Chinese Vegetable Chop Suey with Crispy Tofu
Crisp tofu with beansprouts, cabbage and peppers in a savoury garlic and ginger sauce, ready in 25 minutes.
Made with All purpose stir fry sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.20 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Press the tofu between kitchen paper for 10 minutes to remove surface water, then cut into 2 cm cubes and toss with the cornflour.
10 min - 2
Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large non stick frying pan or wok over a medium high heat. Fry the tofu for 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until golden and crisp on most sides. Tip onto a plate.
7 min - 3
Add the remaining oil, then the mushrooms and pepper, and stir fry for 3 minutes until the mushrooms lose their water.
3 min - 4
Add the cabbage and stir fry for 2 minutes, then add the beansprouts. They only need about 30 seconds so they stay crunchy.
2 min 30 s - 5
Return the tofu and pour in 100 ml of your ready made all purpose stir fry sauce (see the base recipe). Toss for 1 minute until the sauce coats everything and turns glossy.
1 min - 6
Top with spring onions and serve over the hot rice.
Tips
- Pressing the tofu is what makes it crisp. Skip this and the cornflour coating goes soft.
- Add the beansprouts last. They wilt in under a minute and go watery if cooked longer.
- Check the tofu and rice packets if serving someone with coeliac disease, but both are normally gluten free.
Storing and freezing
Eat within 1 day. Chill leftovers within 1 hour and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat until piping hot and do not reheat the rice more than once.
Questions
What is chop suey?
Chop suey is a Chinese American stir fried dish of mixed vegetables, often with meat or tofu, in a light glossy sauce. It is served with rice rather than noodles.
Can I use other vegetables?
Yes. Pak choi, carrots, broccoli, baby corn and mangetout all work. Cut everything to a similar thickness and add the slowest cooking vegetables first.
Can I use the stir fry sauce if I am vegan?
Yes. The all purpose stir fry sauce is vegan when made with maple syrup, which is how the base recipe is written. Always check your tamari label.
More made with all purpose stir fry sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.