Chinese-Style Sweet-and-Sour Pork
Spicy, sweet with a tang - simply perfect! Chinese-style sweet-and-sour pork is loved for its ideal flavor balance. Sweet notes pair with the tang of rice vinegar and the saltiness of soy sauce. A must for anyone who likes something unusual!
Updated : 12 March, 2026
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
400 grams
Pork
1
Onion
1
Bell pepper
0.5
Eggplant
0.5
Zucchini
1 tablespoon
Soy sauce
0.5 tablespoon
Potato starch
0.5 teaspoon
Ginger powder
to taste
Ground black pepper
to taste
Salt
5 tablespoon
Vegetable oil
Sauce
2 tablespoon
Soy sauce
1 tablespoon
Rice vinegar
0.5 teaspoon
Brown sugar
2
Garlic
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare the necessary ingredients. Thaw the meat in advance on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Rinse the pork well under running water, then pat dry with paper towels. Cut the pork into strips no thicker than 0.5 cm (about ¼ in).
Step 2
Add half of the soy sauce to the pork, along with ground ginger, ground black pepper, and a little salt. Mix so the meat strips are evenly coated with spices and soy sauce. Let the pork sit to absorb the marinade. You can refrigerate it if you plan to cook later.
Step 3
Wash the vegetables thoroughly with a brush or stiff sponge under running water. Peel the onion. Remove seeds from the pepper. Trim the ends off the eggplants. If using mature eggplants, soak them in salted water after slicing. Cut all vegetables into thin strips; slice the onion into half-rings. To reduce onion fumes, rinse the onion and knife in ice-cold water while slicing.
Step 4
Pour a little vegetable oil into a skillet and heat it. Add the onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until golden.
Step 5
Add the rest of the vegetables. Cook for about 10-15 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. If you want the vegetables firmer, reduce the frying time to 7-8 minutes. Remove the cooked vegetables from the skillet.
Step 6
Sprinkle the pork strips evenly with starch and mix. Add a little more oil to the skillet. Add the meat in batches to the hot oil so the pieces don’t crowd, and fry over medium heat until cooked through - about 5-7 minutes. Stir the meat a few times while frying.
Step 7
Prepare the ingredients for the Chinese sauce. In a separate bowl, mix the remaining soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar. Peel the garlic and press it through a garlic press or mince very finely. Add the garlic to the sauce and mix well.
Step 8
Add the cooked vegetables to the fried pork, mix thoroughly, and pour over the sauce. Stir again and heat over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand covered for a few minutes so the meat and vegetables absorb the sauce.
Step 9
Serve hot. Spoon the pork and vegetables over fluffy rice or noodles, or serve on its own without a side. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion. For contrast, add pickled ginger or a lime wedge.
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