This tastes just like what is served in American-Chinese restaurants. The difference? You don't have to drive anywhere for dinner. I only made this recipe because I had a pineapple threatening to age ungracefully, but my husband and I both enjoyed the meal.
Sweet and Sour Pork
This recipe for sweet and sour pork is based on one in The Chinese Cookbook by Craig Claiborne and Virginia Lee (J. B. Lippincott Company, 1972). It is most certainly a Chinese-American rendering of a Cantonese dish, employing a version of a sweet and sour sauce that is most typically used on fish, but just as delicious on pork.
1 1⁄4 lbs. pork loin, trimmed and cut into 1" cubes
1 tbsp. dry sherry
2 tbsp. soy sauce
Peanut oil
1 cup cornstarch
1⁄3 cup white distilled vinegar
1⁄2 cup sugar
Salt
12 drops red food coloring
1 small onion, cut into 1" pieces
1⁄2 large ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut
into 1" chunks
1⁄2 small red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and
cut into 1" pieces
1⁄2 small green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and
cut into 1" pieces
4 thin "coins" of peeled fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, lightly pound each pork cube to a 1⁄4" thickness. Transfer to a medium bowl, add sherry and 1 tbsp. of the soy sauce, and toss to combine.
2. Pour peanut oil into a wok to a depth of 1" and heat over medium-high heat until temperature registers 375° on a deep-fry thermometer. Put all but 2 tbsp. of the cornstarch into a wide dish. Dredge pork in cornstarch, one piece at a time, pressing down with your fingers to coat well. Discard cornstarch left in dish. Working in batches, fry pork in peanut oil until cooked through and golden brown on all sides, 4–5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to let drain. Heat oil until it registers 400° on a deep-fry thermometer, then refry pork in a single batch until deep golden brown, 1–2 minutes, to make pork crisper. Return pork to plate. Discard all but 1⁄4 cup of oil in wok; set aside.
3. Put remaining soy sauce, 1 cup water, vinegar, sugar, and salt to taste into a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir until sugar has dissolved. Mix together remaining 2 tbsp. cornstarch with 1⁄4 cup water in a small bowl; stir into the simmering sauce along with food coloring and 2 tbsp. additional peanut oil and simmer for 1 minute.
4. Heat wok with reserved oil over medium heat. Add onions, pineapple, peppers, ginger, and garlic and stir-fry until vegetables are crisp-tender, 5 minutes. Stir in sauce, bring to a boil, then add reserved pork and toss to combine. Serve with rice, if you like.
SERVES 4
Ratings & Reviews (2)
Absolutely delicious! My husband and I thought the flavors were spot on——so much better than mediocre take out. This recipe is a bit time-consuming though, so give yourself plenty of time to prep. I didn't bother with the second deep fry of the pork, and the meal still turned out amazing. I served the pork with jasmine rice.
Sweet and Sour Pork
5
5
2
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