Experience a delightful balance of flavors with this sweet and sour pork stir-fry. This dish combines tender pieces of pork with vibrant bell peppers, juicy pineapple chunks, and a tangy sauce that will tantalize your taste buds. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is both satisfying and easy to prepare, offering a delicious way to enjoy a classic Asian-inspired meal without the gluten.
When preparing this recipe, you might need to pick up a few items that aren't always stocked in every pantry. Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat that provides a tender texture, perfect for stir-frying. Ensure you choose a gluten-free soy sauce, as traditional soy sauce contains wheat. Rice vinegar is another essential ingredient, offering a mild acidity that complements the sweetness of the pineapple chunks. These ingredients are typically available in the international aisle of most supermarkets.

Ingredients For Sweet And Sour Pork Stir-Fry
Pork tenderloin: A lean and tender cut of pork, ideal for quick cooking methods like stir-frying.
Red bell pepper: Adds a sweet and slightly fruity flavor, along with a vibrant color to the dish.
Green bell pepper: Provides a mild, slightly bitter taste that balances the sweetness of the sauce.
Onion: Offers a savory depth and slight sweetness when cooked, enhancing the overall flavor.
Pineapple chunks: Bring a juicy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the tangy sauce.
Soy sauce (gluten-free): Adds a salty, umami flavor; ensure it's gluten-free for dietary needs.
Rice vinegar: Provides a mild acidity that balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
Ketchup: Contributes a sweet and tangy element to the sauce, helping to thicken it as well.
Brown sugar: Adds a rich sweetness and helps to caramelize the sauce.
Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce, giving it a glossy finish.
Water: Helps to dissolve the cornstarch and create the sauce base.
Vegetable oil: Used for cooking the pork and vegetables, providing a neutral flavor.
Technique Tip for This Stir-Fry
To achieve the perfect balance of flavors in your sweet and sour pork stir-fry, make sure to marinate the pork tenderloin in the soy sauce mixture for at least 15 minutes before cooking. This allows the meat to absorb the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and ketchup flavors, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish. Additionally, when cooking the bell peppers and onion, aim for a slight char to enhance their natural sweetness and add depth to the overall taste.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
Pork tenderloin - Substitute with chicken breast: Chicken breast is a lean protein that absorbs flavors well, making it a suitable alternative for pork in stir-fry dishes.
Red bell pepper - Substitute with yellow bell pepper: Yellow bell peppers have a similar sweetness and crunch, providing a colorful and tasty alternative.
Green bell pepper - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini offers a mild flavor and a similar texture, making it a good substitute for green bell peppers.
Onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder taste and add a subtle sweetness, which complements the sweet and sour flavor profile.
Pineapple chunks - Substitute with mango chunks: Mango provides a similar sweetness and tropical flavor, enhancing the dish's sweet and sour elements.
Soy sauce (gluten-free) - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce alternative that offers a similar umami flavor.
Rice vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has a comparable acidity and sweetness, making it a suitable replacement for rice vinegar.
Ketchup - Substitute with tomato paste and honey: Mixing tomato paste with honey mimics the sweetness and tanginess of ketchup.
Brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar sweetness and caramel-like flavor, making it a good alternative to brown sugar.
Cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder is a gluten-free thickening agent that works similarly to cornstarch.
Vegetable oil - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil is a healthy alternative that adds a subtle flavor, suitable for stir-frying.
Alternative Recipes Similar to This Stir-Fry
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
Allow the sweet and sour pork stir-fry to cool to room temperature before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
For short-term storage, transfer the stir-fry to an airtight container. Ensure the lid is tightly sealed to maintain freshness and prevent any unwanted fridge odors from seeping in.
Store the container in the refrigerator. The pork stir-fry will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days, making it a perfect candidate for meal prep.
If you're planning to freeze, portion the stir-fry into individual servings. This makes it easier to reheat only what you need, reducing waste and preserving flavor.
Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for freezing. If using bags, remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
Label each container or bag with the date of freezing. This helps you keep track of how long the stir-fry has been stored and ensures you enjoy it at its best quality.
The sweet and sour pork stir-fry can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Beyond this, the texture of the vegetables and pork might degrade, affecting the overall taste.
To reheat, thaw the stir-fry in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and flavor of the dish.
For reheating, use a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of water or soy sauce to revive the sauce and prevent sticking. Stir occasionally until heated through.
Alternatively, you can use a microwave. Place the stir-fry in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a microwave-safe lid or wrap, and heat in short intervals, stirring in between to ensure even heating.
Always check the temperature before serving. The pork should be piping hot to ensure it's safe to eat.
How to Reheat Leftovers
For a quick and even reheating, use a non-stick skillet. Place the leftover sweet and sour pork stir-fry in the skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure the pork and vegetables are heated through. Add a splash of water or soy sauce if the dish seems dry, to revive that luscious sauce.
If you're in a rush, the microwave is your friend. Transfer the stir-fry to a microwave-safe dish. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap to trap steam, which helps in reheating evenly. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until the dish is hot throughout.
For a more hands-off approach, use an oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the stir-fry in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for about 15-20 minutes. This method helps maintain the texture of the bell peppers and onions.
If you have an air fryer, it can also be a great tool for reheating. Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the stir-fry in the basket. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating. This method can help retain some of the original crispiness of the pork.
For those who enjoy a bit of culinary flair, try reheating in a wok. Add a small amount of vegetable oil to the wok over medium-high heat. Toss the stir-fry in the wok, stirring constantly, until everything is heated through. This method can help revive the vibrant flavors and textures of the dish.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Mixing bowl: Use this to combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water into a smooth sauce mixture.
Large pan: Essential for cooking the pork and vegetables, ensuring even heat distribution for browning and tenderizing.
Spatula: Handy for stirring and mixing ingredients in the pan, helping to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
Knife: Necessary for chopping the pork, bell peppers, and onion into bite-sized pieces.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for safely chopping the ingredients.
Measuring spoons: Useful for accurately measuring the soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar.
Measuring cup: Needed to measure the water and pineapple chunks accurately.
Tongs: Helpful for turning and removing the pork pieces from the pan without losing juices.
How to Save Time on This Stir-Fry
Prep ingredients in advance: Chop bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks ahead of time and store them in airtight containers.
Use pre-cut pork: Buy pre-cut pork tenderloin to skip the slicing step.
Make the sauce ahead: Mix the soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water the night before and refrigerate.
One-pan cooking: Use a large pan to cook everything in batches, reducing cleanup time.
Cook in batches: Brown the pork first, then cook the vegetables to ensure even cooking.

Sweet And Sour Pork Stir-Fry Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb pork tenderloin cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce (gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 0.5 cup water
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add bell peppers and onion. Cook until tender.
- Return pork to the pan. Add pineapple chunks and sauce mixture. Stir well.
- Cook until the sauce thickens and everything is well coated. Season with salt and pepper.
Nutritional Value
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