Potato in Sugar Syrup (拔丝土豆)

Potato in Sugar Syrup (拔丝土豆)

Potato in Sugar Syrup (拔丝土豆) is a home-style vegetable dish at difficulty 3/5 (Intermediate), about 1158 kcal. Potato in Sugar Syrup is a classic dish of Shandong cuisine (Lu Cai/Su Cai). Ingredients and step-by-step instructions are below, with notes for home cooking.

Difficulty

3 / 5

★★★☆☆

Intermediate
Estimated Calories

1158 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 potatoes
  • 300 ml cooking oil (enough to submerge the potatoes)
  • 30 g cornstarch (or starch)
  • 120 g granulated white sugar
  • 100 ml water
  • 5 g sesame seeds
  • Small amount of water (for the starch, though not listed in the recipe, this is required if omitted from the sprinkling step)

Steps

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks. Coat them in starch and toss them until the starch evenly covers the surface (add a small amount of water to the starch if necessary).
  2. Heat oil in a wok or deep pan. Add the potato chunks and stir-fry slowly for 5-7 minutes, shaking the pan gently, until a skewer can easily pierce through a potato chunk.
  3. Remove the potatoes and set them aside in a large bowl.
  4. Add water and white sugar to the same wok. Stir the sugar slowly in one direction until the color turns brown.
  5. Return the potatoes to the wok and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then remove and serve.
  6. Plate the potatoes and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Notes

Potato in Sugar Syrup is a classic dish of Shandong cuisine (Lu Cai/Su Cai). The finished dish has a golden color with delicate, long sugar strands. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a fragrant sweetness. Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and Vitamin C, providing a quick energy boost.

This dish requires some skill. Beginners should pay close attention to the sugar-cooking heat to avoid sugar crystallization (turning into sand) or burning/bitterness. Total preparation and cooking time is approximately 30 minutes.

Cooking Difficulty: ★★★
Estimated Calories: 1158 kcal
Category: Sides / Main Dish

Recipe Details:
* **Servings:** Based on making a full batch using the quantity below.
* **Prep:** Potato 2 pcs, Oil 300 ml (enough for potatoes to float), Starch 30 g, Sugar 120 g (Add more sugar to create a thick syrup coating for the effect of 'pulling silk'), Water 100 ml, Sesame 5 g.
* **Tips:** The potatoes should not be fried until they are very soft, else they lose their shape and don’s hold the sugar sugar well when being plated.
* **Reusing Oil:** If using other cooking oils, consider collecting the used oil for later use.

Note: If you encounter issues or have improvements for this guide, please feel free to open an Issue or Pull Request.

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