggy.