American Chop Suey at a hot food bar in Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Alternative name(s) | Macaroni and Beef Johnny Marzetti (a very similar dish) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Dish details | |
| Course served | Main dish |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredient(s) | Macaroni, ground beef, tomato based sauce. |
| Approximate calories per serving | 300 - 664 |
American Chop Suey (also sometimes known as American Goulash, Macaroni Goulash or Macaroni and Beef) is an American pasta dish. The preferred name and recipe varies by region: for example, the name American chop suey is most prevalent in New England. Commercial preparations of this dish are commonly marketed as Macaroni and Beef.
Classic American chop suey consists of elbow macaroni and bits of cooked ground beef with sautéed onions and green peppers in a thick tomato-based sauce.[1] Though this decidedly American comfort food is clearly influenced by Italian-American cuisine, it is known as a chop suey because it is a sometimes-haphazard hodgepodge of meat and vegetables.[2]
The recipe is quite adaptable to taste and available ingredients. Elbow macaroni can be substituted with any pasta of similar size, such as ziti, conchiglie, or rotelle. The onions or green peppers may be omitted, or replaced with other vegetables or mushrooms. While some recipes call for a smooth prepared tomato sauce, some cooks prefer to add crushed or diced tomatoes along with tomato paste for a chunkier, more intensely flavored dish. Black pepper, Italian herbs and Worcestershire sauce are sometimes used in preparation.
American chop suey is served on a plate or in a bowl, often with grated Parmesan cheese[3] and/or Worcestershire sauce as condiments, and usually accompanied by bread.
Another variation of American chop suey is ground beef mixed with Campbell's (formerly under the trade name Franco American) spaghetti. Some people add an onion and a green pepper.