This is more my style of Chinese takeout. I only ever order Sweet and Sour Pork, along with Crab Rangoon (which is my ultimate Chinese menu favorite although I’m certain it is an American creation and isn’t authentic Chinese cuisine by any means, I still enjoy it. Unfortunately the recipe I hoped to share this week did not yield the delicious result I had hoped for, so it didn’t make the cut). Nevertheless, I greatly enjoyed my Sweet and Sour Pork, so I was able to make peace with the strange/salty/disappointing Crab Rangoon. I love pineapple the most in Sweet and Sour Pork (or Chicken) and with ham on my pizza. The rest of the time, I don’t eat it much. P.S. Sorry for the lack of photos… went to the cabin for the weekend and left my camera at home. Big mistake!
Sweet and Sour Pork
Credit: The Chinese Takeout Cookbook by Diana Kuan
Ingredients:
Batter
2 large eggs, beaten
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 pound boneless pork loin, cut into 1-inch pieces
Sauce
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons Ketchup
2 tablespoons fresh pineapple juice, or juice from the canned pineapple
1 ½ tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups peanut oil or vegetable oil for frying, plus 1 tablespoon for stir-frying
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 cup fresh or canned bite-size pineapple chunks
Directions:
1. Prepare the batter: In a medium bowl, stir together the eggs, cornstarch, and flour. The batter should be liquidy enough to coat the pork. If the batter looks too dry, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and stir again Add the pork and stir gently to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the water, ketchup, pineapple juice, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
3. Heat the peanut oil in a wok until it registers 350°F on an instant-read thermometer. Working in 2 or 3 batches, add the first batch or pork cubes and fry until golden brown on the outside and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Remove any excess bits of batter from the oil with a slotted spoon or fine-mesh strainer. Continue frying the rest of the pork.
4. Transfer the oil to a heat-proof container. (It will take 1 hour to fully cool, after which you can transfer it to a container with a tight lid to dispose of it.) Wipe up any food remains in the wok with paper towels, being careful not to touch the metal directly with your hands.
5. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the wok or a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry until just aromatic, about 20 seconds. Add the pineapple and the sauce and stir to coat the vegetables. Let the sauce simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the pineapple to become tender (about 1 minute for canned pineapple). Return the pork to the wok and toss until well coated with the sauce. Transfer to a plate and serve.
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