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A close-up of Chinese sweet and sour pork meatballs with red peppers, pineapple, and onions served in a dish.

Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs Recipe

Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs are a crowd-pleaser with crispy, tender meatballs drenched in a tangy, sweet sauce. Ideal for any meal, they’re a simple yet impressive dish.

Course: Main
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Author: Manuela Zangara

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 700 g – 1 ½ lbs pork mince
  • 1 tsp ginger paste OR 1-inch piece
  • 2 tsp garlic paste OR 4 cloves
  • ½ tsp Chinese 5 spice
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 ¼ tsp salt

Stir-Fry

  • 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ onion – halved and sliced
  • 1 red capsicum / bell pepper – cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 250 g – 8 oz canned pineapple pieces in natural juice

Sauce

  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp pineapple juice from the canned pineapple pieces
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp oyster sauce

Thickener

  • 1 tbsp corn starch + 2 tbsp water mixed together

Instructions

Meatballs

  1. Using your hands, mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Wet both hands with some water and shape the mixture into about 50 meatballs. Set aside.
  3. Heat a wok or skillet with some oil and pan-fry the meatballs until they turn light golden brown. Drain them on a plate lined with paper towels.

Stir-Fry

  1. Mix together the sauce ingredients and set aside.
  2. Mix the thickener in a separate small bowl.

  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the onion and cook for 1 minute.

  4. Add the bell pepper and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  5. Add the mixed sauce ingredients and stir until the sugar dissolves and the sauce begins to bubble.
  6. Add the thickener. Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring constantly. Then, cook until the sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency, which will take about 2-3 minutes.
  7. Add the meatballs. Stir to coat well with the sauce.

  8. Add the pineapple pieces and warm them through, and remove from the stove.

  9. Serve hot with steamed rice or fried rice.

Recipe Notes

You can bake the meatballs instead of frying them. Spray them with oil and bake at 210°C – 425°F for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked.