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Homestyle Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin — finished dish, ready to serve.

Homestyle Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin

家常糖醋里脊 · pan chinese cuisine · Guangdong

17 min total5 min cooking7 stepssweetsourtangy

This recipe is a simplified version of the classic Chinese sweet and sour pork, adapted for home cooking with tenderloin for ease and speed.

Chef Chopzen's profile photoChef ChopzenChopzen project content lead. Curating and testing every published recipe for US home cooks.

Nutrition & allergens

No supported allergens detected from surveyed ingredients.

Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.

Per serving (2 servings)

Energy (kcal)
Unknown
Protein (g)
31.4
Fat (g)
3.3
Carbs (g)
Unknown
Sodium (mg)
Unknown

Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.

  • Pork loin ingredient identification photo

    Pork loin猪里脊肉

    21.16 oz

  • Shaoxing wine ingredient identification photo

    shaoxing wine料酒

    0.13 cup

  • Cornstarch ingredient identification photo

    cornstarch玉米淀粉

    0.25 cup

Techniques you'll use

  • Marinating ↗

    Season protein ahead with soy, wine, and starch for flavor and texture.

  • Deep-frying ↗

    Cook food fully submerged in hot oil for crisp crust and moist interior.

  • Sweet-sour sauce ↗

    Balance sugar and vinegar into a bright, glossy coating sauce.

Steps

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Cut the pork tenderloin into strips about 1 centimeter thick.

    ✅ Done when: Pork is evenly cut into uniform strips.

    Watch out: Ensure strips are of consistent size for even cooking.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Marinating ↗

    Marinate the pork strips with cooking wine, salt, and egg white for 30 minutes.

    ✅ Done when: Pork is well coated with marinade and has absorbed flavors.

    Watch out: Don't marinate for too long if using tender cuts, but 30 minutes is standard.

  3. 3

    Step 32 min

    Coat each marinated pork strip evenly with cornstarch.

    ✅ Done when: All strips are thoroughly covered with a thin layer of cornstarch.

    Watch out: Shake off excess cornstarch to prevent clumping during frying.

  4. 4

    Step 41 min

    High heatDeep-frying ↗

    Deep fry the coated pork strips in hot oil until golden brown and crispy, for about 1 minute.

    ✅ Done when: Pork strips are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through.

    Watch out: Maintain oil temperature to prevent greasy pork; fry in batches if necessary.

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Medium heatSweet-sour sauce ↗

    Prepare the sweet and sour sauce by combining vinegar, sugar, and ketchup in a pan over medium heat.

    ✅ Done when: Sauce is well mixed, heated through, and has a smooth consistency. Cook to a safe internal temperature of 63 °C with a 3-minute rest.

    Watch out: Stir frequently to prevent burning the sugar.

  6. 6

    Step 62 min

    Pour the hot sauce over the fried pork and toss to coat evenly, allowing it to meld for about 2 minutes.

    ✅ Done when: Pork is fully coated with the glossy sauce.

    Watch out: Ensure the sauce is hot when poured to keep the pork crispy.

  7. 7

    Step 7

    Serve the sweet and sour pork tenderloin immediately while hot.

    ✅ Done when: Dish is plated and ready to eat.

    Watch out: Serve quickly to maintain crispiness.