Sweet and Sour Pork (Gūlū ròu)

  • Total time - 45 minutes
  • Preparation - 20 minutes
  • Cooking time - 25 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: China
Crispy sweet and sour pork with red and green bell peppers and onion, served on a plate.

Authentic Sweet and Sour Pork is a masterpiece of crispiness and flavor. The key to success is well-seasoned pork, proper frying, and a perfectly balanced sauce. This recipe will guide you step-by-step to achieve this iconic balance and prepare a dish loved by millions worldwide.

Ingredients

For the Pork and Marinade

  • 500 g pork shoulder or loin, cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine or dry sherry
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon white pepper

For the Batter

  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • 100 ml water

For the Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 50 ml water
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the Vegetables and Frying

  • oil for deep-frying
  • 1 piece red and green bell peppers, diced
  • 0.5 piece onion, sliced
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the pork

Cut the pork into bite-sized cubes. In a bowl, mix the pork with the soy sauce, rice wine, salt, and white pepper. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the batter and deep-fry the pork

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder. While whisking, add the water until a smooth, pancake-like batter is formed. In a wok or deep pot, heat a generous amount of oil for deep-frying. Dip each piece of marinated pork into the batter, coating it completely, then carefully place it into the hot oil. Fry in batches until the pork is golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on a wire rack or paper towels. For extra crispiness, you can give the pork a second, very brief fry.

Step 3: Make the sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, and water. Add the cornstarch and mix thoroughly until it is fully dissolved. Set the sauce aside.

Step 4: Stir-fry the vegetables

In a clean wok, heat a little oil and stir-fry the bell peppers and onion for about 2-3 minutes until they have slightly softened but are still crisp. Add the pineapple chunks and stir-fry for another minute.

Step 5: Combine everything and serve

Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the wok with the vegetables and stir constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Quickly add the fried pork to the wok and toss to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately with steamed rice.