Sweet and Sour Pork

Homemade sweet and sour pork is a healthier twist on the overly sweet take-out version. The flavors stay balanced without being too sugary, and it still comes together in under twenty minutes. It’s one of those easy skillet meals that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Chinese

Keyword Sweet and Sour Pork

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 7

Total Time 17

Servings people

Calories 538kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

Ingredients

1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed of excess fat and silverskin removed, cut into 1/2" pieces
2-1/2 tbsps balsamic vinegar divided
kosher salt used in several places
2 tsps low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsps ketchup
3 tbsps granulated sugar a pinch more for the garlic
1/3 cup water
3 tbsps peanut oil vegetable oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
3 scallions, cut into 1/2" pieces
3 cups snow peas, cut in half

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, toss the pork with 1/2 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt.
1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed of excess fat and silverskin removed, cut into 1/2" pieces, 2-1/2 tbsps balsamic vinegar, kosher salt
In another small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch, ketchup, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1/3 cup of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.
2 tsps low sodium soy sauce, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 3 tbsps ketchup, 3 tbsps granulated sugar, 1/3 cup water
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the pork and stir slowly until it turns mostly opaque, about 2 minutes. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a plate. Discard the oil and wipe out the skillet
3 tbsps peanut oil
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the skillet, then stir-fry the garlic with a pinch of salt and sugar (only for 15 seconds, as it can burn quickly). Add the carrots and scallions, and stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, add a small splash of water. Add the pork, snow peas, and soy sauce mixture, stirring until the pork is cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes.
3 cloves garlic, minced, 2 carrots, thinly sliced, 3 scallions, cut into 1/2" pieces, 3 cups snow peas, cut in half

Video

Notes

Cooking: If you have a wok, feel free to use it for this recipe.

For optimal outcomes when preparing this sweet and sour pork, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition