Sweet and Sour Pork (kou lou yuk)

Tangy, saucy, delicious sweet and sour pork from scratch! Also known as kou lou yuk and gu lou yok or 咕噜肉, this Chinese dish has become especially popular in Cantonese cuisine. It is from China and can be found in restaurants across the globe. You’ve probably tried it in a restaurant but did you know that you can make it yourself relatively easily at home? It will be healthier and just as delicious (maybe even more delicious)! If you love Chinese food, make our Cantonese Chicken next! (Yum.)

What is sweet and sour pork (Kou Lou Yuk)?

Chinese sweet and sour pork, also known as kou lou yuk and gu lou yok or 咕噜肉, is a truly flavorful Cantonese dish made with battered and deep fried pork ,

Although this is far from being a “healthy dish”, we have used all real, organic ingredients to make the dish as healthy and nutritious as possible, all things considered. It will never be a truly healthy dish as the pork is battered and deep fried. Don’t eat it every day for dinner but definitely make it once in a while because it is absolutely worth it. It is incredibly tasty!

Kou Lou Yuk Ingredients

• pork tenderloin (organic)

For the marinade

• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of sake
• 1/2 tbsp of sesame oil
• 10 white peppercorn

For frying

• 2 cups of canola oil
• 1/3 cup of cornstarch
• 1/3 cup of flour

For the sauce

• 2 tsp of cornstarch
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of brown sugar
• 5 tbsp of canned pineapple syrup
• 4 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp of ketchup
• 4 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of sriracha sauce

• 2 tbsp of canola oil
• 1 red onion (peeled and sliced)
• 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and minced)
• 1 red bell pepper (cut in strips)
• 4 pineapple rings (diced)

To serve

• 2 tsp of sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp of fresh cilantro
• Rice

How to make Sweet and Sour Pork (Kou Lou Yuk) from scratch and step by step

• Step 1 – Cut the pork into 1 inch cubes.
• Step 2 – Mix all the ingredients for the marinade into a large bowl, then add the pork.
• Step 3 – Leave to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Step 4 – Heat the canola oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat until the oil reaches 345F (175C). Be careful not to burn the oil.
• Step 5 – Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch and the flour on a plate, and coat the pork pieces in the mixture.
• Step 6 – Add half the pork into the oil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and put on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
• Step 7 – Reheat the oil until it reaches 345F (175C) again.
• Step 8 – Add the rest of the pork and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and put on a paper towel to absorb the excess of oil.
• Step 9 – Reheat the oil until it reaches 345F (175C) again.
• Step 10 – Coat the pork in the flour mixture again.
• Step 11 – Put all the pork in the oil and cook until lightly brown. Remove from the oil and drain on a rack.
• Step 12 – Prepare the sauce by mixing cornstarch with water. Then, add sugar, pineapple syrup, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce and sriracha sauce.
• Step 13 – Pour the canola oil in a frying pan and heat over medium heat.
• Step 14 – Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes.
• Step 15 – Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
• Step 16 – Add the red pepper and cook for 5 minutes.
• Step 17 – Add the pineapple and cook for a minute. Turn the heat to high.
• Step 18 – Add the sauce and cook until the sauce becomes smooth.
• Step 19 – Add the pork and stir to coat with the sauce.
• Step 20 – Top with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro and serve with rice.

This video is helpful as well especially to see how to make the sweet and sour batter

Tips

• Use organic pork if possible, for the healthiest and best tasting results.

What goes with sweet and sour pork (kou lou yuk)?

• White or brown rice
• A Chinese veggie dish
• Another Chinese meat dish, such as our Cantonese Chicken.

How to reheat sweet and sour pork

I was initially worried about reheating this dish but we did have dinner leftovers and we successfully reheated them the next day for lunch and they were delicious!

The key is to reheat it in the oven at a high temperature. Bake for 5-10 minutes in the oven on 450°F (232°C).

FAQS

Is sweet and sour pork Chinese? Is it Cantonese?

Yes, this popular dish is Chinese / Cantonese.

What is sweet and sour pork Hong Kong style?

Hong Kong style sweet and sour dishes are cuts of meats that have been deep fried and are served with pineapple, green peppers and onions. Our recipe is similar but is is served with red peppers instead of green peppers.

Is sweet and sour pork gluten free?

No, this dish isn’t gluten free. The pork is battered in flour before being deep fried which means it contains gluten.

Does sweet and sour pork have dairy?

No, this dish doesn’t contain any dairy.

What does sweet and sour taste like?

The mixture of child and pineapple in this dish gives a sweet and spicy flavor, combined with the meaty pork. It is quite heavenly!

Why is sweet and sour pork red?

This dish is naturally red due to the combination of red pepper, chili and pineapple juice.

Can you reheat sweet and sour pork?

You wouldn’t want to reheat this dish more than once, but it can be reheated once in the oven. Reheating couldn’t be simpler! Just bake the pork for 5-10 minutes in the oven on 450°F (232°C).

Can you freeze it?

I would recommend eating this dish fresh and not freezing it. It will taste much better.

More International Dinner Recipes

• Palak Chicken (Chicken Saag)
• Burmese Chicken Curry
• Chicken Karahi
• Nepali Chicken Curry
• Cambodian Lemongrass Ginger Chicken Stir Fry
• Thai Cashew Chicken
• Indian Chicken Korma

Kou Lou Yuk

Let us know if you make this Chinese sweet and sour pork in the comments below.

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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