Sweat and Sour Pork

Recipe from 老东北美食's Youtube Channel

View the author's original recipe video HERE

When it comes to Northeastern Chinese cuisine, this dish will definitely be mentioned. It is one of the most famous dishes in Northeastern Chinese cuisine and is also considered the soul of Northeastern cuisine.

Ingredients

1.3 lbs of pork loin
carrot
scallion
ginger
cilantro
garlic
vegtable oil
potato starch
soy sauce
Sichuan peper powder
salt
sugar
vinegar
Shanxi mature vinegar (can be substituted with balsamic vinegar)
rice vinegar

Procedures

Cut the pork tenderloin into slices. The slices should be 5-7 mm thick. The pork slices should be around 7cm long and 5cm wide for the best result.
Shred half stalk of scallion, one tiny piece of ginger, one tiny piece of carrot, and 6-7 pieces of celery stalks. Slice 1-2 cloves of garlic.
Place the pork slices into a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of Sichuan peppercorn, and 1 teaspoon of water. Use your hand to mix everything for 1 minute so the meat fully absorbs the flavor.
In another bowl, add 90 grams of sugar, 75 grams of white vinegar, 10 grams of Shanxi mature vinegar (or balsamic vinegar), 10 grams of rice vinegar, half a teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of sesame oil, and 2 teaspoons of soy sauce. Mix the mixture well, and then add a clove of garlic slices.
In the bowl with pork slices, add 75 grams of vegetable oil, 200 grams of potato starch, and 240 grams of water. Mix everything together with your hand so the mixture coat every slice of pork.
In a large pot or wok, heat the vegetable oil. When the oil reaches 392 °F (200 °C), add the pork slice by slice into the oil to fry them until lightly golden. It is recommended to fry half of the pork first and then fry the latter half.
Reheat the oil to 445 °F (230 °C), and refry all the pork slices until they become deep golden.
Use a large frying pan or a wok. Heat 3-4 tablespoons of oil. Add the shredded scallion, ginger, carrot, celery stalks, and garlic slices into the pan. When you smell the fragrance, add the fried pork slice to the pan. Mix everything well and cook for around 20 seconds.
Add the sauce mixture inside the pan; mix everything as fast as possible until the sauce is evenly coated on the meat slices.
Take everything out and start plating.