Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork is a healthier option than the deep fried version and is made at home in less than 30 minutes.
Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork
Sweet ‘N Sour Pork has always been one of my favorite dishes at Chinese restaurants; the good ones, the cheap Take-Out ones and even Chinese buffets. There is just something about deep fried pieces of juicy pork, covered in Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce that always makes my mouth water. Yes, this Jewish girl loves Sweet ‘N Sour Pork. Actually, most of my Chinese Food choices are with pork. {Bowing head in shame} Oy!
Cast of Ingredients for Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork
Using the Air Fryer has really opened up a new door for me. I am not one to deep fry food as I don’t like all the grease and fat in my home. Best of all, I know what is in my food. I know my ingredients are fresh and that there is never any standing oil.
Whisk together Eggs and Sesame Oil
In a Medium Mixing Bowl, whisk together eggs and a drop of Pure Sesame Oil. The Sesame Oil is optional. I just like the slight taste it gives to the pork.
Whisk together Potato Starch and Seasonings
In another Medium Bowl, mix together Potato Starch and the rest of the seasonings, which include Chinese Five Spice, Salt and Pepper.
Add Pork Pieces to Potato Starch
Add the Pork pieces to the Potato Starch and coat all pieces.
Dip Pork into Egg Mixture
Using a fork or tongs, pick up one piece of pork at a time and shake off any excess Potato Starch. The coating on the pork should be very light and translucent. Quickly dip the pork into the egg mixture and shake off excess. Dip the pork back into the Potato Starch for another very light coat.
Properly Seasoned Air Fryer Basket
Make sure never to use Pam when you season your Air Fryer Basket. It will leave behind a coating, that is impossible to remove. Coconut Oil, Crisco, Canola Oil, all work well.
Place Pork Pieces into Air Fryer
After thoroughly shaking off any excess Potato Starch from the pork, place into your prepared Air Fryer basket. Sometimes, I use Parchment Steaming Papers to keep food from sticking to the bottom of the basket. I spray that as well.
Spraying my Air Fryer basket with my favorite Oil, helps in the cooking process. Spray the top of the pork with your favorite oil. This Olive Oil Sprayer / Mister for Cooking has made my life much easier, as it is a good performing Oil Mister. For this recipe, I like plain old Canola Oil. You will need to shake the Air Fryer Basket a few times during cooking.
Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe
While your Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork is cooking, whisk up a batch of my Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe. By the way, the above spoon is a Chinese soup spoon and there is a blue graphic on the spoon. It kind of looks like I used a dirty, nasty moldy spoon. 🙁 I promise, I did not. 🙂
Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork with Rice
I like to eat my Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork with Fried Rice or Pressure Cooker Seasoned Vegetable Ghee Rice. Some people pour their Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce over their Pork Nuggets and others dip. What do you do?
Try these incredible Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings and you will be hooked, for sure!
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Pork cut into chunks
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Pure Sesame Oil (optional)
- 1 cup Potato Starch (or cornstarch)
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1/16 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice
- 3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
Other
- Oil Mister
- 1 prepared Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe
Instructions
- In one mixing bowl, combine the potato starch, salt, pepper and Chinese Five Spice.
- In another mixing bowl, beat the eggs and add Sesame Oil.
- Dredge the pork pieces into the Potato Starch and shake off any excess. Quickly dip each piece into the egg mixture, shake off excess and then back into the Potato Starch mixture.
- Coat Air Fryer Basket with oil. Place pork pieces into basket and spray with oil.
- Cook at 340 degrees for approximately 8-12 minutes (or until pork is cooked),, shaking the basket a couple of times.
- Serve with my Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe.
PIN this Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork!
Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork
Can this sweet n sour pork be made in the Mealthy CrispLid?
New to air frying, love sweet and sour pork. This recipe is delicious! Only addition is my standard add ins, green and red bell peppers, sliced white onion, and chunk pineapple w a little pine juice. Stir all w sauce and serve over jasmine rice. Loved the addition of 5 spice to flour. Sauce recipe is a keeper.
Thanks, Cherie. Jill
What cut of pork do you use?
Can you use corn starch instead of potato starch?
I haven’t tried it myself but I don’t see why it would be an issue. However, please understand that it is very difficult to give exact advice for a new recipe without recipe testing.
I ???? Sweet and Sour Pork!! Thanks Jill.