Taiwanese Sweet and Sour Fish (Ching Su Yu)
A vibrant and flavorful dish featuring pan-fried fish fillets coated in a glossy, tangy, and slightly sweet sauce, often garnished with colorful vegetables.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g White fish fillets(such as tilapia, snapper, or cod, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch(for coating fish)
- 1/4 cup Vegetable oil(for pan-frying)
- 1/2 cup Pineapple chunks(fresh or canned)
- 1/2 medium Green bell pepper(diced)
- 1/2 medium Red bell pepper(diced)
- 1/2 medium Onion(diced)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1/2 cup Ketchup
- 1/4 cup Rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch slurry(1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water)
- to taste Salt
- to taste White pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Pat the fish pieces dry and season with salt and white pepper. Dredge each piece in cornstarch, shaking off excess.
💡 Tip: Ensuring fish is dry helps the cornstarch adhere better. - 2
Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the fish in batches until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- 3
In the same wok, add a little more oil if needed. Stir-fry the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- 4
Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Stir-fry until slightly tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes.
- 5
In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Pour this sauce mixture into the wok.
💡 Tip: Adjust sugar and vinegar to your preferred sweetness and tanginess. - 6
Bring the sauce to a simmer. Add the pineapple chunks. Stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
- 7
Gently return the fried fish to the wok. Toss to coat the fish evenly with the sweet and sour sauce. Cook for another minute until heated through.
- 8
Serve immediately, typically over steamed rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For crispier fish, double-fry it: fry once until lightly golden, remove, and then fry again for a shorter period until crisp.
- ✓Ensure your wok or pan is hot before adding the fish to prevent sticking.
- ✓You can add other vegetables like carrots or peas for extra color and nutrition.
🔄 Variations
- Add a tablespoon of chili garlic sauce to the sauce mixture for a spicy kick.
- Substitute chicken or pork for fish.