Rating: 3.55
(74)

Sweet and Sour Pork

August 2, 2024

Sweet and sour pork is a classic dish that perfectly balances savory, tangy, and sweet flavors in a way that makes it both comforting and exciting. This vibrant dish has become a favorite in many households, offering a delicious combination of crispy pork, fresh vegetables, and a glossy, flavorful sauce. It’s a dish that not only tastes great but also looks beautiful on the plate, with its rich red sauce and colorful bell peppers and onions.

What makes sweet and sour pork so appealing is its versatility. The pork is typically battered and fried until golden and crispy, giving it a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the tender and juicy interior. The sauce, made with a mix of vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce, creates a perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. The addition of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and pineapple adds both flavor and texture, making the dish feel hearty and fresh.

While traditionally made with pork, you can easily swap it for chicken, shrimp, or even tofu if you prefer. The dish is equally delicious when made with different vegetables, so feel free to add mushrooms, zucchini, or snap peas for variation. The sauce is the star of the dish, so adjusting the sweetness or tang to your liking is always an option.

Sweet and sour pork is a great option for a weeknight meal that feels special yet is easy to prepare. The dish comes together quickly, and the ingredients are often ones you already have in your kitchen. Serve it with steamed rice or noodles to complete the meal, or enjoy it on its own for a lighter option.

This dish’s combination of flavors and textures makes it a crowd-pleaser for both adults and children. It’s the kind of comfort food that brings everyone to the table with its irresistible taste.

Sweet and Sour Pork
Sweet and Sour Pork
3.55 from 74 votes
Sweet and Sour Pork is a popular Chinese dish that combines crispy fried pork with a tangy and sweet sauce. This delicious dish is made with bell peppers, pineapple, and carrots, offering a perfect balance of flavors.
Servings 1 people
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g pork tenderloin cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce for seasoning
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch for coating the pork
  • 1/2 cup Bell peppers cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup Pineapple cut into chunks
  • 1 carrot medium, sliced
  • 1/4 cup Vinegar any type of vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar for the sauce
  • 2 tbsp ketchup for the sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce additional for the sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • Season the pork pieces with 1 tbsp soy sauce and coat with 1 tbsp cornstarch.
  • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the pork until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan, stir fry the bell peppers, pineapple, and carrot until tender but still crisp.
  • In a small bowl, mix vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and the additional soy sauce to create the sauce.
  • Add the sauce to the vegetables in the pan and bring to a boil.
  • Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and add to the pan to thicken the sauce.
  • Return the pork to the pan and stir to coat with the sauce evenly.
  • Serve hot with steamed rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 20gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 900mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 4gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 5000IUVitamin C: 100mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
Calories: 400kcal
Meal Type: Lunch
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: chinese cuisine, Pork Dishes, Sweet and Sour
Cooking Method: Baked
Time: 30-45 Min
Level: Easy
Tried this recipe?Mention @coolinarco or tag #coolinarco!
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Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar houston.harris91 says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! The pork turns out so tender! Will definitely make again.

  2. 3 stars
    It’s good, but I feel like the vinegar overpowered the flavors. Next time, I might use less vinegar. Fewer tangy taste.

  3. User avatar alonso.breitenberg7 says:

    3 stars
    Sweet sour pork? Do you use actual sour stuff? Like lemon? Or is it just the vinegar?

    1. User avatar Karren Herzog says:

      4 stars
      I think it’s mostly the vinegar that makes it sour, but adding lemon could totally work! I might try that next time.

  4. User avatar Adam Maggio says:

    5 stars
    Delish! Just like takeout, I love it! 🍚🍖

  5. User avatar tommy.ondricka says:

    1 star
    Honestly, I thought the ingredients were weird together. I don’t think I would try again.

    1. 3 stars
      Weird? I thought it was simple. Pork and pineapple are pretty common together, right? Maybe you just don’t like sweet stuff?

    2. User avatar earl.kiehn29 says:

      4 stars
      I get what you mean, the combo sounds off at first. But trust me, it’s surprisingly good! Give it another shot! 🙂

  6. User avatar burl.strosin1989 says:

    4 stars
    Too much sugar for my taste! Next time I’ll reduce that. But it still tasted okay overall.

  7. 4 stars
    So yummyy! Next time I’ll add more pineapple for sure!

  8. User avatar delmer.hermiston says:

    2 stars
    Too much sugar!!! It was like eating candy.

  9. User avatar theodora.gaylord says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was amazing! My family absolutely loved it!

  10. User avatar andre.rogahn1952 says:

    1 star
    I replaced the pork with chicken… idk, kinda grossed me out. Stick to pork!

    1. 5 stars
      I totally get you! Pork has that unique flavor that chicken just can’t match. Stick with the original, it’s way better!

    2. User avatar dewayne.wuckert12 says:

      3 stars
      Chicken is good though, right? Maybe it’s just not your thing. But maybe try a diff recipe with it next time?

  11. User avatar nigel.farrell says:

    5 stars
    First time cooking pork and it turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!

  12. User avatar Usha Hermiston says:

    3 stars
    Is it really sweet and sour? I felt like it was missing something. Needs more pineapple.

    1. User avatar willie.balistreri says:

      4 stars
      I think more pineapple would definitely help! I added some extra when I made it and it was great. 🍍

  13. 3 stars
    Sweet sauce and pork. Yeah! But I don’t think it’s pouring vinegar like that. Is it? Me think bit less could do!

  14. User avatar morgan.hegmann83 says:

    4 stars
    I was skeptical about sweet and sour sauce, but this turned out to be a hit. I added more pineapple though!

  15. User avatar Shaddam Corrino IV says:

    5 stars
    I absolutely loved this recipe! The sweetness of the pineapple and the savory pork went so well together. Definitely a keeper! 🍍

  16. 2 stars
    Pork was a bit tough for me. Maybe my frying pan wasn’t hot enough? Would be better with chicken instead.

  17. User avatar carter.stamm says:

    3 stars
    I don’t like using vinegar. Can I just skip that part? I kinda got lost in the sauce 😅.

  18. User avatar Wellington Yueh says:

    5 stars
    My kids loved it! They kept asking for more. Thanks for the recipe!

  19. User avatar yon.bashirian78 says:

    3 stars
    My pork didn’t cook right 🤦‍♂️. What did I do wrong?

  20. 4 stars
    Sweet n sour vry nice! Yummyy.

  21. User avatar annis.fritsch1975 says:

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING! My family loved it. Will definitely make again!

    1. 5 stars
      So glad you loved it! It’s a family favorite for sure. What do you serve it with?

  22. User avatar forrest.kreiger74 says:

    5 stars
    Yum! So tasty, we eat it every week now. Just perfect with rice!

  23. User avatar Margot Fenring says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is exactly like the one my mom used to make. Brings back memories!

  24. 2 stars
    Too many veggies! Just give me the pork & sauce, lol! 2 stars.

  25. User avatar Frost Troll says:

    5 stars
    This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever tried! Didn’t believe it would be so easy!

  26. User avatar suspiciousCommentator says:

    3 stars
    I don’t know, the sauce was kinda weird. Maybe too much vinegar? Not really my taste, but my kids ate it.

  27. User avatar Falmer Gloomlurker says:

    4 stars
    I tried it but used chicken instead of pork. Still came out good! 🙂

  28. User avatar julian.turcotte says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I used chicken instead of pork and it worked well.

    1. User avatar latonya.ledner says:

      4 stars
      Chicken instead of pork? That’s interesting! I usually stick to the original, but glad it worked for you!

  29. User avatar Franklin Lakin says:

    4 stars
    Tasty! My kids loved it, and that’s hard to do! I used some leftover chicken instead of pork because I didn’t have pork. Still great!

  30. User avatar anonymous_hacker says:

    4 stars
    My kids loved it! They said it’s just like the stuff we get at the restaurant.

  31. User avatar liberal.hero says:

    2 stars
    This recipe takes too long for my taste. Why can’t they make it quicker? Also, do I really need ketchup?? Seems weird.

  32. User avatar yetta.romaguera89 says:

    3 stars
    Tasty, but the instructions are confusing! What do I do with the water? I just mixed it all together…

  33. 2 stars
    Did you really need so much sugar? I thought it was way too sweet for my taste.

  34. User avatar leona.jacobi80 says:

    1 star
    Sweet and sour? More like sweet and blah. Didn’t like it much. Next time I’ll try a different reciepe.

  35. User avatar taina.stiedemann97 says:

    4 stars
    I added some ginger and garlic for flavor, turned out great! Highly recommend it.

  36. User avatar joyce.wisozk3 says:

    5 stars
    Yum! I’m hungry just thinking about it. 🤤

  37. User avatar gene.sporer says:

    2 stars
    Meh, needed more flavor. I was expecting something tangy, but it was just sweet.

  38. 3 stars
    Not bad but I think i’d use less sugar next time. Too sweet for my taste.

  39. User avatar NAFO.SUPREMACY says:

    2 stars
    I dunno, mine came out all mushy… maybe I overcooked it? 🤔

  40. User avatar lindsey.rodriguez1996 says:

    4 stars
    Quick and easy recipe! I made it with chicken instead.

  41. User avatar suspiciousCommentator says:

    3 stars
    Sweet and sour pork? More like sweet but there’s not enough sour. 😂

  42. User avatar debra.hessel says:

    4 stars
    I was kinda skeptical about the vinegar but it turned out really good. Who knew sweet and sour could be so tasty?

  43. 5 stars
    This was the best sweet and sour pork I’ve ever made! My family loved it. Will definitely make again.

  44. User avatar joe_banana says:

    1 star
    The ingredients don’t match the instructions, had to wing it! 😩

  45. User avatar Eccentrica Gallumbits says:

    3 stars
    Sounds good but I don’t have vinegar. Do I really need it? How much more ketchup can I use?

  46. User avatar Aisha Wolff says:

    4 stars
    Simple and quick! I used chicken instead of pork, still good!

    1. User avatar elli.mitchell says:

      2 stars
      But isn’t it supposed to be pork? Chicken just ain’t the same! 🤔

    2. User avatar lynn.goodwin says:

      5 stars
      Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Chicken sounds like a tasty swap. Will try that next time!

  47. 4 stars
    Easy to make and delicious! I added some broccoli for extra green. Yum!

  48. 5 stars
    This recipe is so easy. I made it in under 30 min and it was delish! Will make again.

    1. 5 stars
      Sounds amazing! I love quick recipes, especially when they taste this good. What’s your secret to the PERFECT pork? 🙂

  49. User avatar Spider Guardian says:

    3 stars
    Uh, how do you pronounce ‘corstarch’? Messed it up, but still tasted okay.

    1. User avatar amelia.macgyver74 says:

      4 stars
      It’s ‘cornstarch’! No worries, we all mess up names sometimes. Glad it still turned out tasty!

  50. User avatar annetta.christiansen2017 says:

    5 stars
    This was the best sweet and sour pork I’ve ever made! So easy and delicious.

  51. User avatar roxy.davis73 says:

    1 star
    Big flop. Pork was chewy and sauce was too sticky. Not making again.

    1. 3 stars
      Sounds like you didn’t cook the pork long enough. It can be tough if not cooked right, but I love this recipe!

    2. User avatar elana.ritchie says:

      4 stars
      Sorry to hear that! I’ve made it before and it turned out great. Maybe it was the pork you used?

  52. User avatar Restless Draugr says:

    2 stars
    I don’t know, it tasted kinda off. Maybe too much vinegar? Not my thing.

  53. User avatar otha.hickle says:

    5 stars
    This was a huge hit at my family dinner! The flavors are perfectly balanced. Definitely 5 stars!

  54. User avatar jule.wyman67 says:

    3 stars
    I tried this recipe but my sauce was very runny. What did I do wrong? I followed the steps!

  55. 5 stars
    This recipe is absolutely delish! The combo of sweet and sour is spot on. Will make again! 🥳

  56. User avatar mikki.wilkinson says:

    2 stars
    Not bad, but I think real Chinese food is better. I prefer takeout lol.

    1. User avatar sheri.lakin86 says:

      4 stars
      I get what you mean! Takeout has a certain vibe, but this recipe is pretty close! Just give it a try! 😊

  57. 1 star
    EGH! Never making this again! My kids didn’t like it at all, and the vinegar taste was awful! 😡

    1. User avatar Frost Troll says:

      3 stars
      What?! I thought it was delish! My family gobbled it up! Maybe your kids just ain’t into sweet and sour stuff. 🤷‍♂️

    2. 4 stars
      I’m sorry to hear that! My kids loved it, maybe it was the vinegar that didn’t sit right with yours? Have you tried reducing it next time?

3.55 from 74 votes
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