On the table in less than 30 minutes, this delicious and healthy Pork Yuk Sung recipe is family friendly, so easy to make and lipsmackingly good.
It’s is a super budget-friendly dinner too, with bags of delicious Chinese flavour and a lighter option than a takeaway.
Yuk Sung is one of my midweek go-to recipes because it’s not only quick and easy, it’s SUCH good value too.
Pork mince is a meat that is very reasonably priced, but often people don’t buy it because they don’t know what to do with it.
You know I love to fill the gap that is wondering ‘what’s for dinner’, which is why I am on a mission to share as many pork recipes as I can so we can make the most of this versatile, budget-friendly mince option.
Pork really lends itself to those deliciously rich and tangy Chinese flavours, which is why it works so well in a recipe for Yuk Sung. Obviously you can use a different kind of mince, such as beef or turkey if you’d rather, BUT I do urge you to try it this way if you haven’t yet.
Why you’ll love this recipe for Yuk Sung
⭐️ Super quick, ready in under 30
⭐️ Loads of flavour and satisfaction
⭐️ Versatile for serving a light meal or as part of banquet
What is Yuk Sung?
Pork Yuk Sung is a traditional Chinese dish translated as ‘meat floss’, which refers to the light, dry and fluffy texture of the fried mince meat.
It originated as a topping and fillings, but these days it is often served around the world in lettuce ‘cups’, making them easy-eating for handheld starters or side dishes (and perfect for small hands).
I’m not sure how authentic this Yuk Sung recipe is, but what I do know is it’s totally delicious!
Pork Yuk Sung Ingredients
- Oil
- Onion – You can use fresh or frozen, pre-prepared
- Garlic – Same goes for this. Fresh or jar/paste is fine
- Ginger puree – Or fresh
- Small carrots
- Mushrooms
- Peppers – Orange or red work really well
- Pork mince
- Chinese five spice
- Dark soy sauce
- Oyster sauce – Oyster sauce is a secret Chinese ingredient, it adds amazing flavour to all Chinese style dishes. I always have a bottle in the fridge. You can also buy vegetarian and vegan versions.
- Spring onions
- Red chillies
- Little gem lettuce
How to make Yuk Sung
1. Finely chop all of your vegetables and fry in in hot oil until starting to soften.
2. Fry the pork and five spice until browned, and the sauces. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until thick. Serve in little gem lettuce leaves. Add toppings.
Chinese Yuk Sung Substitutions
- Making this Vegetarian Yuk Sung – Yuk Sung can easily be made vegetarian or vegan. Simply substitute the pork for Quorn mince or vermicelli noodles and use vegetarian oyster sauce.
Pork Yuk Sung Chinese Lettuce Wraps Leftovers
In the fridge You can keep the meat part of this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully in the microwave or on the hob before serving.
In the freezer The meat part of this recipe freezes well. Just wait until it’s totally cold and then put into a freezer proof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave or hob.
Top tips for making Yuk Sung
Chopping
There is a fair bit of chopping to do but I have a little cheat to help me with this. I use an electric chopper to get the carrots really fine, which does make a difference to the texture of the Yuk Sung. I would recommend this Mini Food Chopper for the job. (Affordable and nifty.)
How to serve Yuk Sung
You can eat this as a starter or side dish, or as part of a bigger meal. You could throw together a Quick Egg Fried Rice to accompany it, or make it as a starter alongside something like Chicken Chow Mein, Chinese Beef and Broccoli, Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork Stir Fry Noodles.
Yuk Sung Recipe FAQ
Tamari is the name of gluten-free soy sauce, so make sure you use this. There are some brands that have gluten-free oyster sauce too, so make sure you use this type. Then you’re good to go!
Yes, you can reheat the mince. Just make sure it’s piping hot first after being stored correctly in the fridge for no more than three days.
This Yuk Sung includes chillies, which add colour and flavour. I put these in a bowl on the table, so they can be left out entirely for young children.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Easy Pork Yuk Sung {Chinese Lettuce Wraps}
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 Onion
- 3 Cloves garlic
- 1 tsp Ginger puree 1 inch piece if using fresh.
- 2 Small carrots
- 250 g Mushrooms
- 2 Peppers Orange or red work well.
- 500 g Pork mince
- 3 tsp Chinese five spice
- 2 tbsp Dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Oyster sauce
To Serve
- 3 Spring onion Chopped.
- 2 Red chillies Add more or less depending on your preference.
- 2-3 Little gem lettuce
Instructions
- Prepare your vegetables: Chop onion and mushrooms. Peel and crush the garlic. Peel and finely chop the carrots. Peel and chop the ginger (if using fresh).
- Heat the oil in large open wok. Fry the pork mince with 1 tsp of Chinese 5 Spice until browned.
- Add the onion, garlic and ginger, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, remaining 5 spice, soy sauce and oyster sauce.
- Cook on a medium to low heat for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is browned and the sauce has thickened slightly and absorbed into the meat.
- Serve in little gem lettuce leaves and top with chopped spring onions and chillies. (Leave chillies out if you prefer).
Claire says
Just made this and it was an absolute hit! I was really impressed – made it with turkey mince as I had some in the freeezer. Both my boys loved it, one had it in the lettuce and the other in a wrap. Husband was impressed too.
Thanks!
John says
Just made this very impressed, best Yuk Sung I have eaten. Great job.
I have saved the recipe
Dannny says
Just made it for the first time and I am so Impressed. The taste and Flavours Wow double wow ,my family love it too
Grah says
Totally agree, superb!
John says
Apologies I did not leave rating
Teresa Tyers says
Delicious east to do and impressive
Nicky says
Really lovely, absolute family favourite. But where do the peppers go in?
Steph Morris says
A family favourite in our house
Catherine says
Another brilliant recipe, v easy to make and while family enjoy it. I always make double and it all gets eaten.
Ann-Marie O'Mahony says
Best yuk sung I have ever tasted. Will struggle to order this dish in a restaurant now, as I don’t think this recipe can be beaten. Super easy to make and soooooo tasty!
Nigel Taylor says
Can you freeze the yuk sung
Sarah Barnes says
The meat mixture – yes!
Amanda says
Really tasty dish and simple to make.
Cath says
Hi Sarah. What do you do with the 2 peppers?
.betty says
like everyone else when do the peppers go in>
Katie says
This and so many of your meals are delicious. As a twin mum if have shared this with twin mum friends and every recipe has been a hit all round! So simple and quick to make and absolutely delicious. You are now my go-to for tasty quick dinners. Thank you!
Dee says
Absolutely delicious, the flavours are amazing. I added sliced bamboo shoots and used 10%fat beef mince instead of pork! Only thing missing from this recipe is the crispy rice noodles that they add to the dish in most restaurants but I didn’t miss it to be honest.
Cliodhna says
I chopped the peppers and added them in with the carrots. I also added stem broccoli stalks and used celery in place of onion. Delicious sauce! Thanks for the recipe!
Eloise says
This was so good!! Another fantastic recipe. Thank you for the inspiration
Liz says
We have this every week , we love it and add whatever veggies we have in fridge …
Kay Stevens says
One for all the family! We all loved it! So yummy! Perfect for a movie night in front of the tv or a dinner party and take what you want approach. Full of flavour, quick on time, easy on cosy! Winner!
Emma Taylor says
Absolutely delicious. I had some pork mince so tried it and was a hit with the family.
They said they’d have this once a week for sure.
Going to be a staple dish from here on in
Charlotte says
Delicious made with the fried rice loved by all!!
Scarletr says
Absolutely delicious, first time I’ve ever made it and it tasted just like it does from a good restaurant! Thank you for another great recipe 🙂
Claudette schokman says
Made it today. Simply delicious.
carolyne says
Just made this for my husband and I, so delicious easy to make will definitely be doing it again. P.s won’t be ordering yuk sung ever again
Gill Hammond says
This was so easy and very delicious, thank you.
Suzy says
My children love this, it’s their favourite! Thank you so much! They’re not usually fans of lettuce, yet the 6 year old was really sad when the lettuce ran out because he was enjoying the combination so much!