Stir-Fried Pork and Pineapple Recipe (2024)

By Mark Bittman

Stir-Fried Pork and Pineapple Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 30 minutes
Rating
4(638)
Notes
Read community notes

This recipe, an adaptation from “The Hakka Cookbook” by Linda Lau Anusasananan, came to The Times by way of Mark Bittman in 2013. The Hakka people are sometimes thought of as the Jews of China, because they’re dispersed all over the place. But the Hakkas cannot even point to an original homeland: you can find them everywhere. “Some people call us dandelions, because we thrive in poor soil,” says Ms. Anusasananan, who was born in California. Hakka dishes like this one, chow mein and pretty much anything in bean sauce, have defined Chinese-restaurant cooking for nearly everyone. This lively stir-fry comes together in about a half-hour and is easily doubled or tripled for a crowd. To make it more family- and weeknight-friendly, substitute sliced bell peppers for the fungus and canned pineapple for the fresh, and leave out (or greatly reduce) the chile peppers.

Featured in: The Nomad's Kitchen

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Ingredients

Yield:2 servings

    For the Pork

    • 8ounces boneless pork shoulder or loin, trimmed of fat
    • 2teaspoons soy sauce
    • 1teaspoon vegetable oil
    • 1teaspoon cornstarch

    For the Sauce

    • 2tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1tablespoon sugar
    • 1tablespoon soy sauce
    • ½teaspoon salt

    For the Stir-fry

    • 8pieces dried black fungus, like cloud ears, each about 1 inch wide (see note)
    • 3scallions, including green tops
    • 2tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 2tablespoons thinly slivered fresh ginger
    • 8ounces fresh pineapple, cut into ¾-inch chunks (about 1 cup)
    • 5 to 8thin rings fresh chile (preferably red)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

629 calories; 38 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 21 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 17 grams dietary fiber; 26 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 1093 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Stir-Fried Pork and Pineapple Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. For the Pork

    1. Step

      1

      For the pork: Cut the pork into slices ⅛ inch thick, 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, oil and cornstarch, and mix with the pork.

    2. For the sauce: In a small bowl mix the vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and salt.

  2. For the Stir-fry

    1. Step

      3

      Rinse the fungus. In a medium bowl, soak the fungus in hot water until soft and pliable, 5 to 15 minutes, and then drain. Pinch out and discard any hard, knobby centers. Cut the fungus into 1-inch pieces. Trim the ends off the scallions, and then chop them, including green tops, into 2-inch lengths.

    2. Step

      4

      Set a wok or a large frying pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, after about 1 minute, add the oil and rotate the pan to spread. Add the ginger and pork; stir-fry until the meat is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the pineapple, black fungus, sauce mixture, scallions and chile. Stir-fry until pineapple is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.

Tip

  • Dried black fungus is available atmost Asian grocery stores.

Ratings

4

out of 5

638

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Ellen

I made this with dried sh*takes instead of wood ears and added baby bok choy, bell pepper and the whole bunch of scallions because I like lots of vegetables in Chinese food. Wary of the amount of sugar called for, I used seasoned rice vinegar instead and did not add sugar or salt, and it was perfect. I also changed the technique, cooking the pork tenderloin and ginger first, removing, then doing the vegs and returning the meat at the end. Very good.

John

I made this 2 nights in a row (I had 1 lb pork). First night it turned out very watery. I think the author meant for some of the cornstarch used to coat the pork to dislodge and blend with the sauce enough to lend some viscosity---it did not. Tonight, I added a touch of cornstarch (maybe 1/2 teaspoon) to the sauce. Stir fried the pork & ginger, added the veggies, tossed briefly, and then stirred in the sauce until it glazed the contents of the wok. Much better done my way. 4 STARS.

Eileen

Used red and green peppers instead of black fungus. Also used left-over cooked pork tenderloin. Absolutely delicious! Amazing flavor and very quick.

Doug S.

The black fungus adds different texture but not much else. (My black mushrooms didn't look at all like those in the accompanying photo.) The amount of pineapple given is in error. One cup of cut up fresh pineapple weighs only about 4 oz., no where near 8 oz. I went with 1 cup and thought it could have used somewhat more but not double that amount.

Margaux Laskey, Staff Editor

Delicious and quite simple. I used red and orange bell peppers in place of mushrooms. I split the dish mid-cooking, adding chili to one batch and leaving the other plain for our 2- and 4-year olds. Everyone loved it. Two weeks later, and my 4yo is still talking about it. Added to the rotation.

MaryBretired

Like nearly everyone else I used this recipe as a jumping off point. I believe that only in America would a Chinese dish be 99% meat. What’s missing is the recipe for the vegetables. Also, note: put the initial corn starch in a sealable plastic bag, add the chopped pork and smoosh it around until all the pork is coated. Then add the marinade mixture. The pork will sear & get crusty without the excess oil, etc. of twice fried.

Don A.

So basically you made a different recipe altogether.....

Suzyz

On the advise of others, I added baby bok choy and yellow/red peppers. I also added baby portobello mushrooms. Very delicious. I will cut the sugar next time.

John

I'm an old hand at Chinese cooking, and many of my Chinese cookbooks describe "light" soy sauce as saltier than "dark", and, BTW, Japanese soy sauces are traditionally of the "dark" variety. For example, Kikkoman regular soy has 920 mg sodium in 1 TB, and Koon Chun Light Soy Sauce has 1090 mg in 1 TB. Kikkoman is a superb quality soy sauce, with great flavor and rich color. But it will taste less salty than a Chinese "light".

Jamie

This was a hit! Delicious flavor, though I would recommend omitting the salt as others have already mentioned. We also cut down the amount of chili pepper by half and it had the perfect level of heat for our taste. We also added onions for some crunch. We are already planning on making it again next week!

carrie

Like others I skipped the wood ears and added more vegetables: red and yellow peppers, snow peas and shiitake mushrooms. I used honey instead of sugar, and afterwards I added chopped cilantro. This is a keeper.

Mark Albert

I have made this recipe twice, once substituting shiitake mushrooms, and once with the black fungus. I used more black fungus than the recipe called for, and I may use even more the next time I make this dish.

Since the recipe contains soy sauce, I left out the salt, and it wasn't missed.

The bulb ends of the scallions were under cooked for my taste, so the next time I make this recipe I will include the shallot bulbs at the beginning along with the pork and ginger.

sonali

Made this with tempeh

Franz

Between the pineapple and the sugar this dish is just way to sweet

Wowza…salty!

I’m not sure what happened but the saltiness made it barely palatable. I followed the directions but doubled everything as I had purchased twice the amount of pork. The base flavors were incredibly delicious but next time, I will use half of the salt…if any, since there’s already soy in the marinade and the sauce. Loved the Asian flavors!! Yum!

Lisa

Put the pineapple in before the other veggies so it caramelizes

Pat Brownlie

Used red bell pepper in pace of the cloud ears and provided coconut rice with cilantro and cashews on the side. Very tasty.

ws

Well, I’m one of those readers who didn’t follow the recipe. (I blame being a sleep-deprived parent with not enough attention span even for this simple set of instructions.) But I just wanted to share a comment that I used the vinegar soy sugar sauce and basically threw that into a stir fry with the pork & pineapple, plus broccoli, orange bell peppers, the ginger and garlic, and it was great. My conclusion is that pork pineapple that sauce sings and the rest is gravy, so to speak.

mrs. young

I added to the marinade 1 tablespoon of sweet vermouth, a teaspoon of minced ginger, a teaspoon of minced garlic, and a splash of orange juice. I followed someone else’s suggestion to take the pork out and cook the veggies, then added the pork back, added the pineapple and added the sauce with a bit of cornstarch. Glad I did because the bok choi and mushrooms I added created a lot of water. Forgot the scallions and skipped the spice, absolutely delicious. Keeper.

Barbara

Used more peppers various colors, no fungi. Delicious.

Ali Litts

You can replace the salt with fish sauce. When heated, the fishiness is tamed in fish sauce and it is a good substitute for salt.

Jeans

I made this pretty much as the recipe said. I used dried mushrooms, and I added 1/2 red sweet pepper sliced thin. I think I put a little too much of the hot red pepper. It got our attention, but I though it was very good, aI served it over rice, and www thought it was delicious. Will make again.The pork was cooked, but also still tender.

David Wittrock

Used roasted Porcini, added some shaoxing wine to the marinade, did the red bell peppers. Cut up a fresh pineapple. Oh, dear. My next-to-last meal. Need to find out more about Hakkas.

kathycookstoo

Really good! I used regular mushrooms and added fresh cilantro at the table. The pineapple was a nice touch.

FDionne

I replaced the black fungus and fresh chile with 2 poblanos and about a half teaspoon of dried chile flakes; I added them after the pork but before the other ingredients. This is a dish that requires heat to balance its sweetness and acidity. Having run out of rice, I served this alone, and it was perfect. Fresh pineapple is a must.

Lovans

Wife loves it. I ran out of ginger but it's still really good. Used less salt and soy sauce because of personal taste. (Depends on the soy sauce you use, some might be much more saltier than another)Next time I'll have the pine apple in for longer to soften it, or cut into smaller pieces.

Claire

Everyone in the family loves this dish. Used sh*takes instead of wood ear mushrooms.

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Stir-Fried Pork and Pineapple Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does pineapple juice tenderize pork? ›

Pineapple is mainly used in the form of juice to the marinade to tenderize the meat and add flavor. However, pineapple pulp in minced form can also be used for the same purpose.

Which pork is best for stir fry? ›

The Ideal cuts for a stir-fry are fillet, loin and leg. These cuts can be diced, minced or cut into portioned strips ready for stir-frying. When cutting meat, always ensure you cut the meat across the grain. Preheat wok to a high temperature.

Why is my stir fry pork chewy? ›

If the meat isn't tender, the pieces will become tough and chewy from being cooked too fast. Maintaining a tender and juicy dish is a key component of stir-frying. If you have difficulty cooking meats like chicken that are prone to drying out, you can soak them in a marinating liquid for a few minutes.

How do you tenderize pork like a Chinese restaurant? ›

You sprinkle 1 teaspoon of bicarb on the meat and mix it with water and then wait for the bicarb to tenderise the meat and then rinse it off! That's it! Laura was telling me about how people on TikTok have started to come up with ways to make the most of frozen vegetables because of the cost of living crisis.

How to make pork extremely tender? ›

How to Make Tender Pork Chops
  1. Opt for Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops. Thin-cut pork chops won't sear properly in the time it takes to cook them through. ...
  2. Skip the Brine, but Season Liberally. ...
  3. Let the Pork Chops Rest. ...
  4. Sear Pork Chops Over Medium-High Heat. ...
  5. Baste the Pork Chops. ...
  6. Let the Pork Chops Rest, Again. ...
  7. Serve.
Feb 14, 2018

Should I boil pork before stir-frying? ›

As the name implies, the pork belly needs to be boiled first before being stir-fried. Here is a tip on how to boil the meat: instead of adding the pork belly directly into hot water, submerge it under cold water, and cook until the water starts to boil.

Do you rinse meat after velveting? ›

You can velvet meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender by quickly tossing chunks of beef or chicken in about ¾ tsp of baking soda for about 15 minutes before your next stir fry, then rinse and pat the meat dry before putting in the pan.

What kind of pork is used in Chinese food? ›

Well, virtually any cut is used overall in Chinese cooking, but in common take away, usually it's pretty common cuts that would be used. More often than not, it's the cheapest cuts like flank or hanger steak, or loin or butt meat from the pork or beef.

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

Do you add stir fry sauce before or after? ›

Once the meat is done cooking, add the vegetables to the pan. If you are using fresh vegetables, you will need to stir them around for 4-5 minutes so they start cooking before you add your sauce. When they are starting to feel tender, but still have a lot of bite to them, add the sauce.

When should you add soy sauce in stir fry? ›

Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok, then fry the chilli and garlic for 1 min. Add the veg and toss to coat in the oil. Fry for 2-3 mins, then add the soy and chilli sauce, mixing well. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the veg are tender.

What liquid tenderizes pork? ›

A brine is essentially just salt and water. It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out.

What does baking soda do to pork? ›

Briefly soaking meat in a solution of baking soda and water raises the pH on the meat's surface, making it more difficult for the proteins to bond excessively, which keeps the meat tender and moist when it's cooked.

Why do Chinese boil pork before cooking? ›

Boil the pork belly for about 5 minutes. This will remove a lot of the impurities from the pork and you will see a film of scum on the surface. Remove the pork belly and allow to cook on a plate or rack.

Does pineapple juice tenderize meat? ›

Once again, we have a natural approach to solving a problem – in this case tenderizing meat. Pineapples produce a mixture of several enzymes that can be used to tenderize meats.

What happens if you marinate meat in pineapple juice? ›

The key ingredient lies within the pineapple itself: bromelain. This enzyme is the active ingredient that tenderizes meats naturally, breaking down tough protein fibers. As the meat marinates, bromelain gently breaks down these fibers, resulting in a noticeably softer, more tender texture.

Will canned pineapple juice tenderize meat? ›

Can you tenderize steak with canned pineapple juice? You can, if you like a little pineapple flavor in your steak. Pineapples contain bromelian, an enzyme that breaks down the protein strands in meat, making it more tender. Papayas, which contain an enzyme called papain, perform a similar trick on meats.

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