Food - Drink
Pork Floss: The Meaty Chinese Ingredient That Looks Like Cotton Candy
By NATASHA BAILEY
What is Pork Floss?
Pork floss, also known as rousong, is made of candied pork which is shredded and dehydrated until it achieves a fuzzy consistency. The garnish bridges the gap between salty and sweet, dissolves quickly when eaten, and is incredibly versatile, making it a great garnish for almost any dish.
How to Make Pork Floss
Although pork floss is typically bought pre-made, you can make it at home if you have the patience. It is made by boiling pieces of pork with spices, like ginger, green onion, star anise, sugar, and soy sauce. Once soft, the meat is shredded and stir-fried with sesame and sugar, and then dehydrated.
Nutritional Info
While pork floss is a good source of protein and fiber, it tends to contain quite a bit of saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. A 3.5-ounce serving contains 396 calories and 46% of your recommended daily protein intake. Because of this, pork floss is best consumed in moderation or as a small garnish.
Variations
While pork floss is rousong, not all rousong is pork floss because rousong simply refers to dried meat. In Nigeria, beef floss is considered a delicacy and is made with Nigerian spices and flavors. As far as pork floss goes, Pork Fu is light and airy in texture and flavor, like spun sugar, while Pork Sung is darker in flavor and denser.