Chinese · Dinner

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.

4.7(2,588)Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2588 reviews 45 min total Serves 4 servings Medium
Jump to Recipe Method
Sweet and Sour Pork — chinese dinner recipe, served and ready to eat

Method

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  1. Marinate the pork in the Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and white pepper for 20 minutes.

  2. Beat in the egg, then add the cornflour and plain flour and toss until each cube wears a thick, craggy coat.

  3. Whisk the sauce ingredients except the cornflour slurry together and set aside.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. In a wok over high heat, stir-fry the onion and peppers in the tablespoon of oil for 2 minutes — they should stay crunchy.

  7. Add the garlic and pineapple for 30 seconds, then pour in the sauce and bring to a hard bubble.

  8. Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook 30 seconds until the sauce turns glossy and coats a spoon.

  9. 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.

668Calories
36gProtein
62gCarbs
30gFat
4gFibre
28gSugar
1080mgSodium

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