Ajinomoto Cook Do® Subuta 140g is the sauce base for 酢豚 — sweet-and-sour pork, one of the staples of Japanese-Chinese home cooking. What sets Ajinomoto's version apart is the vinegar: alongside ordinary grain vinegar it uses 米黒酢 (rice black vinegar), which gives a rounder, deeper acidity than a plain sweet-and-sour sauce, balanced against a restrained sweetness rather than a sugary one. Tomato paste, soy sauce and pork extract fill out the savoury base. One 140g pack seasons 3–4 servings of pork and vegetables in sweet-and-sour sauce.
The dish is classically made by deep-frying the pork first, and Ajinomoto notes on the pack that shallow pan-frying works too if you would rather not deep-fry. The company also names the origins of its main raw materials: both the grain vinegar and the rice black vinegar are produced in Japan. The sauce is made at Ajinomoto Group plants in Kanagawa and Shizuoka, or at the company's partner plant in Mie.
About Ajinomoto
Ajinomoto (味の素株式会社) began trading in May 1909 and was incorporated in December 1925. Cook Do® is the company's range of 中華合わせ調味料 — Chinese-style blended seasonings — sitting alongside ranges such as Hondashi (ほんだし) bonito dashi granules.
What subuta is
Subuta (酢豚) is the Japanese name for sweet-and-sour pork — pieces of pork and vegetables coated in a glossy sweet-vinegar sauce. It came into Japanese cooking from Chinese cuisine and is now a standard family dish, typically milder and less sharply sweet than the versions found elsewhere.
Ingredients
Grain vinegar (produced in Japan), sugar, tomato paste, soy sauce, salt, fermented seasoning, rice black vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, pork extract / thickener (processed starch, xanthan gum), seasoning (amino acids etc.), caramel colour, acidulant. (Contains wheat, soy, pork and apple.)
Allergens
Contains: wheat, soy, pork, apple — as declared by Ajinomoto Japan (アレルギー物質: 小麦、大豆、豚肉、りんご).
Nutrition (per 40 g serving)
Energy 51 kcal · Protein 0.6 g · Fat 0.1 g · Carbohydrate 11.6 g · Salt-equivalent 1.3 g · Phosphorus 7.3 mg · Potassium 65.6 mg · Iodine 0 mg.
Important — please check the package label
While we make every effort to keep product information accurate and up to date, manufacturers may change formulations, packaging, allergens, ingredients, or specifications without notice. The actual product packaging is always the authoritative source. If you have specific concerns about allergens, ingredients, or any product detail, please contact us before purchase, or refer to the product packaging before consuming.
Authentic Japanese-Chinese subuta stir-fry sauce · 酢豚用 · Ajinomoto Cook Do® range.
