Lychee Pork (Lizhi Rou)
Local name: 荔枝肉
In short: Scored pork slices fried until they curl like lychee fruit, then glazed in a sweet and sour tomato-vinegar sauce with water chestnuts. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 290 kcal
Lychee pork is a Fuzhou favorite that contains no lychee at all. The pork is scored in a crosshatch pattern, so when it hits hot oil it curls into a bumpy ball that looks like the fruit's skin. The pieces are tossed in a sweet and sour sauce, with water chestnuts for crunch. It is a banquet dish in Fujian and a good one to cook for children. The scoring is the only slow part.
Instructions
- Score each pork slice in a crosshatch pattern on one side, cutting about halfway through. Toss the pork with the wine, salt and soy sauce and leave for 10 minutes.
- Add the cornstarch and water and mix with your hands until the pork has a thin, even coating. Shake off any excess.
- Heat the oil to 180°C (350°F) in a wok or deep pot. Fry the pork in two batches, scored side down first, for 2 to 3 minutes until the pieces curl, turn golden and are cooked through. Drain on a rack.
- Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic, water chestnuts and scallion whites and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and water and simmer for 2 minutes until syrupy. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook for 10 seconds.
- Return the pork to the wok and toss for 15 seconds to coat. Scatter the scallion greens over the top and serve at once.
Tips
- Fuzhou cooks often flavor and color the sauce with red yeast rice paste (hongzao). Add 1 tablespoon if you can find it, and use a little less ketchup.
- Loin gives the neatest curled shapes, while shoulder is juicier. Cut the scoring deep, but not through the slice.
Questions and answers
Is there lychee in lychee pork?
No. The name comes from the shape, since the scored pork curls up into bumpy pieces that look like peeled lychees. The sauce is sweet and sour.
Why did my pork not curl?
The slices were scored too lightly, or the oil was not hot enough. Cut about halfway through the slice and fry at 180°C (350°F).
Can I air-fry lychee pork?
Yes. Spray the coated pork with oil and air-fry at 200°C (400°F) for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking halfway. Toss with the hot sauce at the end.
How long does it take to make Lychee Pork (Lizhi Rou)?
About 45 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Lychee Pork (Lizhi Rou)?
About 290 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 20 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 290 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 740 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
