If you’re a fan of Chinese food, you’ll love this sweet and sour pork recipe that’s surprisingly easy to make from scratch. It’s no wonder why almost every Chinese restaurant in America features this dish on their menu – the combination of salty pork, juicy pineapple, bell peppers, and sweet and sour sauce is simply irresistible.

What sets this recipe apart is the use of coconut sugar, which adds a deep caramel flavor to the sauce. Combined with rice vinegar, lemon juice, soy sauce, tomato paste, pepper, ginger, and chicken broth, it creates a well-balanced flavor profile that’s both sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make! Simply gather all the ingredients and toss them into a Crockpot. Let it simmer on low for the day, and you’ll be rewarded with tender, juicy pork that’s bursting with flavor. Serve it over a bed of fluffy jasmine rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for a restaurant-quality meal that’s sure to impress. It’s minimal effort with maximum flavor – the perfect combination for any busy home cook.

What is coconut sugar, anyway?

• It is made from the sap of coconut palm trees. They pound the tree to get the sap, then cook it to get most of the water out, sort of like making maple syrup. It comes in liquid, block and granular form. For this recipe, you want the grainy stuff.

Is there anything that can substitute coconut sugar?

• Light brown sugar is probably the best substitute. It doesn’t have the same hint of caramel, but it still pairs well with the other flavors in the sauce.

What about rice vinegar? Is there a substitute for that?

• Rice vinegar has a mild flavor with a hint of sweetness. The best substitute is apple cider vinegar, which has the same hint of sweetness. You can also use mild white wine vinegar, but it’s not as sweet, so add an extra teaspoon of coconut sugar to the sauce to make up the difference.

Sweet and Sour Pork Crockpot

1. Combine coconut sugar, ½ cup chicken broth, vinegar, lemon juice, soy sauce, tomato paste, ginger, and salt and pepper, pork, onion, bell peppers, and pineapple in a slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 7 hours.
2. When timer goes off, whisk together cornstarch and ⅓ cup chicken broth until cornstarch dissolves. Add to the crock pot and stir. Set crock pot to high heat and cook for the last 30 minutes.
3. Optional: top with green onions and sesame seeds.
4. Serve with jasmine rice, cooked according to the package.