Pork and Pineapple: A Love Story.
If you like Hawaiian pizza, you already know that pork and pineapple are a match made in heaven. But do you know why they are such a classic duo? The sweet-savory pairing has its roots in Hawaii, where fresh pineapple is used to tenderize pork before cooking as part of a traditional luau feast. Raw pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that breaks down protein, making it perfect for tenderizing meat of all kinds. Our pineapple-studded easy pork stir-fry celebrates this delectable pairing, although we call for pork tenderloin, so the pineapple’s role here is just to flavor—no tenderizing needed.
If This Isn’t The Best Pork Stir-Fry Sauce Ever, We Don’t Know What Is.
This simple, Asian-inspired pineapple sauce recipe for pork tenderloin stir-fry is a breeze, and relies heavily on pantry staples. Once you’ve got your cubed pork browning in your skillet, it just takes a few seconds to mix up this easy stir-fry sauce. All you’ll need is:
- Soy sauce: the low-sodium kind works just fine.
- Rice vinegar. its delicate sweetness compliments the pineapple and pepper perfectly.
- Honey. A little more sweetness, because doesn’t everything taste a little sweeter in the tropics?
- Fresh garlic, ginger and green onions. Because ALWAYS.
How To Make Pork-Stir Fry (AKA Everything’s Better With Pineapple)
We dreamt up this pepper-and-pineapple-y pork stir-fry recipe after too many weeks of same-old-same-old dinners. You could see the boredom on the kids faces—it was a full-body kind of boredom, the kind that just seems to seep out their pores. Honestly, we were feeling it, too. This savory, sweet pork stir-fry was exactly what the doctor ordered—a zippy, quick, delicious wake-up call full of vibrant color and satisfying textures. Here’s how to make it:
- Toss the cubed pork tenderloin with a little salt, and stir-fry until golden brown.
- Whip up that garlicky, ginger-y Asian pork stir-fry sauce.
- Toss the pork, pineapple and peppers into a big hot skillet (or a wok would also work, if you have one!) and pour the sauce alllllll over it.
- Allow the glorious scent of this pork-y pineapple stir-fry to call your family towards the kitchen as you let the flavors mingle over medium heat. Toss in some cubed avocado, just to make things a little extra lush.
- Serve! Lean into that tropical vibe by serving it with coconut rice (recipe here!), or plain white or brown rice would work, too.
Delicious, Yes. But, Is Pork Tenderloin Healthy?
As part of a well-rounded, balanced meal—like this stir-fry recipe!—pork tenderloin is certainly a healthy choice! It’s the “other white meat”, after all. Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of pork, so it’s a terrific, affordable protein option. If you’re worried about health, you can also ask your butcher to remove any excess fat from your pork tenderloin—and hey! While you’re at it, might as well ask them to cube the tenderloin for you and make this pork stir-fry recipe just that much easier!
Tools You’ll Need:
- Sharp knife.
- Large skillet or wok.
- Large spoon or spatula for stir-frying.
- Medium-sized bowl for mixing the sauce.
Other Weeknight Stir-Fry Recipes To Love
Can’t stop won’t stop—stir-fries have our hearts forever. Here are three of our go-to stir-fry recipes:
- Ham and pineapple fried rice. Because while we’re on the pork and pineapple train, we might as well ride it.
- Crispy chicken stir-fry. Can we call this one our “famous” crispy chicken stir-fry, yet?
- Garlic butter steak stir-fry. The name of the recipe pretty much says it all. Garlic. Butter. It’s awesome, you should make it.
Pineapple & Pork Stir-Fry: Good Idea? Or GREAT Idea?
Did you make it? Did you love it? Snap a photo of your pork stir-fry with pineapple and peppers, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you share it with. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!
