Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and Sour Pork is a Chinese-American stir fry dish where crispy battered pork is tossed in a sweet, tangy red sauce. Skip the line at takeout and make yourself this delicious meal at your own home!

Ingredients and Substitutions

*The Recipe Card below includes all the full measurements for these ingredients!

Pork: The golden cuts to use for this dish include pork shoulder, butt, tenderloin, or scotch. They have just enough fat to give the pork flavor and the right amount of tenderness. If you’re not a fan of pork, feel free to use chicken (dark meat, preferred) or even tofu.

Bell pepper, onion, pineapple: To provide a little crunch to our stir-fry, we’ll be cooking these very briefly to retain their crisp and natural flavor.

Soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, ketchup, sugar, apple cider vinegar, Chicken powder: These will make up the bulk of our sweet and sour sauce, Shaoxing wine can be substituted with any dry white wine, cooking wine, sake, or omitted altogether. You can replace the sugar with equal parts brown sugar or honey. Apple cider vinegar can be replaced with distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar if preferred. Chicken powder helps to bump up the savory notes of the sauce, but you may also use MSG or omit it entirely.

Baking soda: Used widely in Chinese cuisine, baking soda helps to tenderize the meat to result in a better chew and mouthfeel when eating.

Egg white, cornstarch, flour: Along with water, these will make up the batter to fry our pork pieces in. A combination of cornstarch and flour ensures the coating is light and crisp -the perfect vehicles to capture all that delicious sauce.

Instructions

*The Recipe Card below includes all the full detailed instructions! 

Marinate the pork briefly in the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, baking soda, and white pepper. Once marinated, add in the egg white, cornstarch, flour, and water to form a batter.

Fry the battered pork in batches until crisp.  

Stir fry the onions, bell pepper, and pineapple. Set aside.

Add in the sweet and sour sauce to the pan and let thicken briefly.

Add in the stir-fried vegetables and the fried pork. Quickly toss to combine.

What is Sweet and Sour Pork?

Sweet and Sour Pork are crispy bites of battered pork that are tossed in a sweet, tangy, red sauce along with chunks of vegetables.

My friend recently took me to their family’s favorite dim sum spot, and on their menu was sweet and sour pork, so you know I just had to get it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Chinese fast-food chains, but this one in particular was just something completely different.

The pork was incredibly crispy, even after being tossed in the sweet and sour sauce. It also came with tender chunks of onion, bell peppers, and fresh pineapple. I absolutely devoured my dish, and I’m thinking of actually visiting it again this weekend.

This recipe pays homage to that location’s sweet and sour pork, and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Cooking Tips

Double fry your pork: The first fry is meant to just cook the pork internally and slightly crisp it up. After letting the fried pork rest for at least 10 minutes, you can proceed with the second “double” fry at a higher oil temperature for an additional 30 seconds. This ensures that any excess moisture from the pork is removed during the second fry, resulting in a crunchier outcome.

Customize your sauce: Before throwing the sauce into your wok or pan, give it a taste and adjust as needed. You can lower the amount of sugar, for instance, if you prefer it less sweet. If you feel it needs a tad more salt, feel free to throw in more soy sauce or kosher salt. If you think it needs a kick of spice, you could also sprinkle in red pepper flakes or even chili oil!

Toss the pork in the sauce for as minimal time as possible: I like to toss the fried pork fairly quickly in the sauce for a maximum of 15-30 seconds, just enough to coat all of the pieces. The longer you toss the fried pork in the hot pan, the more moisture is absorbed, creating a soggy coating.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I make this vegetarian?

You sure can. Simply replace the pork with extra firm tofu, tempeh, or even mushrooms. You could also try plant-based meat substitutes!

Can I add more vegetables to this?

Yes, some of my favorite veggie additions include snap peas, green beans, mushrooms, baby corn, baby carrot, and broccoli.

How do I store leftovers?

Leftovers can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up 3-4 days.

To reheat, simply heat the sweet and sour pork in the microwave or gently over stovetop until fully warmed-through. While the pork may not be as crispy as originally fresh, I think it still tastes pretty good!

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