Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe – A Classic Chinese-Inspired Dish with Pineapple Punch

Difficulty:

3/5

Serves:

6 PEOPLE

Prep Time:

20 minutes

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Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe

This Sweet and Sour Pork recipe delivers the perfect balance of crispy fried pork, juicy pineapple, and a tangy, glossy sauce that hits all the classic sweet-sour notes. Featured on A Is for Apple and hosted by Lead Wildman, this dish brings restaurant-style comfort straight into your home kitchen using simple, familiar ingredients. If you’re craving bold flavour, vibrant colour, and satisfying texture, this sweet and sour pork recipe is a must-try.

The Inspiration

Sweet and Sour Pork is one of the most recognizable Chinese-inspired dishes around the world, beloved for its addictive contrast of flavours and textures. Traditionally rooted in Cantonese cuisine, the dish has evolved into a global comfort-food favourite, often served as the star of family-style meals and celebratory dinners.

On A Is for Apple, host Lead Wildman leans into dishes that celebrate recognizable ingredients while teaching viewers how to build big flavour through technique. This version of Sweet and Sour Pork highlights pineapple in multiple forms—fresh chunks and juice—layering sweetness and acidity into both the batter and the sauce. The result is a dish that feels nostalgic yet elevated, playful yet deeply satisfying, and perfectly aligned with the show’s approachable, ingredient-driven style.

Ingredients

Pork

1 large egg, beaten
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (83 ml) pineapple juice
1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) salt
1 whole pork tenderloin, silver skin removed
Flour (for dusting)
2 cups (500 ml) peanut oil (for frying)

Sweet and sour sauce

1 cup (250 ml) pineapple juice
¼ cup (60 ml) brown sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) cider vinegar
2 tablespoons (30 ml) tomato paste
1.5 tablespoons (22.5 ml) corn starch
1 tablespoon (15 ml) molasses

For stir fry

1 small onion
1 red pepper
½ green pepper
1 ½ cups (375 ml) fresh pineapple
3 green onion (for garnish)
1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
2 tablespoons (30 ml) sesame seeds (for garnish)

Methods

To make the coating for the pork combine the egg, flour, pineapple juice and salt in a bowl. Whisk to blend. Set aside.
Slice pork into ½-inch (1.25 cm) cubes. Lightly dust with flour.
Pour peanut oil into a wok and heat oil to 350°F (176°C).
Toss the pork in batter. Shake off excess batter from the pork and slide into oil. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Cook until golden brown and meat is just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve.
To make the sweet and sour sauce, in a medium bowl, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, corn starch and molasses. Whisk to blend.
Dice the onion medium 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks. Remove the seeds and veins from the peppers and dice into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cut the pineapple into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks as well.
Slice the green onion thin on a bias for garnish.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over medium high heat. When oil is hot, add onions, peppers and pineapple cubes, stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the sweet and sour sauce. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce starts to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pork and stir-fry until meat is heated through.
To serve place on a platter and garnish with the sliced green onion and sesame seeds.

Serving Suggestions

This Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or casual entertaining. Serve it over steamed jasmine rice or alongside fried rice to soak up the vibrant sauce. It also pairs beautifully with simple stir-fried greens, noodles, or crisp spring rolls for a complete takeout-style spread at home.

For drinks, light lagers, sparkling water with citrus, or iced green tea balance the richness and sweetness of the dish. When hosting, present the pork on a large platter to showcase the colourful peppers and pineapple—it’s a guaranteed table centerpiece.

Final Thoughts

This Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is a celebration of contrast: crispy and tender, sweet and tangy, familiar yet exciting. With its pineapple-forward sauce and perfectly fried pork, it captures everything people love about this iconic dish while staying true to the approachable, flavour-first philosophy of A Is for Apple with Lead Wildman. Whether you’re recreating a favourite takeout classic or introducing it to a new generation, this recipe delivers comfort, colour, and bold flavour in every bite.

Find more recipes from A is for Apple here!