I love Sweet and Sour Pork, and this is a terrific version. I typically make the sauce separately from the meat so diners can choose from Pork, Shrimp, or Chicken.
Sweet and Sour Pork, Shrimp, or Chicken
This is a great Sweet and Sour recipe, and I make the sauce and vegetables separate from the meat choice so diners can choose their preference.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut pork or chicken into 3/4-inch cubes, add the dark soy sauce and wine, and mix well.
- Place 1 cup of cornstarch on the cutting board and dredge the chosen meat or shrimp until well coated. Throw out the rest of the cornstarch.
- Place dried mushrooms in a mixing bowl and submerge in hot water for 15 minutes or until softened.
- Combine the peppers, onion, carrot, bamboo shoots, white mushrooms, pineapple, garlic, and ginger in a medium-sized mixing bowl,
- Drain and squeeze the black mushrooms, then slice thinly and add to the mixing bowl.
- Add oil to the wok and heat until very hot. I prefer less oil than deep frying and cooking the chosen meat until golden brown. Remove and drain on a paper towel.
- As the meat cooks, prepare the sauce in a saucepan by combining 1 cup of water, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and salt. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar. ..
- Combine two tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water. Stir until smooth and add to the sauce. Stir occasionally.
- Add the vegetables to the wok, add more oil if needed, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. When the onion is translucent, add the sauce to the wok and boil. Continue to stir until the sauce has the consistency of thick maple syrup. If necessary, add a bit more cornstarch dissolved in water.
- To serve, add the meats to a platter separated by type and the sauce with vegetables in a separate serving bowl so diners can help themselves. Serve with rice.
This great recipe is adapted from The Chinese Cookbook by Craig Claiborne and Virginia Lee. It has been long out of print, so I’m happy to keep this great recipe alive.
Atmosphere
This is a long-time favorite for many people, so why not choose music selections that are also long-time favorites like Sinatra, Mel Torme, or Nat King Cole? Stay lubricated as you cook with a nice cold Reisling.
