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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).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fabulous thank you for this recipe
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!
This was so easy and very delicious, thank you.
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
Made it today. Simply delicious.