--- title: "Chilean Chicken Chop Suey — Homemade Chapsui de Pollo Recipe" description: "Versión en Español. Chilean chapsui de pollo is a chicken chop suey made by tenderizing bite-size chicken breast pieces with baking soda, stir-frying them with garlic and scallions, then adding steame..." url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-chicken-chop-suey-chapsui-de-pollo-recipe/ date: 2026-09-27 modified: 2026-09-27 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-chicken-chop-suey-chapsui-featured.jpg categories: ["Main Dishes"] type: post lang: en --- # Chilean Chicken Chop Suey — Homemade Chapsui de Pollo Recipe [Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-chapsui-de-pollo-casero/) ![Chilean chapsui de pollo, chicken chop suey with vegetables](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-chicken-chop-suey-chapsui-featured.jpg)*Homemade Chilean chapsui de pollo* Chilean chapsui de pollo is a chicken chop suey made by tenderizing bite-size chicken breast pieces with baking soda, stir-frying them with garlic and scallions, then adding steamed broccoli and cauliflower, carrot, bean sprouts, bell peppers, and a sauce of soy, cornstarch, and oyster sauce. It takes 45 minutes of preparation plus 20 minutes of cooking and serves 4 people. Of Chinese origin and first adapted in the United States, chop suey has earned its own place in Chilean popular cooking. ## How to Make Chilean Chicken Chapsui? Chapsui combines tender slices of chicken with fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and bean sprouts, although beef or lamb can also be used. Everything is stir-fried quickly over high heat and coated in a glossy sauce. ## Nutritional Information Each serving of chicken chapsui contains approximately 250 kcal, 15 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of fat, 28 g of protein, 4 g of fiber, 5 g of sugars, 60 mg of cholesterol, and 600 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes. ## Homemade Chilean Chapsui de Pollo Recipe **Preparation:** 45 minutes **Cooking:** 20 minutes **Servings:** 4 people ### Ingredients - 2 chicken breasts - 200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon) of water - 4 scallions - 150 g (5 oz) of bean sprouts - 2 cloves of garlic, chopped - 1 teaspoon of baking soda - 1 tablespoon of cornstarch - 1 large carrot - 1 tablespoon of soy sauce - 1/2 red bell pepper - 1/2 green bell pepper - 1/2 medium broccoli - 1/2 medium cauliflower - Oyster sauce - Sunflower oil - Fine salt - Black pepper ### Instructions 1. Cut the chicken breasts into thin slices and then into bite-size pieces. Place them in a large bowl, sprinkle with the baking soda, and mix well with your hands. Cover and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse very well with cold water and pat dry. ![Chicken breast for chapsui](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/raw-chicken-breast-mongolian-chicken.jpg)*Chicken breast* 1. In a medium bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the soy sauce, add the oyster sauce and water, season, and set aside. Wash the broccoli and cauliflower, cut them into medium florets, and microwave for two minutes, until crisp-tender. ![Soy sauce for the chapsui sauce](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/soy-sauce-bottle-sweet-sour.jpg)*Soy sauce* 1. Cut the scallions into 3 to 4 cm (1 1/2 in) pieces, chop the carrot, and slice the bell peppers into thin strips. Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat, add the garlic, stir-fry for a minute, add the scallions for two more minutes, then add the chicken and cook until done. ![Broccoli florets for chicken chapsui](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/broccoli-florets-chicken-chapsui.jpg)*Broccoli* 1. Add the broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, bean sprouts, bell peppers, and the sauce, and stir-fry for about 5 more minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off the heat and adjust the seasoning. Serve right away with fried rice or fries. ## Additional Tips ### Tenderize with baking soda A short rest with baking soda, then a good rinse, keeps the chicken tender and silky. ### Cook over high heat A very hot wok keeps the vegetables crisp and bright. ### Serve with rice or fries In Chile, chapsui is typically served with arroz chaufán (fried rice) or with fries. | Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Chicken | Beef or lamb strips | 1:1 | Richer flavor | | Bean sprouts | Snow peas | 1:1 | Crunchier | | Oyster sauce | Hoisin sauce | 1:1 | Sweeter | | Broccoli and cauliflower | Any seasonal vegetables | 1:1 | Flexible | ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### 1. Why use baking soda on the chicken? It raises the pH on the surface of the meat, which keeps it tender and juicy when stir-fried; rinse it off well before cooking. ### 2. Can I use other meats? Yes, beef or lamb strips work well. ### 3. What should I serve it with? Fried rice (arroz chaufán), white rice, or fries. ### 4. Can I change the vegetables? Yes. There is no strict recipe; use whatever vegetables are in season or on hand. ## What Is Chapsui? Chapsui is the Chilean spelling of chop suey, a stir-fry of meat and vegetables in a light soy-based sauce, popular in Chilean Chinese restaurants. ## Why Is It Called Chapsui? The name comes from the Cantonese for mixed pieces, a reference to the combination of stir-fried meats and vegetables that was adapted around the world, including Chile. ## Did You Know? Chinese immigration to northern Chile, especially Iquique, gave rise to a local Chinese-Chilean cuisine known for dishes like chapsui and arroz chaufán. ## Recommended - [Chilean Mongolian Chicken](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-mongolian-chicken-pollo-mongoliano-recipe/) - [Chilean Mongolian Beef](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-mongolian-beef-carne-mongoliana-recipe/) - [Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-sweet-and-sour-sauce-for-sushi/) - [Chilean Rice with Fried Egg](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-rice-with-fried-egg-arroz-con-huevo-recipe/)