Sweet and Sour Pork Chops is perfect for nights when you don’t have time to make traditional deep-fried Sweet and Sour Pork. Black rice vinegar, available in Asian markets, adds its smoky depth to the sweet and sour sauce, but if not available, just increase the amount of plain (white) rice vinegar to 4 tablespoons.

Ingredients

• Sauce:
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 teaspoons black rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon chili paste, to taste
• .
• Cornstarch Slurry:
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 4 teaspoons water
• .
• Other:
• 4 pork loin chops, 3/4 inch thick
• Salt and pepper to season pork chops, to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch thick pieces
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 medium carrot, cut on the diagonal into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 green pepper, stem and seeds removed, cut into small cubes

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: Serves 3 to 4

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients (water, vinegars, tomato paste, sugar and chili paste). Set aside. Combine the ingredients for the cornstarch slurry in a second small bowl and set aside.

Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Make sure the oil is hot. Add the pork chops and cook until lightly browned on both sides (about 3 minutes each side).

Remove from the pan.

To the drippings in the skillet, add the onion and garlic. Cook for a minute, stirring, then add the carrot. Cook for another minute, stirring and then add the green pepper. Cook briefly, stirring.

Add the sweet and sour sauce to the pan. Bring to a boil, then add the pork chops back into the pan. Turn the heat down to medium-low (3 to 4 on the stovetop) cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

To thicken the sauce: give the cornstarch/water mixture a quick re-stir, and add it into the pan, stirring quickly to thicken the sauce. Once the sauce thickens turn the heat down and stir to mix everything together. Serve Sweet and Sour Pork Chops with cooked rice.

Nutritional Breakdown for Sweet and Sour Pork Chops - based on 4 servings, excluding pork chop seasoning and using 1/2 teaspoon chili paste:
Each serving contains: Calories 367, 19 g Carbohydrates, 24 g Protein, 22 g Total Fat, 6 g Saturated Fat, 74 mg Cholesterol, 135 mg Sodium. Low in Sodium, Very High in Vitamin A, High in Vitamin C and Vitamin B6

More Sweet and Sour Recipes:
Sweet and Sour Pork – deep fried battered pork in a sweet and sour sauce with pineapple juice and brown sugar
Sweet and Sour Chicken With Lemon
Sweet and Sour Fish