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How to Make Vegan Sweet and Sour ‘Pork’ (素咕噜肉)

August 26, 2020 by woonheng 16 Comments

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This delightful vegan sweet and sour ‘pork’ is made from tofu that is prepped differently from my normal tofu dishes. Check out the key ingredients for this dish along with easy substitutions.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

This dish is inspired by the Sweet and Sour pork ‘咕噜肉’ (gūlū ròu) which was one of my favorite dishes growing up. The sauce is light, refreshing and that citrus touch makes this dish so appetizing. Sweet and sour or ‘糖醋’ (táng cù) has two simple ingredients as the name implies, sugar (táng) and vinegar (cù). As soon as I tried the vegan version of this dish, it made me realized that it’s possible to live without eating meat.

As you know, I love tofu and this dish is made with a special method of prepping the tofu to get a spongy texture which turns out amazing when paired with the sauce.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

How to prep the Tofu

I use firm tofu and drain out the liquid, place it onto a plate, and let it sit on the countertop for about 30 minutes. Then, I pat the tofu dry to remove excess water and freeze it in a block or divide it into 4 portions, then freeze until it hardens. If you freeze the whole block, you’ll need more time to thaw it the next day. When you are ready to cook, thaw the frozen tofu to room temperature, and squeeze out excess water. The tofu will have a spongy look at this point. You want to be gentle with this step as the ‘sponge’ is delicate. For more information how to freeze the tofu, check out this tofu article from Food52.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

Vegan Sweet and Sour ‘Pork’ Steps

Step 1: First, prepare the tofu. Once you have completely thawed the tofu to room temperature and have squeezed out the excess water, break the tofu into smaller pieces using your fingers. Then, season with salt, pepper, and rub with the first coat of cornstarch.

  • Break frozen-thawed tofu into pieces
  • Coat with 1st layer of cornstarch

Step 2: Then, heat 1 cup of oil in a small tall pot to about 375°F (190°C) or use the chopstick method to test the oil temperature. Coat tofu with another layer of cornstarch and slowly place them in the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

  • Coat with 2nd layer of cornstarch

Step 3: In a heated non-stick pan, add a drizzle of oil and sauté the veggies for one minute, then dish out and set aside.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

Step 4: Add in the water, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt. Bring it the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously. Then, lower the heat and continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

Step 5: Add in the pineapple chunks and veggies back into the mixture. Cook for about 30 seconds to allow the veggies absorb some of the sauces.

vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

Step 6: Finally, add the cooked tofu in the mixture and toss until well combined. Season if needed. Then, serve warm.

Vegan Sweet and Sour ‘Pork’ Key Ingredients

As the name implies, all you really need is a sweet and sour ingredient. I personally like to use a combination of different sour ingredients to give this sauce a bolder flavor.

  • Sweet – either sugar or maple syrup or Thai sweet chili sauce will work great but do adjust the sweetness level accordingly to your preference.
  • Sour – I used rice vinegar and lemon juice in this recipe. Tamarind juice or peel can be added as another layer of sourness if preferred.
  • Ketchup – this is what my mom uses to give the dish some color. Some kinds of ketchup are sweeter or more sour than others, so taste test before adding more to the sauce. Soy sauce can also be added for color if a darker sauce is preferred.
  • Pineapple – fresh or canned pineapple chunks work great and though I personally prefer fresh pineapple, I used canned pineapple in this recipe.
vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

Common Tofu Prep FAQ

  • Can I bake the frozen-thawed tofu? Yes, sure! Follow the steps on ‘How to Prep tofu’, then break tofu into smaller pieces. Once they are seasoned with salt and pepper, coat tofu with a light layer of oil. Toss or rub tofu with cornstarch until there are no dry powder spots left. The tofu cubes should look moist but not too dry. Place them on a lightly greased baking sheet pan. Bake until golden brown at 400°F (200°C) with flips in between for about 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Can I air-fry the frozen-thawed tofu? Yes! One of the easiest and no-mess methods is to air-fry. Simply follow the steps on ‘How to Prep tofu’, then break tofu into smaller pieces. Place tofu in the inner air-fryer rack and air fry at 390°F until golden brown with a shake in between, about 8 to 10 minutes. I normally use the ‘fries’ setting on my air-fryer which works perfectly for me for all things ‘fried’. If your air-fryer doesn’t come with a non-stick inner rack, you may brush a thin layer of oil before adding the tofu.
  • Can I use tofu as-is without freezing it? Sure, simply cut tofu in cubes and coat them with a thin layer of cornstarch and pan fry until golden brown in a non-stick pan.
  • Can I use soft or silken tofu? I love this type of tofu and found that to achieve a crispy layer, you’ll need to deep fry it. That said, soft or silken tofu is best for dishes like my Three-cup (San-Bei) Tofu – ‘三杯豆腐’.
vegan-sweet-and-sour-pork

This vegan Sweet and Sour ‘Pork’ is

  • Delightful and Refreshing
  • Flavorful and Easy
  • Simple and Quick
  • Gluten-free and Vegan
  • Kids and Family approved
  • Best for make-ahead meals
  • & so TASTY!

If you try this recipe, I would love to hear your feedback and see your beautiful re-creation. Leave me a comment, rate it, and tag @woon.heng and #woonheng to your photos on Instagram or Facebook. Happy cooking, friends!

Vegan Sweet and Sour ‘Pork’

woonheng
This vegan sweet and sour 'pork' is delightful and appetizing with a touch of fresh citrus that will keep you wanting for more. Check out the recipe on how to make this delicious texture.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Tofu freezing time 1 d
Total Time 1 d 25 mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Asian, Chinese
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

  • 14 oz [397g] firm tofu freeze and break into pieces
  • 1/2 small red bell pepper
  • 1/2 small green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
  • 2 tablespoon chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 1¼ cup water + 1½ teaspoon corn starch

Tofu coating

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus more dusting

Instructions
 

Prepare the Tofu

  • Remove firm tofu from its package, then drain and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut into 4 slabs (optional step) and freeze until hardened. If you freeze the tofu in a large block, it'll require more time for it to thaw to room temperature.
  • When ready to use, thaw tofu to room temperature, and squeeze out excess water. Be gentle with this step as the tofu 'sponge' can be quite delicate.
  • Break the tofu into pieces, then season with salt, pepper and rub them with a tablespoon of cornstarch.

Cook the Tofu

  • Heat 1 cup of oil in a small tall pot to about 375°F (190°C) or use the chopstick method to test the oil temperature.
  • Coat tofu with another layer of cornstarch and slowly place in the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides.
  • Remove and set them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Put everything together

  • In a heated non-stick pan, add 2 teaspoons of oil and sauté the onion and bell pepper for about a minute. Dish out and set aside.
  • Using the same pan, add in the water with cornstarch, ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.
  • Bring the mixture to a rolling boil while stirring continuously. Then, lower to simmer and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened.
  • Add the pineapple and sautéed veggies,stir to combine, then cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Finally, place in the cooked tofu and toss everything together until well combined and season with salt.
  • Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.

Video

Keyword glutenfree, SweetandSour, tofu
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Comments

  1. Zipporah

    November 8, 2022 at 11:07 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve followed you on Instagram and Pinterest for monthssss now, but I hadn’t made anything yet. I finally tried a recipe, and this was such a perfect one to start with! It’s my favorite meal at PF Chang’s, but I love that I don’t have to rely on them or pay for it now. I can make it at home any time! Thank you for this deliciousness!

    Reply
  2. Gabi

    July 30, 2022 at 2:49 pm

    It was very good. Thank you very much.

    Reply
  3. Vitória

    April 11, 2021 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    Esse prato eu fiquei receosa por adicionar o abacaxi, mas me apaixonei na primeira mordida!!!
    É muito gostoso aprender novos preparos e desfrutar de sabores diferentes da minha cultura aqui no Brasil.

    Reply
    • woonheng

      April 16, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      Vitória, thanks so much again. I greatly appreciate your time and so happy it turned out great for you. Best, WoonHeng

      Reply
  4. Shara

    March 2, 2021 at 10:10 am

    Delicious but my tofu lost some of its crispness- did I put it in the cooking sauce for too long? Thanks!

    Reply
    • woonheng

      March 2, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Hey Shara, thanks for sharing your feedback. I did double coat my tofu with cornstarch. If you make your tofu smaller, it will be crispier and yes, toss with the sauce and not cook in the sauce for too long will help. You got it! 🙂 Happy cooking!

      Reply
  5. Michelle

    February 23, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    Wow, looks delicious! Could I use frozen pineapple instead? what would be the best way to thaw it (or could I add it directly into the pan and let it thaw with the heat?)

    Reply
    • woonheng

      February 23, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      Hey Michelle, thanks so much! Yes, you can use frozen pineapple cubes in the sauce, no thawing needed, just add them to the pan and it will melt immediately. Hope you give this a try. Many thanks. best, WoonHeng

      Reply
  6. ling

    February 13, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    5 stars
    Dear woonheng, We have tried it and it is very good.May I ask why do we coat the tofu with starch twice?

    Reply
    • woonheng

      February 13, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      Dear Ling, that’s a great question. I added two layers because I’m not dipping them in plant milk before adding the cornstarch. I’m using the moisture from the tofu to kinda lock the first layer of cornstarch and then the second layer is to ensure it will get a crispy texture. Both layers are quite thin so you shouldn’t taste it that much. That said, one layer is fine but sometimes it’s too thin and will not make it crispy enough. 🙂 Let me know if you need anything else and thanks so much for trying out the recipe. :0)

      Reply
  7. J

    January 30, 2021 at 5:06 am

    5 stars
    Love this dish. Tastes great with the crispy tofu dipped in the sweet and tangy sauce. Yum!

    Reply
    • woonheng

      January 30, 2021 at 8:52 pm

      Awesome, that sauce is really appetizing. So glad you loved it. Thanks again! Best, WoonHeng

      Reply
  8. May

    January 22, 2021 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    Really tasty and easy to follow recipe. I wondered why the firm tofu had to be frozen and now completely understand why after doing it! I can’t wait to try it again. Thank you!

    Reply
    • woonheng

      January 22, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      Many many thanks May. I’m really glad to hear that you loved this recipe and can’t wait to see you creation too. Greatly appreciate your time, rating and feedback. 🙂 Best, WoonHeng

      Reply

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