Salt and Pepper Pork Chops (Chinese Style)

Ingredients

• 1 lb pork chops (cut into bite-sized pieces)
• 0.5 tsp baking soda (used for tenderizing)
• 0.25 cup cornstarch (for coating)
• 1 tsp salt (divided for seasoning and stir-fry)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper (to taste)
• 0.5 tsp white pepper (to taste)
• 1 pinch sugar
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
• 3 garlic (minced)
• 3 scallions (sliced; green onions)
• 1 jalapenos (sliced)
• 2 red chilis (sliced; red peppers)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the pork chops by cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the pork with baking soda to tenderize the meat.

2. 2

   Coat the marinated pork pieces thoroughly in cornstarch until each piece is well-covered.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, white pepper, and a pinch of sugar to create the seasoning blend.

4. 4

   Heat vegetable oil in a pan or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the pork chops until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Remove from the pan and drain excess oil.

5. 5

   In a clean wok or skillet with a small amount of oil, stir-fry the minced garlic, sliced scallions, jalapenos, and red chilis until fragrant.

6. 6

   Add the fried pork chops back into the pan with the aromatics.

7. 7

   Sprinkle the salt and pepper seasoning mix over the pork and vegetables. Toss everything together quickly over high heat to ensure even coating, then serve immediately.

Notes

The baking soda is a classic Chinese 'velveting' technique that ensures the pork remains tender even after frying. Adjust the amount of jalapenos and red chilis based on your spice tolerance.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pork
• Chinese
• spicy
• fried
• takeout-style
• dinner