Chinese Recipes

Sweet and Sour Pork Strips

Name: Sweet and Sour Pork Strips
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 300 grams Pork Loin; 2 stalks Green Onion; 2-3 slices Ginger; 3 cloves Garlic; To taste Black Vinegar; To taste Granulated Sugar; To taste Light Soy Sauce; To taste Tomato Ketchup; To taste Salt; As needed Cornstarch; For garnish Toasted Sesame Seeds; A pinch Five-Spice Powder

Sweet and Sour Pork Strips feature crispy fried pork loin coated in a glossy sweet and tangy sauce made with vinegar, ketchup, and sugar. Double-frying creates a crunchy exterior that stays crisp while absorbing the flavorful sauce.

Total: 20 minutes

Sweet and Sour Pork Strips finished dish

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Quick Recipe Summary

Cuisine: Chinese
Category: Chinese Recipes
Method: Frying
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Main Ingredient: Pork Loin

Introduction

This Sweet and Sour Pork Strips recipe is written for Chinese home cooking, with attention to timing, texture, and the small cues that make the method easier to follow. Read through the ingredient notes and cooking tips before you start so the steps feel familiar once the pan, steamer, or pot is hot.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ready in about 20 minutes, so it can fit into a busy cooking day.
Beginner-friendly enough for cooks who are still building confidence in the kitchen.
Helpful for practicing timing, heat control, and the order of adding ingredients.
Shows a practical way to cook pork with clear preparation and cooking cues.
Gives the dish a clear sweet and sour flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.

Ingredients

300 grams Pork Loin
2 stalks Green Onion
2-3 slices Ginger
3 cloves Garlic
To taste Black Vinegar
To taste Granulated Sugar
To taste Light Soy Sauce
To taste Tomato Ketchup
To taste Salt
As needed Cornstarch
For garnish Toasted Sesame Seeds
A pinch Five-Spice Powder

Ingredient Notes

These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust without losing its Chinese home-cooking character.

Pork Loin

Pork brings savory depth and works well with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and vegetables.

stalks Green Onion

Scallions add freshness and are useful both as an aromatic base and as a finishing flavor.

Ginger

Ginger adds clean aroma and helps balance meat, seafood, tofu, and fermented flavors.

Garlic

Garlic gives the dish a savory base and becomes most fragrant when cooked briefly in oil or brine.

Black Vinegar

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Granulated Sugar

A small amount of sugar rounds out saltiness and helps create a more balanced finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
Prepare the pork loin along with the green onions, ginger, and garlic.
Step 2
Cut the pork loin into thick strips about the width of a chopstick. Slice the ginger and cut the green onions into sections.
Step 3
Place the pork strips in a bowl with the green onions and ginger. Add a little soy sauce, salt, and five-spice powder. Mix well and marinate for 10 minutes.
Step 4
Prepare the sauce by combining soy sauce, black vinegar, tomato ketchup, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
Step 5
Add cornstarch to the sauce mixture and stir until smooth. Set aside.
Step 6
Mince the garlic finely.
Step 7
Remove the ginger and green onions from the pork. Coat each pork strip evenly with cornstarch.
Step 8
Heat oil to medium temperature and fry the pork strips over low heat until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove and drain.
Step 9
Increase the oil temperature and fry the pork strips a second time until deeply golden and crisp. Remove and drain.
Step 10
Leave a small amount of oil in the pan and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant.
Step 11
Pour in the prepared sweet and sour sauce and cook until it begins to bubble and thicken.
Step 12
Add the crispy pork strips to the pan.
Step 13
Toss quickly until every piece is evenly coated with the sweet and sour glaze.
Step 14
Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Cooking Tips

Double-frying creates an extra-crispy texture and helps the pork stay crunchy after being coated with sauce. Toss the pork with the sauce quickly over high heat to prevent the coating from becoming soggy.

Serving Suggestions

Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
Pair it with one vegetable dish and one soup or tofu dish for a balanced Chinese meal.
Use the recipe card below when you want a quick cooking reference after reading the full notes.

Recipe Card

Ingredients

300 grams Pork Loin
2 stalks Green Onion
2-3 slices Ginger
3 cloves Garlic
To taste Black Vinegar
To taste Granulated Sugar
To taste Light Soy Sauce
To taste Tomato Ketchup
To taste Salt
As needed Cornstarch
For garnish Toasted Sesame Seeds
A pinch Five-Spice Powder

Method

Prepare the pork loin along with the green onions, ginger, and garlic.
Cut the pork loin into thick strips about the width of a chopstick. Slice the ginger and cut the green onions into sections.
Place the pork strips in a bowl with the green onions and ginger. Add a little soy sauce, salt, and five-spice powder. Mix well and marinate for 10 minutes.
Prepare the sauce by combining soy sauce, black vinegar, tomato ketchup, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
Add cornstarch to the sauce mixture and stir until smooth. Set aside.
Mince the garlic finely.
Remove the ginger and green onions from the pork. Coat each pork strip evenly with cornstarch.
Heat oil to medium temperature and fry the pork strips over low heat until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove and drain.
Increase the oil temperature and fry the pork strips a second time until deeply golden and crisp. Remove and drain.
Leave a small amount of oil in the pan and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant.
Pour in the prepared sweet and sour sauce and cook until it begins to bubble and thicken.
Add the crispy pork strips to the pan.
Toss quickly until every piece is evenly coated with the sweet and sour glaze.
Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.