Sweet and Sour Pork

Recipe No: 184

I still remember the taste of the first sweet and sour dish that I ever ate… It was my mother in laws Sweet and Sour Prawns and Mushroom. Even though you can make many variations of this dish with a variety of proteins, I think this is one of the most delicious of all.

Ingredients                                       Serves 4

• Boneless Pork………………….400 grams (Cut into thin long pieces)
• Oil for deep frying

To make the batter

• All Purpose Flour/ Maida….2 Tablespoons
• Corn Starch/ Corn Flour…..2 Tablespoons
• Soy Sauce……………………….1 Teaspoon
• Salt…………………………….….1/2 Teaspoon
• Pepper Powder……………..…1/2 Teaspoon
• Egg……………………………..…1

To Saute

• Garlic chopped……………….2 Tablespoons
• Celery chopped…………..….1 Tablespoon
• Green Onion chopped……..2 (separate whites and greens)
• Onion cut into cubes……….1 Cup
• Capsicum cut into cubes....1 Cup
• Tomato Ketchup…..………..1/3 Cup
• Soy Sauce………………….….1 Teaspoon
• White Vinegar………….…….1- 1 1/2 Tablespoons
• Sugar……………….……………1- 1 1/2Tablespoons
• Water……………………..…….1/3 Cup
• Pepper Powder………….……1/4 Teaspoon
• Corn Starch/ Corn Flour…1 Tablespoon diluted with 2 Tablespoons Water
• Salt as needed

Method of Preparation

1. Add all the ingredients to make the batter into the Pork pieces and mix well. (Don't use extra Water)
2. Heat at least an inch of Oil in a pan on high heat and deep fry the Pork Pieces. Take care to drop the pieces individually, or it may clump. Once dropped, stir it with a slotted spoon to separate the pieces.
3. Once slightly brown, drain the excess Oil on a kitchen tissue and keep them aside till ready to be used. (Resist your temptations as this fried Pork is very tasty as such!)
4. Remove the excess Oil from the pan, leaving only 1or 2 Tablespoons.
5. Add Garlic, Celery and Green Onion Whites and saute for 30 seconds.
6. Add Onion and Capsicum and fry for two minutes.
7. Add Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Sugar, Vinegar, Water, Salt and Pepper; mix properly.
8. Add the fried Pork and mix well.
9. Pour the Corn Flour solution and let it thicken and make the pieces glossy.
10. Taste for Sweetness, Sourness and Saltiness and add more of Sugar, Vinegar or Salt if needed.
11. Add Spring Onion Greens and serve hot. (I served it with seasoned rice as I mentioned in Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.)

Notes:

• The frying of Pork will take only a few minutes as they are thin pieces (Doesn't have to be as thin as Stir Fry pieces). Stir it now and then to get an even color. Don’t over crowd, do it in batches if necessary.
• Don’t let any of the Vegetables brown. It should be just cooked and still crisp.
• The amount of Sugar and Vinegar given here is how I like. Increase those amounts if you want it more sweet or sour. (Use equal quantities of Sugar and Vinegar)
• Corn Starch is often called Corn Flour in India and are different from Corn Meal.
• Seasoned Rice: For this Rice I sauteed cooked Jasmine Rice in a tablespoon of Oil, Salt, Pepper and some Soy sauce.

 





Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…