Sweet and Sour Pork

also called sweet and sour pork · sweet & sour pork · gu lo yuk · gu lao rou · 咕嚕肉 · 咕噜肉

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Sweet and Sour Pork: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
1 1/4 lb(560 g; cut in 1-in cubes)pork shouldermarinate 20 mindredge dry, shake off the loosefry 350°F 5 min, again at 375°F 2 mintoss to coat, serve at once
1 TbsShaoxing wine
1 Tbslight soy sauce
1 large(beaten)egg
3/4 cup(90 g)cornstarch
4 cups(950 mL)peanut oil
1 medium(cut in 1-in squares)green bell pepperstir-fry 2 min, keep them crunchypour the sauce in, simmer 1 min
1/2 medium(cut in petals)onion
1 cup(165 g; drained)pineapple chunks
1 1/2 cups(355 mL)sweet and sour sauce
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.11 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1marinate 20 min

2stir-fry 2 min, keep them crunchy

3pour the sauce in, simmer 1 min

goes in with what step 2 made

4dredge dry, shake off the loose

goes in with what step 1 made

5fry 350°F 5 min, again at 375°F 2 min

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 27 min2 of 6 steps give no time
Needs you
about 9 min
If you get it wrong
Unforgiving — the first fry cooks the pork through and the second crisps it, and the two cannot be merged into one
What you'll wash
Four things — the wok, a bowl to marinate in, a dish to dredge in, a rack to drain on
Does it keep
Not at all — the pineapple keeps thinning the sauce and the batter goes slack in it by morning
  1. marinate 20 min

    20 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. stir-fry 2 min, keep them crunchy

    2 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. pour the sauce in, simmer 1 min

    1 minwalk away2 min in

  4. dredge dry, shake off the loose

    not timed20 min in

  5. fry 350°F 5 min, again at 375°F 2 min

    7 minneeds you20 min in

  6. toss to coat, serve at once

    not timed27 min in

You'll need wok

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Sweet and Sour Pork
>> category: Stir-Fries
>> tags: pork, pineapple, chinese, deep-fry, wok
>> counters: Takeout Counter
>> aka: sweet and sour pork, sweet & sour pork, gu lo yuk, gu lao rou, 咕嚕肉, 咕噜肉
>> pairs-with: sweet-and-sour-sauce, egg-fried-rice
>> servings: 4
>> time: 50 min
>> slack: unforgiving — the first fry cooks the pork through and the second crisps it, and the two cannot be merged into one
>> washing-up: the wok, a bowl to marinate in, a dish to dredge in, a rack to drain on
>> capacity: 2 — four cups of oil in the wok, fry
>> keeps: not at all — the pineapple keeps thinning the sauce and the batter goes slack in it by morning

>> step: marinate 20 min
Marinate @pork shoulder{1 1/4%lb}(560 g; cut in 1-in cubes) with @Shaoxing wine{1%Tbs}, @light soy sauce{1%Tbs}, and @egg{1%large}(beaten) for ~marinate{20%min}.

>> step: dredge dry, shake off the loose
Dredge @&(~1)marinated pork{} in @cornstarch{3/4%cup}(90 g), pressing it on, then shaking off what does not cling.

>> step: fry 350°F 5 min, again at 375°F 2 min
Fry @&(~1)coated pork{} in @peanut oil{4%cups}(950 mL) in two batches at 350°F (175°C) for ~fry{5%min}, rest it on a rack, then return every cube to the oil at 375°F (190°C) for ~fry{2%min}.

>> step: stir-fry 2 min, keep them crunchy
Stir-fry @green bell pepper{1%medium}(cut in 1-in squares), @onion{1/2%medium}(cut in petals), and @pineapple chunks{1%cup}(165 g; drained) in a hot #wok{} for ~stirfry{2%min}, only until the edges take colour.

>> step: pour the sauce in, simmer 1 min
Pour @sweet and sour sauce{1 1/2%cups}(355 mL) over @&(~1)vegetables{} and ~simmer{1%min} until it turns glossy.

>> step: toss to coat, serve at once
Toss @&(~3)fried pork{} through @&(~1)sauce{} off the heat and serve at once — the crust holds for about a minute, which is the whole reason it is fried twice.