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Tender pieces of pork braised in a flavorful sweet soy sauce with a hint of heat—this dish is a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and slightly spicy. With just a few simple ingredients, this takeout-fakeout recipe is easy enough for weeknights yet delicious enough to impress your family or guests.
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Cuisine: Asian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Why You’ll Love Making It
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 40 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already, making it an affordable and accessible option.
- Versatile Dish: Serve it with steamed rice, noodles, or even veggies. You can customize it to your preferences or what you have on hand.
- Perfect Balance of Flavors: The combination of soy sauce, sugar, and chili garlic sauce creates a deliciously sweet and savory glaze with just the right amount of spice.
- Beginner-Friendly: No complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients—just straightforward cooking with fantastic results.
Ingredients
For the Pork:
- 2 pounds pork loin
Cut into bite-sized, 1-inch pieces. Pork loin is lean and tender, but you can also use pork shoulder for a slightly fattier and more flavorful result. - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For searing the pork. Use a neutral oil like canola or sunflower for the best results.
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon garlic and ginger paste
This saves time, but you can substitute with 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger if you prefer. - 1 tablespoon olive oil
Adds a subtle richness to the sauce. - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Provides a nutty, toasty flavor. Use toasted sesame oil for a stronger aroma. - ½ cup soy sauce
Regular soy sauce works perfectly here, but you can use low-sodium if you’re watching your salt intake. - 4 tablespoons sugar
Balances the saltiness of the soy sauce and enhances the overall flavor. You can adjust to taste. - 1½ cups water
Used for braising the pork. The liquid will reduce to a thick, glossy glaze by the end of cooking. - 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
Adds a touch of heat and tanginess. Adjust based on your spice tolerance.
Garnish:
- 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
For a fresh and colorful finishing touch.
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Instructions
1. Prepare the Pork
Cut the pork loin into bite-sized 1-inch cubes. Aim for uniform pieces to ensure even cooking.
2. Sear the Pork
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork pieces in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Sauté for about 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pork is no longer pink and begins to brown slightly. This step locks in the flavor and adds a beautiful caramelized color to the pork.
3. Mix the Sauce
In a medium-sized bowl, combine garlic and ginger paste, olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, water, and chili garlic sauce. Stir well to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors.
4. Braise the Pork
Pour the sauce mixture over the pork in the pan and stir to coat the meat evenly. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then immediately lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. As it cooks, the liquid will reduce and thicken into a rich, glossy sauce.
5.Check the Sauce Consistency
By the end of cooking, there should be about 3 tablespoons of sauce left, enough to coat the pork in a flavorful glaze. If the sauce is still too watery, increase the heat slightly and cook for another 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently.
6. Serve & Garnish
Transfer the braised pork to a serving dish and garnish with chopped green onions for a pop of freshness. Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice, egg noodles, or your favorite side.
FAQs
Can I use a different cut of pork?
Yes! While pork loin is lean and tender, you can also use pork shoulder or pork belly for a richer flavor and slightly fattier texture. Just adjust the cooking time slightly, as these cuts may take longer to tenderize.
Is this dish spicy?
The recipe has a mild kick from the chili garlic sauce, but it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. If you’re sensitive to heat, you can reduce or omit the chili garlic sauce. For extra spice, add more chili garlic sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
