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close up of subuta (Japanese sweet and sour pork) sprinkled with sesame seeds

Subuta (Japanese Style Sweet And Sour Pork)

5 from 3 votes
By Yuto Omura
https://sudachirecipes.com
Subuta is a delicious Chinese-inspired dish made with crispy pieces of pork belly and crunchy vegetables cooked in a homemade sweet and sour sauce. Skip the take-away and make the most addictive sweet and sour pork from scratch at home!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Chinese, Fusion, Japanese
Servings 3 portions
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese, Fusion, Japanese
Servings: 3 portions

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Vegetables

  • 100 g green bell pepper(s) cubed
  • 100 g yellow onion(s) thick slices
  • 75 g carrot(s) peeled and roughly cut

Pork

  • 200 g slab skinless pork belly
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • cooking oil for frying

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • ½ tbsp sake
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • ½ tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder
  • ½ tsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp white sesame seeds to garnish

Instructions 

  • Start by heating your cooking oil for deep or shallow frying to around 180 °C (356 °F). While you wait for it to heat up cut 100 g green bell pepper(s), 100 g yellow onion(s) and 75 g carrot(s) into rough bitesize pieces and set aside for later.
    Cutting green peppers into bitesize pieces
  • Cut 200 g slab skinless pork belly into rough cubes and place in a bowl along with 1 pinch salt, 1 pinch ground black pepper and 1 tbsp all-purpose flour. Mix until all of the pork pieces are evenly coated.
    cubes of raw pork belly coated with a thin layer of flour in a steel mixing bowl
  • Next, add 1 egg yolk to the bowl and mix thoroughly until evenly coated once more.
    cubes of pork belly coated in flour and egg yolk in a steel mixing bowl
  • Once the oil is fully heated, sprinkle 2 tbsp cornstarch onto a plate. Roll each piece of pork in the cornstarch and place it straight into the oil.
    cubes of pork belly coated in flour and egg yolk in a steel mixing bowl
  • Fry the pork until crispy and cooked through. This should take about 3-4 mins depending on the size of the pieces.
    pork belly deep frying in a wok
  • Once the pork is cooked and crispy, transfer to a wire rack or kitchen paper to drain the excess oil.
    deep fried pork belly cubes draining on a wire rack
  • Add the carrots to the oil and set a timer for 1 minute, then add the onion and bell pepper and deep-fry for 1 more minute.
    deep-frying carrots in oil
  • Transfer the vegetables to a wire rack to drain.
    deep fried onions, carrots and green pepper draining on a wire rack
  • Take a new pan and while it's still cold, add 2 tbsp tomato ketchup, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, ½ tbsp sake, 2 tbsp white sugar, 3 tbsp water, 1 tsp soy sauce, ½ tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder and ½ tsp cornstarch. Mix it well before turning on the heat.
    condiments in a wok to make subuta (Japanese sweet and sour) sauce
  • Heat on medium and continue to mix the sauce. After a few minutes it should start to become thick and glossy. Add the vegetables and fry them together for a minute or so, allowing the sauce to thicken a little more.
    Fried onion, carrot and bell peppers in homemade sweet and sour subuta sauce in a wok
  • Finally, add the pork and mix thoroughly, ensuring everything is coated in sweet and sour sauce.
    subuta (Japanese sweet and sour pork) in a wok
  • Turn off the heat and dish up. Sprinkle with ½ tsp white sesame seeds.
    Subuta (Japanese sweet and sour pork) on a white plate sprinkled with sesame seeds
  • Enjoy!