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Meat, East Asian

Sweet and sour pork with white rice

Sweet and sour pork with white rice is a tangy dish made with breaded fried pork tenderloin, bell peppers, and pineapple, serving 4 in 45 minutes. It has medium difficulty and costs €2.90 per person. The trick is frying the pork twice, so the crust stays crispy even under the sauce.

Want to make everyone at the table happy? I'm bringing out my sweet and sour pineapple pork, crispy outside and tender inside.

Sweet and sour pork with white rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.90
Calories per person
600 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Sweet and sour pork nails that contrast every time, a light crispy crust giving way to tender meat underneath, all coated in a sauce that plays vinegar's tang against pineapple's sweetness. The bell peppers add crunch and color, so every bite swings between punchy and comforting.

This is the kind of dish that makes the whole table happy, kids love the sweet sauce and crunchy coating, adults appreciate how balanced the sauce is. It works great for a weeknight dinner that feels a bit more special, or whenever you want a change from the usual without spending all evening in the kitchen.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Pork tenderloin 600 g

Dairy

  • Egg 1

Pantry

  • Cornstarchoften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Canned pineapple in juice 1 can
  • Ketchup 4 tbsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 20 cl
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Red bell pepper 1
  • Green bell pepper 1
  • Onion 1

Allergens Eggs, Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the pork into 2 cm cubes and mix them with the beaten egg, a pinch of salt, and 4 tbsp of cornstarch. 10 min

    The batter should just coat the meat, if it's too thick the crust gets heavy.

  2. Make the sauce by mixing the ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, 10 cl of pineapple juice, and 1 tbsp of cornstarch.

    Taste and adjust, more vinegar for a sharper edge, more sugar for the kids.

  3. Cook the rice in salted water while you prepare the frying. 11 min

    Rinse the rice in cold water before cooking so the grains stay separate.

  4. Fry the pork cubes in batches in very hot oil, drain them, then dip them back in for 1 minute right at the end. 8 min

    A small piece of bread dropped in the oil should sizzle right away, if not wait a bit longer.

  5. Sauté the peppers and onion, cut into strips, for 3 minutes in a pan, add the pineapple chunks, pour in the sauce and let it thicken, then toss the pork in it just before serving. 5 min

    Toss the pork in the sauce at the very last moment and serve right away, the crust stays crispy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the pork cubes evenly, around 2 cm, so they all cook at the same rate during frying.
  • Drain the pork cubes well on paper towels between the two fries, so no extra oil ends up in the pan with the sauce.
  • Prep all the vegetables and the sauce before you start frying, the final steps move fast and the pork shouldn't sit around waiting.

The variations

  • Swap the pork tenderloin for chicken cubes, it cooks a bit faster and stays just as crispy.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the pork with firm tofu cut into cubes and breaded the same way.
  • To save time, skip the breading step and simply stir fry thin strips of pork in a pan before tossing them in the sauce.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Spring rolls or egg rolls
  • Hot green tea

Storage

Sweet and sour pork keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze well once fried, since the crust loses its crispiness when thawed. Reheat it in a hot pan rather than the microwave to bring some texture back.

Questions about this dish

Can you use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

Yes, use fresh pineapple chunks and replace the pineapple juice in the sauce with orange juice or a bit of sweetened water. The result will be slightly less sweet but just as flavorful.

How do you keep the coating crispy under the sauce?

Frying the pork twice makes all the difference, a first fry to cook the meat and a very short second fry right before serving. Toss the pork in the sauce at the very last moment and serve immediately.

Can you prep the sauce and vegetables ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the sauce and cut the peppers and onion a few hours ahead and keep them in the fridge. Frying the pork, though, should happen right before serving.

Do kids actually like this dish?

Yes, the sweet sauce and crispy coating are a big hit with kids. You can add a bit more sugar and less vinegar in the sauce for them.

How long does it take to make a sweet and sour pork with white rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a sweet and sour pork with white rice?

About 600 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a sweet and sour pork with white rice cost?

About €2.90 per serving, or €11.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs, soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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