Shredded pork with garlic sauce, or Yu Xiang Rou Si, features tender pork strips stir fried with an array of colorful vegetables, brought together with a rich sauce that is sweet, sour, savory and spicy. Try this dish for an authentic Chinese restaurant experience in your own kitchen!
I think the English name “Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce” does not justify this dish. Yet, the explanation of its Chinese name is a little long-winded.
Yu Xiang Rou Si (鱼香肉丝) directly translates as “fish fragrant shredded pork” in Chinese. It might sound confusing because there’s nothing fishy about this dish.
How to cut the pork
You can either use pork loin or tenderloin for this dish.
- If using pork loin, you should slice the big piece of pork down the middle to create a smaller long piece first.
- Then slice the piece into thin slices.
- Half stack the pieces, then further slice them into strips that are just a bit bigger than matchsticks.
If you find the pork too soft and hard to slice, placing it in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes helps a lot.
Once you’ve done the prep, your table should have:
- Marinated pork
- Mixed sauce
- Minced garlic and ginger
- Doubanjiang
- Sliced bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and carrots
- Sliced pepper
I like to group my ingredients by when they’re used in the recipe, so I can use fewer prep bowls and make the cooking process clearer.
The ingredients for shredded pork with garlic sauce
Shredded pork with garlic sauce uses thinly sliced pork and vegetables to create a special texture – tender, crisp, and very richly slathered with the sauce due to the cutting method. Yes, it does take a moment (or a few!) to prepare the ingredients. But the result is beyond rewarding.
Doubanjiang (豆瓣酱), also known as spicy fermented bean paste and broad bean sauce. It is a key ingredient in dishes like mapo tofu. And it has a strong fermented savory, salty and spicy taste, which adds complexity to the sauce.
Try to find “Pixian Broad Bean Paste” at an Asian market. Pixian is a small county in Sichuan province that produces the best broad bean paste. If you’re using this brand, you’re already halfway there. You can also purchase this brand on Amazon here.
Shredded pork with garlic sauce always uses various vegetables for their color, texture, and taste. The most commonly used are bamboo shoots, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, and sometimes peppers.
The wood ear mushrooms do not add a lot of flavor, but the soft yet crunchy texture works so well with the crisp vegetables and their subtle earthiness works beautifully with the sauce.
The carrots are semi tender and crisp and have a nice sweet taste.
You can skip one vegetable or replace it with your favorite. But I highly recommend sticking to the recipe for the authentic experience.
TIP: you can use a julienne peeler to slice the carrots to save time, as the knife work can get tedious.
[4K] AUTHENTIC SZECHUAN STYLE SHREDDED PORK (Yu Xiang Rou Shi) 鱼香肉丝
What is Sichuan shredded pork?
It is believed that the seasoning used in Sichuan shredded pork was inspired by the way fish was traditionally prepared in Sichuan. Popular dishes like Yu Xiang Eggplant (鱼香茄子), Yu Xiang Tofu (鱼香豆腐) call for the same set of ingredients. If you wish, you may replace pork fillet with chicken breast for this dish.
What are the ingredients in Szechuan pork?
The key ingredients in Szechuan pork are pork, Szechuan peppercorns, and chili peppers. Other ingredients commonly used in the dish include garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. The pork used in the dish is typically fatty and marbled, as this helps to keep the meat moist during the cooking process and adds to the dish’s overall flavor.
Where did Szechuan pork come from?
Szechuan pork originated in the Sichuan province of China, a region known for its bold and spicy cuisine. The dish is said to have been created during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) and was initially enjoyed by members of the imperial court. Over time, the dish became more widely available, and its popularity spread throughout China and beyond.
What are the different types of Szechuan pork?
Some variations may use different cuts of meat, while others may use different spice blends. Here are a few popular variations of Szechuan pork: Szechuan Shredded Pork: This dish is made with thin strips of pork that are cooked with Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, and ginger. The pork is then tossed with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar.