Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and Sour Pork is a Chinese dish, originated from various China provinces. This is popularized in the western countries and other parts of the world. It has a sweet and tangy flavor and is very tasty to the palate. Pork dices coated in potato or corn starch and deep fried. They are then mixed with the ketchup, sugar and vinegar sauce to give the sweet and tangy taste.

My mother used to cook this dish regularly for the family when we were young kids. It makes dinner very appetizing, and one can just eat this with steamed rice and enjoyed the meal. I remembered this is one of the few dishes that I learnt to cook when I was an overseas student. While I was cooking this in the university dormitory kitchen, the strong pungent vinegar aroma fills up the whole basement, and wow anyone that happened to pass by the hallway.

Pork shoulder blade is used in this recipe. This I think is the best meat cut to make this dish.

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Prep time 1 hour

Cook time 10 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients for the Sweet and Sour Pork

MARINADE

• 200 g pork shoulder blade (into bite size pieces)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp potato flour
• 1 egg

DEEP FRYING

• 1 cup potato flour (add more if necessary)
• 1 cup oil

VEGGIES

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, cut into square pieces
• ½ red bell pepper, cut into square pieces
• 1 tomato, diced into quarters
• 1/2 can of pineapple (discard the sweet syrup in can)

SAUCE

• 6 tbsp cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tsp sugar (adjust to taste, more if you want it sweeter)

Method for the Sweet and Sour Pork

• Prepare the Pork

1. 1. In a bowl, combine all marinade ingredients with the pork. Cover and leave to marinade in the fridge 20 minutes.
      
   2. Place the potato starch flour in a large bowl and toss the marinated pork chunks until liberally coated.
      
   3. Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan to deep fry the pork pieces for about 3-4 minutes until the coating is golden brown and the pork is cooked throughout.
      
   4. Drain the excess oil on a paper towel and set aside.
      
      

• Prepare the sauce

  1. Pour the vinegar, ketchup and sugar in a small bowl and stir well. Set aside.
     

• Cook the ingredients to make Sweet and Sour Pork

1. 1. Add oil into the frying pan over medium heat and sauté the garlic until fragrant before adding in the bell peppers, tomato to fry until soften. Add in the pineapple and warm thorough.
      
   2. And pour in the sauce (vinegar, ketchup and sugar mixture) and stir. Bring the mixture to a boil.
      
   3. Add the pork to the frying pan and coat everything evenly with the sauce, ready to serve.