Sweet & Sour Pork Recipe Perfected + Time-Saving Prep Tips

pork tenderloin

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Chicken breast is leaner, while pork shoulder is less expensive.

cornstarch

🥗Healthier: arrowroot powder

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Arrowroot is a healthier thickener, while flour is more economical.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is healthier, while canola is often cheaper.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: low-sodium soy sauce

💰Cheaper: tamari

Low-sodium options are better for health, and tamari is often less expensive.

Prep the vegetables: cut half an onion, half a red bell pepper, and half a green bell pepper into 1.5-inch pieces.

Mince or grate 1 clove of garlic and measure about 1 tsp.

Measure 1/2 tsp of ginger.

Open an 8 oz can of pineapple chunks and drain the juice, yielding about 1/3 cup.

Make the sweet and sour sauce by combining the drained pineapple juice, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tsp soy sauce in a medium saucepan.

Stir the sugar and ketchup together before adding the other ingredients to ensure the ketchup dissolves easily.

Bring the sauce to a boil, then mix 1 tbsp of water with 1 tbsp of cornstarch to create a slurry and add it to the sauce, stirring continuously until thickened.

Remove the sauce from heat and set aside to cool.

Trim the fat from 8 oz of pork tenderloin and cut it into 1-inch pieces.

Marinate the pork with 2 tbsp of cornstarch, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp white pepper, and 1 tsp white rice wine, along with half a beaten egg.

Mix 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour with 1/2 cup of cornstarch for dredging the pork.

Dredge the marinated pork pieces in the flour mixture until well coated.

Heat 5 cups of canola oil to 375°F for frying the pork.

Fry the pork in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.

In a hot wok, add 1 tbsp of peanut oil and toss in the vegetables, cooking for about 1 minute until lightly browned.

Add the pineapple chunks and cook for another minute until heated through.

Add the minced garlic and ginger, then toss in the fried pork and pour the sauce over everything, mixing well to combine.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: