Sweet and Sour Pork is an easy, gluten-free one pot dish, that can be quickly prepared in the pressure cooker. The pork is stir-fried instead of deep-fried, tender, and so delicious. Save some bucks with this homemade Better than Takeout dish!
Preparing a traditional dish or a variation on a classic for dinner doesn’t have to be complicated– who wants that, especially after a busy day?
In 30 minutes, you can make and serve this gluten-free Pressure Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork…
… putting a smile on your family’s face, without having to slave away in the kitchen.
Plus, you can, accompany this lighter variant of the popular Chinese sweet and sour pork (guō bāo ròu) with rice, or with riced cauliflower.
It is quicker to prepare than the traditional dish and requires one pot only. That means less mess to clean!
It has way less fat because it is not deep fried, and containes no refined sugar because our recipe uses honey instead.
In contrast to traditional sweet and sour pork, our recipe uses cornstarch instead of flour, making it gluten-free.
As you can see, the advantages are many. I’m telling ya, this is one of those must-cook dishes as well as this Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder!
So, I hope you enjoy the time you’ll save, the lack of a big mess in the kitchen, and all the deliciousness!
Let’s cook this baby together!
HOW TO MAKE PRESSURE COOKER SWEET AND SOUR PORK
- First, heat the pressure cooker by pressing Sauté -> click on the Adjust button -> select More to get the Sauté More function.
- This means the food will be sautéed on medium-high heat. Mine goes up to 395 degrees F.
- Wait for the Pressure Cooker indicator to read HOT, or wait about 2-3 minutes to get hot.
- Meanwhile, pat dry the pork chunks with paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the oil to the hot pressure cooker, wait one minute for the oil to heat up and add the pork. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times, and cook until browned.
- Stir in honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato paste just until combined.
- Then, add garlic, onion, bell pepper, and pineapple chunks. Gently stir, close the lid, and seal the pressure valve.
- Select either the Stew or Poultry Function and adjust time to 5 minutes. Although Pork is not poultry, the meat takes about the same time to cook.
Use a 10 minute Natural Release. Turn off the heat and release remaining pressure. Open the lid and gently stir so as not to crush the pork and vegetables.
In a small bowl, make a slurry by whisking cornstarch with water until combined with no lumps.
Select the Sauté function again. Add the slurry to the pork and vegetables and gently stir to combine.
Cook on Sauté function for 4-5 additional minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. It will get thicker as it cools.
Turn off the Pressure Cooker, add chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Serve warm over rice or riced cauliflower and enjoy!
Eager to find out how does a pressure cooker work? Get our cooking time charts!
Sweet and Sour Sauce Origins and Ingredients
Sweet and Sour sauces are originally from China — where some are cooked with meats while others are served as dipping sauces.
The term ‘sweet and sour’ usually refers to a combination of sugar and rice vinegar.
As Wikipedia explains, “In China traditionally the sauces are made from mixing sugar or honey with a sour liquid such as rice vinegar, soy sauce, and spices such as ginger and cloves. Sometimes a paste made from tomatoes is used but this is rare and normally restricted to western cooking.”
Additionally, if sauce is cooked with meats, a thickening agent such as cornstarch is added to the mixture.
Is Sweet and Sour Sauce Vegetarian or Vegan?
Although sweet and sour sauce itself is vegetarian, it is not necessarily vegan — especially if made with either honey or cane sugar.
Beet sugar is fine for vegans. However, cane sugar is not for most vegans because it involves bone char in its processing.
But it’s safe for consumption with bone char and all!
OTHER PORK RECIPES:
- Pan-Grilled Pork Chops
- Pan-Fried Barbecue Pork Chops
- Caprese Stuffed Pork Loin Roast
- Pork Fajitas Bowl
- Chipotle Barbecue Pork Ribs
- Red Wine Barbecue Pork Ribs
- Pork Stroganoff
- Brazilian Pork Ribs
PIN & ENJOY!
Pressure Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork (Lighter Version)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs pork stew meat (2 to 3-inch cubes)
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste (OR 3 tbsp ketchup)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 cup medium diced onions
- 2 cups medium diced bell pepper (different colors)
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks (without liquid)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water (or pineapple juice from the can)
- 2 tbsp chopped green onions
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- First, heat the pressure cooker by pressing Sauté -> click on the Adjust button -> select More to get the Sauté More function.
- This means the food will be sautéed on medium-high heat. Mine goes up to 395 degrees F. Wait for the Pressure Cooker indicator to read HOT, or wait about 2-3 minutes to get hot.
- Meanwhile, pat dry the pork chunks with paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Add the oil to the hot pressure cooker, wait one minute for the oil to heat up and add the pork. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times, and cook until browned.
- Stir in honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato paste just until combined. Then, add garlic, onion, bell pepper, and pineapple chunks. Gently stir, close the lid, and seal the pressure valve.
- Select either the Stew or Poultry Function and adjust time to 5 minutes. Although Pork is not poultry, the meat takes about the same time to cook. Use a 10 minute Natural Release. Turn off the heat and release remaining pressure. Open the lid and gently stir so as not to crush the pork and vegetables.
- In a small bowl, make a slurry by whisking cornstarch with water until combined with no lumps. Select again the Sauté function. Add the slurry to the pork and vegetables and gently stir to combine.
- Cook on Sauté function for 4-5 additional minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. It will get thicker as it cools.
- Turn off the Pressure Cooker, add chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Serve warm over rice or riced cauliflower and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Deborah Ryan says
I’m always on the lookout for recipes for my Instant Pot. This sweet and sour pork is a fabulous dinner idea.
Denise Browning says
Hi, Deb! Thank you! It is a much healthier version of the classic and was a hit at my house.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I haven’t had this dish in ages! It’s so good — you’ve really got me raving it. Great idea to make it in the pressure cooker, too. Thanks!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
I don’t have a pressure cooker but sweet and sour pork is good however you make it! And I never knew that about sugar for vegans!
Denise Browning says
Thank you Abbe! Pressure cookers are quite handy. It really helps to cook food faster. I hope you get one one of these days.
Tanza Erlambang says
delicious…yummy
Denise Browning says
Thank you Tanza! This is healthier version of the classic which is also quicker to prepare and so delicious. Enjoy!