Sweet And Sour Pork

A Chinese stir-fry dish made with juicy pieces of pork tenderloin, bell peppers, onion, and pineapple. Battered pork gets fried until crispy then tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce. So skip the takeout and make a classic Sweet and Sour Pork served with our Easy Fried Rice that the whole family will enjoy.

Sweet and Sour Pork

No matter where you go, sweet and sour pork is featured on almost every Chinese restaurant menu. It’s an Asian staple. Coated pieces of meat are deep fried until golden and crunchy, then tossed in a vibrant sauce that packs a balance of sweet and tart flavors. It seems like it would be complicated to make, however, I’ve tested and broken down this recipe into two simple sections. This way you can easily make a homemade version right in your kitchen. Hello there! I’m Jessica Gavin, a Certified Culinary Scientist. I share the science behind better cooking over on my website JessicaGavin.com. I’m delighted to have this tasty creation on Karina’s mouth-watering website. To help build your culinary skills, in this recipe you’ll get a chance to practice your breading and sauce making techniques.

You’re in for a treat because I’m also going to show you how to master the art of deep frying, which is what gives this dish the enticing texture that keeps people going back for seconds. Paired with a super fast sauce that serves up authentic flavors, this meal is a real crowd pleaser.

How to make sweet and sour pork

Cut pork into consistently sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes for even cooking. Use the standard breading technique. Coat the pork with flour, egg, then flour. Make sure to use a high smoke point oil for deep frying like peanut or vegetable oil. Maintain an oil temperature of 350 to 375°F to properly cook and brown the food. Deep fry the pork in batches so the pieces don’t stick and oil temperature stays hot.

What makes this dish different than a traditional stir-fry is that it gets a light flour coating on the outside, and then fried for an extra layer of crispiness. The fried pork pieces could be devoured as is, so go ahead and take a little taste before it goes into the sauce. The texture is similar to fried chicken, for more crunch factor. Now it’s time to make the sauce!

What goes in sweet and sour pork

Diced onions, bell peppers, and pineapple are tasty additions to the dish. The fresh produce adds a nice bit of color and flavor. I love how the fruit compliments the sauce, mimicking the candied taste with a pop of acidity. Stir-fry the ingredients just to the point of keeping them crisp-tender.

Sweet and sour sauce ingredients

Tomato paste Soy sauce Rice Vinegar Honey Cornstarch Water This sweet and sour uses simple ingredients and comes together in a snap. Almost all recipes use ketchup, but the food scientist in me reverse-engineered the recipe to give you a more wholesome and tastier version.

The cornstarch is the thickening agent combined with water to make a slurry. It’s added at the very end of cooking the sauce to give it richness and a glossy appearance. The thickness then sticks and clings to the pieces of pork. It’s delicious!

Chinese Pork Recipe

This recipe may take a few more steps, but it’s worth it! The texture that the breading provides is unmatched, and it’s fun to play around with cooking techniques you might not use every day. I like to serve the pork in a heaping bowl of steamed rice, it’s the ultimate comfort food. If you like this recipe, I know you’d love my easy shrimp stir fry too. Happy cooking!