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Samoan Sapasui

Samoan sapasui recipe: chewy vermicelli noodles tossed with chicken, ginger and soy in a glossy, savoury sauce. The ultimate island weeknight comfort food.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Samoan Sapasui

Sapasui is Samoa’s take on chop suey, born from the Chinese community that settled in Apia in the early 1900s. Soft vermicelli noodles are cooked with chicken, garlic, ginger and soy until they drink up every drop of the savoury sauce.

It is the ultimate island comfort food — slurpy, glossy and forgiving, often served at church fundraisers and family lunches. Some families add a splash of coconut milk for extra richness.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Soak the vermicelli in hot water for 10 minutes until soft; drain and set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or large pan; brown the chicken, then remove and set aside.
  3. Cook the onion, garlic and ginger for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the soy sauce and stock and bring to a simmer.
  4. Return the chicken, add the cabbage and noodles, and toss until the noodles absorb most of the liquid, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Stir in the coconut milk if using, simmer for 1 minute more, and finish with green onions. Serve hot.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The noodles should be glossy and just coated, not swimming in sauce — they soak up liquid quickly, so keep some stock ready if it dries out.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →