Name: Korean Deep-fried Sweet & Sour Pork (Tangsuyuk)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 1 cup potato starch; 1 egg white; 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for deep-frying; 500g (1 lb 1 oz) pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips; 1 small brown onion, cut into thin wedges; 1/2 red capsicum (bell pepper), deseeded, coarsely chopped; 1/2 small carrot, peeled, sliced; 4 fresh wood ear mushrooms*, torn, optional; 240ml bottle Marion’s Kitchen Thai Sweet & Sour Sauce; 1/2 Lebanese cucumber, halved, deseeded, sliced; 200g (7 oz) fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped; 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1 tbsp of water; steamed rice, to serve

Korean Deep-fried Sweet & Sour Pork (Tangsuyuk)

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Tangy, crispy, glossy: my take on this popular Korean classic is bursting at the seams with freshness and flavour.

PREP TIME

20 minutes (+ soaking time)

COOK TIME

15 minutes

SERVES

Ingredients

1 cup potato starch

1 egg white

2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for deep-frying

500g (1 lb 1 oz) pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips

1 small brown onion, cut into thin wedges

1/2 red capsicum (bell pepper), deseeded, coarsely chopped

1/2 small carrot, peeled, sliced

4 fresh wood ear mushrooms*, torn, optional

240ml bottle Marion’s Kitchen Thai Sweet & Sour Sauce

1/2 Lebanese cucumber, halved, deseeded, sliced

200g (7 oz) fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped

1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1 tbsp of water

steamed rice, to serve

Steps

Place the potato flour in a medium bowl. Cover with cold water. Set aside for 30 minutes to soak. Drain the water from the starch (the starch will have hardened). Add the egg white and 1 tbsp oil to the starch. Use a fork to break it up and combine well.
Pour enough extra oil into a large wok or saucepan to come one-third of the way up the side. Heat over high heat until a wooden spoon dipped into the oil causes bubbles to form.
Give the potato starch mixture another stir and add the pork. Stir well to coat. Cook the pork, in batches, in the hot oil, for 3 minutes or until crisp but not yet golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a wire rack placed over a baking tray. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Heat the deep-frying oil until it’s hot again. Cook the pork for 2-3 minutes or until very crisp. Transfer to the wire rack or kitchen paper to drain.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add the onion, capsicum and carrot and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the mushroom, if using, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the cucumber and pineapple and stir-fry for another minute. Then add in the crispy fried pork.
Pour over the Thai Sweet & Sour Sauce and add the cornflour mixture. Toss and stir-fry until everything is evenly coated and the sauce is thick and glossy.
Spoon the stir-fry onto a large platter. Serve with steamed rice.
Notes:

– You can find fresh wood ear mushrooms at an Asian market or try searching out the dried form. If you manage to get hold of the latter, keep these in your pantry and when ready to use, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes or until they’re rehydrated and pliable.

What is Korean Tangsuyuk?

Tangsuyuk is a Korean and Chinese fusion dish that is essentially sweet and sour pork. It is of course inspired by the immensely popular Chinese dish, but has been adapted for a more Korean taste. Tangsuyuk can also be made with beef, however battered pork is far more common.

What does Tangsuyuk taste like?

Korean Tangsuyuk consists of deep-fried, battered pork, capsicum, pineapple, wood ear mushrooms, carrot and cucumber, all coated in a delicious, sticky, sweet and sour sauce.

Tangsuyuk is tangy, sweet and full of fresh flavours. If you’re a lover of all things sweet and sour, Tangsuyuk should definitely be added to your must try list.

What nationality is sweet and sour pork?

Sweet and sour pork is technically a fusion dish, whilst often accredited to being a traditionally Chinese dish, sweet and sour pork is mostly found in westernised Cantonese cuisine.

15-minute meals Family favourites Korean cuisine Marinades Pork Stir-fries Thai Sweet & Sour