Lighter Sweet Sour Pork Recipes

SWEET AND SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Mix Pork with Marinade. Marinade 18 to 24 hours. (See Note 1 for marinating time for other cuts)
• Rack & warm oven: Preheat oven to 80°C/175°F and place rack on tray - to keep pork warm.
• Sauce: Place all Sauce ingredients EXCEPT water in a large jug or small bowl. Mix until combined, then mix in water.
• Be Stir Fry Ready: Have all ingredients lined up, ready to toss in. After Fry #2, things move quickly.
• Coating #1: Mix 5 tablespoons cornflour into the pork and leave for 5 minutes. At first, it will be white from the cornflour, but after a while it will sweat and make the cornflour (mostly / partially) wet, and will be sticky (this is key for coating to stick).
• Coating #2: Spread 1/2 cup cornflour in a shallow bowl. Coat pork, shaking off excess, and pile onto a plate.
• Reserve cornflour in case you need to dust again just prior to frying. Pork should be at least half white when you put it into the oil (if not, just sprinkle with reserved cornflour).
• Heat oil: Pour enough oil into a large saucepan or small pot so it's 2.5cm / 1" deep. Heat to 180°C/350°F (or until pork immediately starts sizzling when you dip it in).
• Fry #1: Cook pork in batches, being sure not to crowd the pot, for 3 minutes until golden. Drain on rack. This step is just to cook the pork. It takes me 4 batches.
• Fry #2: Turn the stove up slightly and heat oil to 200°C/390°F. Starting with the coolest pork, add half the pork (you can crowd the pot) and cook for 1 1/2 minutes, or until pork is deep golden brown and crispy. Transfer to rack, repeat with remaining pork - I do 2 batches.
• Keep warm in oven.
• Heat oil in a very large skillet over high heat.
• Add garlic, ginger and onion, stir for 1 1/2 minutes. Add capsicum and stir for 2 minutes.
• Add Sauce & pinapple, then let it come to a rapid simmer. Simmer for 2 minutes until it thickens - when you drag the spoon across the base, a path should briefly appear (see video at 1 min 53 s).
• 10 second toss: Add pork, then QUICKLY toss to coat - aim for 10 seconds!
• Serve asap! Pour onto serving plate, serve immediately! Will stay crispy for around 5 minutes then starts softening but still has a solid coating. This is just the reality of Sweet and Sour Pork, even at restaurants!

LIGHTER SWEET & SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Cut the pork into 2-3cm cubes. In a medium bowl, make the batter. Beat the egg white lightly with a fork until slightly frothy, then beat in the five-spice powder, cornflour, flour and a good grinding of pepper until thick and smooth. Stir in the pork so that each piece is evenly coated, then set aside.
• Now make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, tomato purée, cornflour blended with water, and the stock. Season with pepper and set aside. Blanch the carrot in a little boiling water for about 2 mins until tender but still crisp. Drain, then put under cold running water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
• Pour the 1 tbsp rapeseed oil into a non-stick wok or large frying pan. When it's very hot (test by dropping a piece of meat in - it should immediately sizzle), add the pork. Stir to separate all the pieces, then stir-fry for about 5 mins over a medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink inside when cut, and the outside is golden and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Pour the remaining 2 tsp rapeseed oil into the wok and add the garlic, ginger, spring onions and pepper. Stir-fry for about 2 mins until starting to brown (still on quite a high heat). Pour in the sauce - it should immediately start to bubble rapidly - and stir in the carrot. As soon as the sauce has thickened slightly, about 30 secs-1 min, stir in the meat to quickly coat and heat through. Remove the pan from the heat, season with a pinch of salt and serve immediately, with the rice.

SWEET & SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Mix the pork with the marinade ingredients and leave to sit for at least 15 mins, or chill for a few hours. In a separate bowl, mix all the coating ingredients. Drain any excess liquid off the pork and toss the pork in the seasoned coating. Can be done 1 hr ahead.
• To make the sauce, heat the oil in a shallow saucepan and gently fry the garlic, ginger and peppers until just starting to soften. Now drop in all the rest of the ingredients except the sesame seeds. Bring everything to the boil and cook for a few mins until thickened, then take off the heat. To make the batter, whisk the flours and baking powder together with 200ml water to a smooth paste.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer, large saucepan or a wok to 180C or until a drop of batter sizzles and browns in 20 secs. Dip the marinated pork in the batter mix (do it in two or three batches) and let any excess drip off. Fry the pork in batches for about 5-6 mins or until golden. Remove and drain on kitchen paper until all the batches are done. Make sure you bring the oil back to the correct temperature between each batch. Coat the crispy pork in the sauce, then sprinkle over the sesame seeds, coriander and serve with rice or noodles.

LIGHT SWEET AND SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Trim fat from pork and cut into 3/4 inch pieces.
• Place breadcrumbs on a plate.
• Mix melted margarine and a clove minced garlic.
• Add to pork in a plastic bag and toss to coat evenly.
• Roll pork in breadcrumbs and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes until the pork is no longer pink.
• Do not turn it.
• In a bowl mix together chicken broth, sugar, wine vinegar, cornstarch, and soy sauce.
• Set aside.
• Spray a wok or skillet with nonstick cooking spray, along with a teaspoon of oil, if needed.
• Add a clove minced garlic and stir-fry 15 seconds, then add carrots, cover and cook 3 minutes, add green and red bell peppers with onion and stir fry again for 3 or 4 minutes.
• Remove veggies from wok.
• Stir the sauce and add to the wok, cook until bubbly and thickened, plus an additional minute.
• Stir in the vegetables and pineapple chunks.
• Cook about a minute or until heated through.
• Arrange pork on a platter and spoon sauce over top.
• Serve with hot cooked rice.

LIGHTER SWEET AND SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Cube pork and marinade in next four ingredients for 20-30 minutes (more is fine).
• Combine vinegar, soy, brown sugar and pineapple juice.
• Set aside Dredge pork in cornstarch.
• Coat wok with oil and heat.
• Cook pork in wok until done and brown.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Stir fry garlic, ginger, and onion.
• Add pineapple chunks.
• Add sauce mixture and heat until thick and clear.
• Add meat and cook until hot.
• Can be served over rice.

SWEET AND SOUR PORK

Steps:

• Blend cornstarch and soy sauce in small bowl; stir in pork until well coated.
• Brown pork in hot oil in Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in 1/4 cup water. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir carrots, onion, bell pepper and sweet & sour sauce into pork mixture. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes longer, stirring frequently.
• Add pineapple chunks; cook and stir only until pineapple is heated through.