Bursting with tangy and sweet flavors, our Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is a must-try. Learn how to create this Chinese cuisine staple right in your own kitchen. Perfect for weekend indulgence or when you crave some superb comfort food.
Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Pork
Collect the following ingredients to prepare Sweet and Sour Pork. For the pork and batter, you'll need 500 grams of pork tenderloin, cut into chunks, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 egg, ½ cup of cornflour, and oil for deep frying. For the sweet and sour sauce, you'll need 1 cup pineapple juice, ⅓ cup white sugar, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons of cornflour. Also, gather 1 green bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 onion, 1 carrot, and ½ pineapple, all cut into chunks.
Preparation of Sweet and Sour Pork
Begin by marinating the pork chunks sprinkling them with salt and let it rest for about 30 minutes. While it's resting, prepare your vegetables and set them aside. Make the batter by whisking an egg, add cornflour to it and mix it well to avoid lumps. Dip the pork chunks in the batter and ensure they're well-coated. Heat oil in a deep pan and fry the pork until golden brown. Set the fried pork on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb extra oil. Next, in a separate pan, stir together the pineapple juice, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Stir the cornflour into a little bit of water until it forms a smooth paste, then add it into the sauce. Constantly stir the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency. Finally, add your vegetables into the sauce and cook until they're crisp-tender. Add the fried pork and gently stir until every piece is coated with the sweet and sour sauce. Serve it hot.
Tips and Variations
You can customize the recipe to your liking by adding other ingredients such as roasted sesame seeds, red chili flakes or baby corn. For a healthier version, grill the pork instead of deep-frying. You can also replace pork with tofu or shrimp for a twist. Enjoy your sweet and sour pork with steamed rice or noodles.
Authenticity of Sweet and Sour Pork
The recipe outlined is authentic to the classic Chinese 'Gu lu rou', which is the equivalent of Sweet and Sour Pork. Despite its international fame, the dish has deep roots in Cantonese cuisine. The succulent pork combined with juicy pineapple and crunchy bell peppers enveloped in a tangy-sweet sauce creates a comforting and homey dish that stands testament to the harmony and balance, which is central in Chinese culinary philosophy.
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