Sweet and Sour Pork
Cantonese gu lou yuk with a genuinely crisp coating and a sauce balanced by real pineapple and rice vinegar rather than neon syrup. Double-frying is what keeps it crunchy under the sauce.
Method
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Marinate the pork in the Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and white pepper for 20 minutes.
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Beat in the egg, then add the cornflour and plain flour and toss until each cube wears a thick, craggy coat.
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Whisk the sauce ingredients except the cornflour slurry together and set aside.
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Heat the oil to 165°C / 330°F. Fry the pork in two batches for 5 minutes until pale gold and cooked through. Lift out and rest on a rack for 5 minutes.
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Raise the oil to 190°C / 375°F and fry the pork again, all together, for 90 seconds until deep golden and hard-crisp. Drain on a rack.
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In a wok over high heat, stir-fry the onion and peppers in the tablespoon of oil for 2 minutes — they should stay crunchy.
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Add the garlic and pineapple for 30 seconds, then pour in the sauce and bring to a hard bubble.
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Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook 30 seconds until the sauce turns glossy and coats a spoon.
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Tip in the fried pork, toss for no more than 15 seconds to coat, and serve immediately.
Chef’s Tips
- Fresh pineapple beats tinned for both flavour and acidity, and its bromelain slightly tenderises the pork.
- Serve the moment it is tossed. Every 30 seconds in the sauce costs you crunch.
- Pork shoulder has enough fat to stay juicy; loin will dry out during the double fry.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cold lager or a Riesling
- Serve with egg fried rice and stir-fried greens
- Finish with orange segments
Storage & Reheating
Keeps 2 days but loses crispness. Reheat the pork separately at 200°C / 390°F for 8 minutes, then re-toss in warmed sauce.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.