Orange Glazed Pork

4 from 1 vote

Crispy bite-sized pork coated with sweet and tangy orange sauce

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Servings: people

Calories: 1112kcal

Author: Vanjo Merano

Sprinkle salt and ground black pepper all over the pork. Toss the pork to distribute the seasoning. Let it stay for 20 minutes.
1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 lbs. pork shoulder
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a cooking pot.
2 cups cooking oil
Once the oil becomes hot, dredge the pork in cornstarch then deep fry for 5 to 8 minutes or until the color turns golden brown and the texture becomes crisp.
1 cup cornstarch
Remove the cooked pork from the cooking pot. Place in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
Make the orange glaze by combining water, vinegar, and soy sauce in a saucepan. Stir and let boil.
¼ cup cane or apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 3/4 cup water
Add the garlic powder and brown sugar. Stir and cook until the liquid reduces in half.
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 cup brown sugar
Pour the glaze all over the pork. Toss to coat the pork completely.
Transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the chopped green onions on top.
1/4 cup green onions
Serve. Share and enjoy!

Pork shoulders - Pork shoulder has a good balance of lean meat and fat, making it perfect for this Orange Glazed Pork recipe. I recommend not using other cuts like pork belly or loin. Pork belly is fattier and may result in a richer dish, while pork loin is leaner and could turn out drier if not cooked carefully. Pork shoulder strikes the ideal balance for this recipe.
Alternative to cane vinegar - But first, I highly recommend cane vinegar in this recipe! But if you really can't find one, apple cider vinegar has a fruity tang that might complement the orange glaze. Replace cane vinegar in a 1:1 ratio, but you might want to add a pinch of sugar to mimic the sweetness of cane vinegar.
Use high-heat oil - Choose oils with a high smoke point, like vegetable or canola oil, for frying. Both oils have a smoke point of around 400°F (204°C). They're suitable for high-heat cooking methods like frying, as it can handle the temperature without breaking down or producing smoke.