China · Fujian

Lychee Pork

Name: Lychee Pork
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Fujian
Ingredients: shimeji mushrooms 30 g; lean pork 150 g; pineapple 100 g; egg 1 pieces; cooking oil 500 ml; white sugar 5 g; cornstarch 100 g; light soy sauce 5 ml; chicken bouillon 5 g; minced ginger 5 g; sesame seeds 2 g; tomato paste 20 g; black vinegar 2 ml

Battered pork cubes fried until crisp and tossed in a bright red sweet and sour sauce with pineapple, the name evoking the fruit rather than the meat.

20 minutes · 4 servings · Moderate

The name comes from the shape of the fried cube, which sits in its red sauce looking exactly like a lychee with its skin on. The pineapple is not traditional but most cooks add it, because the sweet fruit cuts the cloying sauce. Drying the battered pork for a full minute before the second fry is what keeps the crust from going soft in the sauce.

Ingredients

shimeji mushrooms30 g
lean pork150 g
pineapple100 g
egg1 pieces
cooking oil500 ml
white sugar5 g
cornstarch100 g
light soy sauce5 ml
chicken bouillon5 g
minced ginger5 g
sesame seeds2 g
tomato paste20 g
black vinegar2 ml

Directions

1
Cut the lean pork into 2 to 3 cm pieces, put them in a large bowl and add 1 egg, 50 g cornstarch, 3 ml light soy sauce and 2 g chicken bouillon.
2
Mix thoroughly until the starch coats the pork; if it is too thin add more starch, if too dry add water. Then add 5 ml oil, mix well and set aside.
3
In another bowl combine the tomato paste, 3 g chicken bouillon, 2 ml light soy sauce, minced ginger, white sugar, 10 g cornstarch, black vinegar and 200 ml cold water, stir well and set aside.
4
Cut up a pineapple and prepare 6 pieces, each about 1.5 to 2 cm.
5
Heat the wok and add 500 ml oil, heating it until it crackles.
6
Lower the pork into the oil one piece at a time; never tip the whole bowl in at once, and keep the pieces from sticking together.
7
Once they are all in, turn each piece with a spoon every 30 seconds until the surfaces are golden.
8
Lift out the pork, wait a minute, then return it to the oil and fry again until the surfaces are deep golden; lift out into a large bowl.
9
Heat the pan, pour in the sauce, and after 30 seconds add the pork and pineapple and toss thoroughly before serving.
10
Scatter over sesame seeds.

Source: HowToCook · WorldBite adaptation · Unlicense source text; bilingual recipe adapted by WorldBite.