I’m a stay-at-home Mom with a very active toddler, which means I have zero time to sneeze let alone make a big dinner. I’m also not a big fan of spending a lot of time preparing or cooking a meal (I prefer the food cook itself – in fact I’m a big microwave fan!) So I am constantly trying to find easy, healthy, and good tasting food to make. After all why buy it from a restaurant when I can make it for myself for much cheaper? (Did I mention I was frugal too?)
Sweet and Sour Pork is a recipe I made while I was living with a very special foster mom, Diane, when I was 14 years old. I kept the recipe for a long time then lost it, and sadly couldn’t remember the ingredients. I happened to reconnect with Diane again and got the recipe. It’s a hit every time I make it!
I’m still perfecting it for my own tastes, but I suggest you use the recipe as a guideline and feel free to add in your own spices and seasonings to suit your own tastes. With tonights batch, I found it was too lightly coloured again, but I just followed the recipe and didn’t stray from it. Regardless, it was still tasty!
What you will Need:
1 & 1/2 lbs of pork cut into small chunks (or whatever meat you should choose)
1-2 tablespoons of oil
1/4 cup brown sugar/yellow sugar
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
1 teaspoon of Salt
1/4 cup of Vinegar
1 cup of Pineapple juice
1-1/2 tablespoon of Soya Sauce
1 sliced green pepper
1 cup of pineapple chunks
Approx 1-1/2 to 2 cups of Flour
Approx 1-1/2 to 2 cups of Water
Ginger, onions, garlic (optional)
What you do:
*Precut your peppers & other veggies (garlic, onions etc..) ahead of time to save time*
1) Cut you Pork (or meat of your liking) into small chunks.
Cover them with the flour so they are completely floured.
Put them in a deep pan (or wok) of hot oil until browned.
Add vinegar & water.
Cut pork and Veggies
Now how much water you add is up to you. I prefer more as I don’t like it too thick and it gets thicker along the way so you usually have to add more water in the end.
Now, this is where I add my veggies (green pepper) and pineapple chunks even though the recipe calls for it at the end. I do this because I prefer my veggies to be a little more cooked so they’re softer.
2) Once the meat is cooked thoroughly, in a separate pot on med-high heat combine the cornstarch, brown sugar, salt, soya sauce and pineapple juice. Cook until thick, stirring constantly (less than 5 mins).
At this point I put my minute rice into the microwave for 5 minutes (usually a couple more minutes if you’re making a big batch)
3) Pour the pot mixture over the pork in the pan stir in and simmer for a few mins on low.
That’s it!
Place your rice flat on the plate, pour your mixture over it and Bon Appetite!
Makes about 4 servings (or in my case two adults 2 times) but they will be undoing their belts 3/4 of the way through it.