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    Home » Asian foods » Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork

    Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork

    Modified: Jun 12, 2023 Published: Apr 10, 2021 by Tracy O. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Chinese sweet and sour pork or gu lou yuk (咕嚕肉) is a popular and classic Cantonese cuisine among Chinese restaurants such as cashew shrimp, cream corn rice, chicken chop, salt & pepper squid and lobster yee mein. This Chinese sweet and sour pork recipe is delicious, colorful, crispy and tender. It’s very similar to an American Chinese orange chicken dish. Also, it is best to serve with rice, fried rice or noodles. Let's learn how to make Chinese sweet and sour pork for your meals or feasts with step by step photos and a video. 

    Love Chinese foods? Check out these authentic Chinese eggplant & pork, mapo tofu, steamed garlic shrimp, beef and broccoli, braised bamboo shoots, steamed pork patty, pan fried bun, salt & pepper squid and chili garlic shrimp recipes.

    Chinese sweet and sour pork or gu lou yuk on a white plate

    What is sweet and sour pork (咕嚕肉)?

    Sweet and sour pork is a classic Cantonese cuisine. In Cantonese, it's also called gu lou yuk (咕嚕肉). This dish is not only popular among Chinese, but also Americans love them as well. The idea is very similar to American Chinese orange chicken dish. The pork is deep fried and coated with sweet and sour sauce. 

    In addition, the combination of vegetable and fruit brings more flavor and visual color to this dish. The taste of sweet and tangy can increase your appetite. Besides, this dish is great to serve with rice, fried rice or noodles.

    What is the best part or cut of pork for sweet and sour pork?

    In order to make the best sweet and sour pork dish, choosing the right cuts of pork is very important beside the sauce. Most restaurants use pork butt,  pork shoulder or ribs because of the tenderness and good ratio of fat. However, some people like to use pork tenderloin or pork loin because they are lean and tender cut. Personally, I will not choose pork belly because of the fatty cut and too oily. Also, avoid too lean cuts. Pick pork with good meat and some fat. 

    How to make crispy and tender sweet and sour pork?

    To make crispy and tender sweet and sour pork, the batter or kind of flour to use is important. Usually people use all purpose flour to make the batter to deep fry the pork. In this sweet and sour pork recipe, I like to use rice flour and sweet potato starch to bread the pork because it will be crunchy outside and soft inside. If you don’t have sweet potato starch, use rice flour and all purpose flour to batter the pork. Besides, double deep-frying the pork will make the outside even crispier and the inside is tender and juicy.

    Can I pan fry the pork instead of deep frying them?

    Sure, you can pan fry them or air fry them at 400F for 20-25 minutes. Dust the pork pieces with flour, dip into beaten eggs and dust flour again. Then, spray some oil on the pork pieces. Air fry them at 400F for 20 minutes. 10 minutes take it out and flip the other side for another 10 minutes or so. 

    Where does sweet and sour sauce get its color?

    Sweet and sour pork is often red because of the ketchup. Commercial restaurants like to use red food coloring. Usually sweet and sour sauces made of vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and ketchup. But, our Cantonese sweet and sour sauce, we like to add pineapple juice from the canned pineapple which gives the sauce a tangy, sweet and unique flavor.  

    homemade Chinese sweet and sour sauce on a spoon dripping the sauce

    What are the ingredients for Chinese sweet & sour pork or gu lou yuk (咕嚕肉)?

    A traditional Chinese sweet and sour pork recipe or gu lou yuk (咕嚕肉) recipe are pork, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, pineapple and sweet and sour sauce.

    gu lou yuk sweet and sour pork ingredients

    Cooking tips for how to make sweet and sour pork:

    • I like to use rice flour and sweet potato starch to bread the pork because it makes the pork crunchy outside and soft inside. If you don’t have sweet potato starch. Try to use rice flour and all purpose flour. It works better than just all purpose flour.
    • Dip the pork into the flour mixture, egg and flour mixture to bread the pork.
    • Wait until the oil is hot enough before deep fry. You can use a thermometer to test it, it will be around 350-375 F. Or, use a wooden chopstick to test the oil. When you dip the wooden chopsticks into the oil, there will be little bubbles around the wooden chopsticks which means the oil is hot enough for deep frying.
    • Don't over deep dried the pork because when you use rice flour and sweet potato starch as breading, it has lighter golden brown than regular flour.
    • Double deep fry the pork and it will be crispy.
    • Normally, I use the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple when I make this dish. Therefore, I often choose pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice. 
    • Lastly, make sure every deep fried pork is covered with the sauce.

    FAQs:

    Can I use chicken instead of pork?


    Yes, you can use chicken thighs or breast to make a sweet and sour chicken dish.

    How do I know the oil is hot enough for deep fry?


    You can use a thermometer to test it, it will be around 350-375 F. Or, use a wooden chopstick to test the oil. When you dip the wooden chopstick into the oil, there will be little bubbles around the wooden chopstick which means the oil is hot enough for deep frying.

    How to make the pork crispy?


    The best is to use rice flour and sweet potato starch to bread the pork. Then, double deep-fried the pork. It means deep fry the pork slightly golden brown. Take them out and increase the oil temperature to 375F, then put the pork into oil again and deep fry until it’s golden brown. 

    How to make sweet and sour sauce?

    In a pot, add 100% pineapple juice 1 cup. (You can use the pineapple juice from the can, make sure to choose 100% pineapple juice.)
    After that, add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, ¾ cup of brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of ketchup, ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix it very well.

    Then, turn on a small & low fire and cook it until the sugar is melted. In a small container, add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of water and mix it well. 

    Next, pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce to thicken it and set them aside. To find out details and step by step instructions, click this sweet and sour sauce recipe.

    Instructions for how to make sweet and sour pork:

    Preparations:

    onion cut into chunks
    1. Peel, wash and cut 1 small onion into chunks.
    Green bell pepper cut into chunks

    2. Wash and cut 1 medium large sized green bell peppers into chunks.

    red bell pepper cut into chunks

    3. Wash and cut 1 medium large sized red bell peppers into chunks.

    pork sirloin cut into chunks

    4. Next, cut 1.5 pounds of pork into small chunks or cubes.

    pork into a bowl with seasoning

    5. Then, put the pork into a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt and mix it well. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes before cooking. 

    rice flour and all purpose flour in a glass container

    6. In a container, add ½ cup rice flour, ½ cup sweet potato starch and mix it well. (If you don’t have sweet potato starch. Try to use ½ cup of rice flour and ½ cup of all purpose flour. It works better than just all purpose flour.)

    pork dust with flour mixture in the glass container

    7. After that, put the marinated pork and cover up with flour mixture.

    Beaten eggs in the container with a whisk

    8. Beat 2 eggs in a container. 

    dusted flour pork dip into the eggs

    9. Dip the pork into the egg batter.

    dip the egg batter pork into the flour mixture

    10. Then, dip the pork into the flour again.

    batter pork on the white plate

    11. And, put the batter pork on the plate.

    wooden chopsticks insert into the oil

    Cooking:

    12. Pour 2 cups of vegetable oil into the wok. Turn on medium small fire. Until the oil is hot enough around 350-375 F for deep fry. You can use a wooden chopstick to test the oil if it is hot enough when you don't have a thermometer. Put the wooden chopsticks into the oil, when you see some bubbles around it that means the oil is hot enough.

    deep frying pork in the work

    13. When the oil is ready for deep fry, add the breaded pork into the oil slowly. (First deep fry around 350F until slightly golden.)

    deep fried slightly golden brown pork on the plate for Chinese sweet and sour pork

    14. Cook until the pork turns slightly golden brown and put the pork on a paper towel over the plate.

    double frying pork in the wok

    15. Turn the fire to medium high temperature around 375F. Double deep fry the pork which means deep fry the pork again.

    golden deep fried pork on the paper towel for Chinese sweet and sour pork

    16. And, cook until it’s golden brown.

    homemade sweet and sour sauce in a pot over the stove

    Sweet and Sour Sauce:

    17. In a pot, add 100% pineapple juice 1 cup. (You can use the pineapple juice from the can, make sure to choose 100% pineapple juice.) Then, add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, ¾ cup of brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of ketchup, ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix it very well.

    Turn on a small & low fire and cook it until the sugar is melted. After, in a small container, add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of water and mix it well. Next, pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce to thicken it and set them aside.  To find out details and step by step instructions, click this sweet and sour sauce recipe.

    stir fry onion in the wok

    18. Pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the wok, turn on medium high fire. Add the cut onion and stir fry it. 

    red and green bell pepper stir fry with onion in the wok

    19. After that, add the cut green and red bell peppers. Stir fry them a little bit. 

    Pineapple stir fry with vegetables in the wok

    20. Then, add the pineapple chunks and stir fry a little bit. 

    Chinese sweet and sour pork deep fried pork and vegetables in the wok

    21. Next, add deep fried pork.

    sauce pour over the deep fried pork and vegetable in the wok, gu lou yuk or Chinese sweet and sour pork

    22. Lastly, pour the sweet and sour sauce over the deep fried pork. Stir them and make sure every deep fried pork is covered with the sauce. And, it’s ready to serve. 

    stir fry Chinese sweet and sour pork or gu lou yuk in the wok

    Enjoy this Chinese sweet and sour pork recipe or gu lou yuk recipe! Also, check out these sesame oil chicken rice,  kung pao chicken, Chicken chop with black pepper sauce and scrambled egg and shrimp recipes.

    homemade Chinese sweet and sour pork or gu lou yuk on a white plate top view

    You May Also Like These Fried Recipes:

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    Sweet and sour pork on the plate close up

    Sweet and Sour Pork

    A classic Chinese sweet and sour pork or gu lou yuk (咕嚕肉) is a popular dish in Chinese restaurants. This sweet and sour pork recipe is delicious and colorful. It’s very similar to American Chinese orange chicken dish. Also, it is the best to serve with rice. 
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 658kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Equipment

    • 1 wok

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 pounds Pork (I used pork sirloin in this recipe)
    • 1 small Onion
    • 1 Green bell pepper (Medium large sized)
    • 1 Red bell pepper (Medium large sized)
    • 1 can Pineapple chunks (In 100% pineapple juice, l lb 4 oz/ 597 g or net wt 20 oz)
    • 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil (For stir fry vegetables)

    Marinate pork:

    • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt

    Batter and deep fried pork:

    • ½ cup Rice flour
    • ½ cup Sweet potato starch or All purpose flour
    • 2 Large Eggs
    • 2 cups Vegetable oil (For deep fried the pork)

    Sweet and sour sauce:

    • 1 cup 100 % Pineapple juice
    • 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons Vinegar
    • ¾ cup Brown sugar
    • 3 tablespoons Ketchup
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons Corn starch
    • 2 tablespoons Water

    Instructions

    • Peel, wash and cut 1 small onion into chunks.
    • Wash and cut green bell peppers into chunks.
    • Wash and cut red bell peppers into chunks.
    • Next, cut the pork into small chunks or cubes.
    • Then, put the pork into a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt and mix it well. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes before cooking. 
    • In a container, add ½ cup rice flour, ½ cup sweet potato starch and mix it well. (If you don’t have sweet potato starch. Try to use ½ cup of rice flour and ½ cup of all purpose flour. It works better than just all purpose flour.)
    • After that, put the marinated pork and cover up with flour mixture.
    • Beat 2 eggs in a container.
    • Dip the pork into the egg batter.
    • Then, dip the pork into the flour again.
    •  And, put the batter pork on the plate.
    • Pour 2 cups of vegetable oil into the wok. Turn on medium small fire. Until the oil is hot enough around 350-375 F for deep fry. You can use a wooden chopstick to test the oil if it is hot enough when you don't have a thermometer. Put the wooden chopsticks into the oil, when you see some bubbles around it that means the oil is hot enough.
    • When the oil is ready for deep fry, add the breaded pork into the oil slowly. (First deep fry around 350F until slightly golden.)
    • Cook until the pork turns slightly golden brown and put the pork on a paper towel over the plate.
    • Turn the fire to medium high temperature around 375F. Double deep fry the pork which means deep fry the pork again.
    • And, cook until it’s golden brown.
    • In a pot, add 100% pineapple juice 1 cup. (You can use the pineapple juice from the can, make sure to choose 100% pineapple juice.)Then, add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, ¾ cup of brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of ketchup, ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix it very well. Turn on a small & low fire and cook it until the sugar is melted. After, in a small container, add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of water and mix it well. Next, pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce to thicken it and set them aside.  To find out details and step by step instructions, click this sweet and sour sauce recipe.
    • Pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the wok, turn on medium high fire. Add the cut onion and stir fry it. 
    • After that, add the cut green and red bell peppers. Stir fry them a little bit. 
    • Then, add the pineapple chunks and stir fry a little bit. 
    • Next, add deep fried pork.
    • Lastly, pour the sweet and sour sauce over the deep fried pork. Stir them and make sure every deep fried pork is covered with the sauce. And, it’s ready to serve. 

    Notes

    Cooking tips for how to make homemade best sweet and sour pork:

    • I like to use rice flour and sweet potato starch to bread the pork because it makes the pork crunchy outside and soft inside. If you don’t have sweet potato starch. Try to use rice flour and all purpose flour. It works better than just all purpose flour.
    • Dip the pork into the flour mixture, egg and flour mixture to bread the pork.
    • Wait until the oil is hot enough before deep fry. You can use a thermometer to test it, it will be around 350-375 F. Or, use a wooden chopstick to test the oil. When you dip the wooden chopsticks into the oil, there will be little bubbles around the wooden chopsticks which means the oil is hot enough for deep frying.
    • Don't over deep dried the pork because when you use rice flour and sweet potato starch as breading, it has lighter golden brown than regular flour.
    • Double deep fry the pork and it will be crispy.
    • Normally, I use the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple when I make this dish. Therefore, I often choose pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice. 
    • Lastly, make sure every deep fried pork is covered with the sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 658kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 787mg | Potassium: 826mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 872IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Tracy O.
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    Welcome to Oh My Food Recipes! Discover delightful meal inspiration in the world of specialty Asian cuisines. Our tried-and-true recipes come with step-by-step photo and video tutorials, making your cooking journey enjoyable and rewarding... Read more!

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