This quick and easy Sweet and Sour Cabbage Stir Fry with Ground Pork will get your taste buds dancing! Serve over noodles or rice, or on its own for a light grain-free meal. Read the full post for a few substitution ideas and tips for making this recipe.
Optional: sriracha, to taste (1-2 teaspoons is a good start)
Instructions
Cook the pork and cabbage:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil in a large skillet with high sides. Add the ground pork and let it cook for 2 minutes over high heat undisturbed, so that the bottom browns. Season with salt. Break up the meat with a spatula and continue to cook over high heat stirring frequently for about 5 minutes, or until the pork is fully cooked. Transfer the cooked pork to a large plate or bowl while you work on the rest of the recipe.
Add a tablespoon of oil to the same skillet and add the chopped onion. Allow to cook over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes to let the onion caramelize slightly (but don't let it burn), then stir. Add the chopped cabbage and stir. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes over medium heat. Remove the cover, stir, and continue to cook uncovered for another 3-5 minutes stirring frequently.
Make the Sweet and Sour sauce while the cabbage is cooking:
Combine all the ingredients directly in a small saucepan. Stir with a whisk or a fork and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes stirring every few minutes, or until the sauce thickens, turns translucent, and takes on a shiny reddish brown color. Remove from heat.
Finish the dish:
Add the ground pork and the sweet and most of the sour sauce to the cabbage skillet - reserve 2-4 tablespoons of sauce for garnish! Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes, until everything is heated through.
Transfer the sweet and sour cabbage to a serving dish or directly to your plates. Add a drizzle of the remaining sweet and sour sauce. Garnish however you like - with chopped scallions, toasted sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of sriracha.
Notes
Try this recipe with ground beef, ground turkey, thinly sliced chicken breast, or chopped up pork chops.
The nutrition facts listed below are just for the sweet and sour cabbage and pork - without rice or noodles.