Recipe: Sweet and Sour Pork

As Chinese New Year’s celebrations draw to a close this year… I thought another Asian recipe should be in order… these recipes are always good on a menu anytime of the year….. so I decided on the ever popular Sweet and Sour Pork.

This dish is a take-out menu favorite… one I would order fairly often when our group at work would order take-out for lunch. Making the dish at home is much easier than you think… as with most Asian meals… prep is the name of the game… while the actual cooking time is very short.

TIPS

Using a wok will make things infinitely easier… however … if you don’t have one.. don’t let that deter you from making this delicious dish…. you can fry the pork pieces in a skillet or a pot… and stir fry the pepper and onion in a skillet.

The batter for the pork is very thick… like thick pancake batter… that’s just the way it should be.

Drop the pork cubes in the batter and use a spoon to scoop it out and drop them in the oil…

The Sweet and Sour Sauce is very quick and easy to make… and can be made ahead… which I highly recommend.. it saves you having to think about making another ingredient… and saves time on clean-up too…. just make it ahead and store it in the fridge.

I use my Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe.. click here for it. For this dish I double the sauce recipe… although without doubling it.. it will make just enough for this dish.. but it’s always good to have a little extra… it stores easily.

I use self rising flour in this recipe… if you haven’t tried using self rising flour … I suggest you try it… it really is terrific for making things like this and muffins and breads.

If you use all-purpose flour… simply add ¼ teaspoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder … be sure to mix these into the flour first… I suggest using a wire whisk so it gets mixed in evenly.

Don’t get take-out… make your own!






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Recipe: Sweet and Sour Pork

All you need:

1 pound pork butt, cut into cubes
2 ½ cups self rising flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
Sprinkling of white pepper
1 ½ cups water
Oil for frying (about 1 quart)
Sweet and Sour Sauce (store bought or homemade)
1 tablespoon oil
1 medium onion cut into wide pieces
1 green bell pepper cut into wide pieces
1 small can pineapple chunks, drained
Green onion, chopped
White rice, cooked

All you need to do:

If making the Sweet and Sour Sauce, mix it in a medium bowl and set aside.

Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper and water in a large bowl.

Drop the pork cubes in and stir to coat them well.

In a large pot, large skillet or wok, heat the oil for frying. The oil should be at 360 degrees F.

Drop the coated pork pieces into the hot fat in batches. Cook for about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

In a large skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.

Add the onions, green pepper and pineapple chunks, stir fry them for about 3 minutes,
Place the cooked pork in a large serving dish.

Add the stir fried onion, green pepper and pineapple chunks.

Pour the Sweet and Sour Sauce over everything and sprinkle with chopped green onion.

Serve with white rice.