Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloinis is a beloved Chinese dish renowned for its sweet and tangy flavor profile and vibrant colors. Tender pork tenderloin is cut into strips, coated with a crispy batter, then quickly stir-fried with peppers, onions, and pineapple in a rich sweet and sour sauce. This dish is characterized by its sweet sugar, tangy vinegar, and the natural sweetness of pineapple, offering a diverse and satisfying taste experience.

9 Reviews
9 Comments
POSTED:06/07/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:35 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:10 min

To create delicious and visually appealing Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin that your family and friends will enjoy, follow these key tips and techniques:


1.Ingredient Selection:

Use fresh pork tenderloin and fresh vegetables and fruits (such as peppers, onions, and pineapple) to ensure freshness and quality.


2.Uniform Cutting:

Cut green peppers, red peppers, onions, and pineapple into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and better texture.


3.Preparation of Meat:

After cutting the pork tenderloin into strips, marinate with salt, egg yolk, and cornstarch to tenderize the meat and allow it to absorb more flavors.


4.Control of Oil Temperature:

When frying the pork tenderloin, maintain the oil temperature at about 350°F (approximately 175°C) to ensure it is crispy on the outside and tender inside.


5.Preparation of Sweet and Sour Sauce:

Adjust the ratio of white sugar, white vinegar, and ketchup according to personal taste preferences. Use a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, adding it to the hot pan and stirring quickly to avoid lumps.


6.Cooking Techniques:

Stir-fry the pork tenderloin and vegetables quickly to maintain their crispy texture and avoid overcooking.


7.Plating:

When serving, garnish with colorful green peppers, red peppers, and pineapple to enhance visual appeal.


This dish is cherished for its crispy texture, vibrant colors, and the contrast between sweet and sour flavors. It's highly popular in both Chinese and American cuisine and is perfect for those who enjoy dishes with a sweet and savory taste profile.

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 2/3 pound pork tenderloin, cut into strips

ACCESSORIES

  • 1 green pepper, cut into diamond-shaped pieces
  • 1 red pepper, cut into diamond-shaped pieces
  • 1.8 oz onion chunks
  • 1.8 oz pineapple chunks
  • 1 egg yolk

SEASONINGS

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Oil for frying (about 2 cups)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1/4 cup water mixed with 1 tablespoon cornstarch (water-cornstarch mixture)

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare the Ingredients:

Cut green and red peppers into diamond-shaped pieces.

Cut 1.8 oz of onion into chunks, and 1.8 oz of pineapple into cubes.

Cut 2/3 pound of pork tenderloin into chunks.

Prepare ingredients: Cut peppers into diamonds, onion and pineapple into chunks, pork into pieces.

STEP 2

Prepare the Pork tenderloin:

Place the pork tenderloin strips in a bowl.

Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix well.

Add 1 egg yolk and mix until the pork tenderloin is well-coated.

Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix until the pork tenderloin is evenly coated.

Prepare pork tenderloin: salt and mix, add egg yolk and mix, add cornstarch and coat evenly.

STEP 3

Fry the Pork tenderloin:

Heat a wok or deep frying pan with enough oil to deep fry.

When the oil is hot (about 350°F), add the pork tenderloin strips.

Fry the pork tenderloin until it’s golden brown.

Fry pork tenderloin strips in hot oil until golden brown.

STEP 4

Fry the Vegetables:

Next, add the green peppers, red peppers, and onions into the hot oil.

Fry for 5 seconds, then remove the pork tenderloin and vegetables from the oil.

Fry vegetables - green peppers, red peppers, & onions - in hot oil for 5 seconds.

STEP 5

Cook the Pineapple:

In the same wok, leave a little oil and add the pineapple chunks.

Stir-fry the pineapple until it’s cooked through, then remove and set aside.

Cook pineapple chunks in oil until cooked through. Set aside.

STEP 6

Make the Sauce:

In a pan, heat a moderate amount of oil, add 1/4 cup sugar and stir-fry for a moment.

Add 1/4 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons ketchup.

Stir until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is well-mixed.

Make a tangy sauce with sugar, vinegar, and ketchup.

STEP 7

Combine Everything:

Add the cooked pineapple back into the wok and stir to coat with the sauce.

When the mixture starts to boil, add the water-cornstarch mixture to thicken the sauce.

Add the fried pork tenderloin, peppers, and onion back into the wok.

Stir everything together until the pork tenderloin and vegetables are well-coated with the sauce and heated through.

Combine cooked pineapple, sauce, water-cornstarch, fried pork, peppers, and onion in wok. Stir until coated and heated.

STEP 8

Serve:

Transfer to a plate and enjoy your homemade sweet and sour pork tenderloin!

Serve homemade sweet and sour pork tenderloin on plate.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin Recipe
  • Main Ingredients:6
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:513 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 513 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):585 kcal
    27%
  • Protein:84.58 g
    155%
  • Fat:15.56 g Why gray?
    32%
  • Carbohydrates:24 g
    10%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 61%
    357 kcal
  • Fat: 24%
    140 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 15%
    89 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
26:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

9 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
DavidNovember 03, 2024

How do I avoid frying the pork tenderloin when deep frying?
reply:
November 06, 2024
Fry over medium-low heat and keep turning the pork tenderloin from time to time to observe the colour cha
MatildaOctober 21, 2024

How to make the sweet and sour sauce more reddish in colour?
reply:
October 23, 2024
You can add a little bit of dark soy sauce to the sweet and sour sauce to make the colour more attractive.
EmilyOctober 10, 2024

How thick should I slice the pork tenderloin?
reply:
October 12, 2024
Pork tenderloin is cut into slices about 0.5 - 1 cm thick, which ensures even heat when frying.
SpiceSprinkleSeptember 28, 2024

The fried pork has a perfect texture, and the sweet and sour sauce is rich. The combination of pineapple and vegetables is wonderful.
GourmetGatheringsSeptember 16, 2024

The sweet and sour pork tenderloin is fantastic—crispy on the outside and tender inside, with perfectly balanced sauce!
SavoryJourneySeptember 12, 2024

How can you ensure the pork tenderloin is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside when frying?
reply:
December 31, 1969
Make sure to marinate the pork with salt, egg yolk, and cornstarch, and mix thoroughly. Then fry until golden brown.
JenniferJuly 24, 2024

The sweet and sour pork tenderloin was well balanced in flavor and delicious!
adamJuly 09, 2024

This Thai sweet chili sauce is very appetizing!
Jack.anJuly 09, 2024

This sweet and sour pork is relatively simple and easy to make, with easily accessible ingredients that make it suitable for making at home, making it a homemade and tasty dish option.
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