With the holiday rush upon us it’s nice to use a slow cooker to help save time preparing a meal. If you’re looking for a new Crock-Pot meal recipe, I recommend this Cantonese Sweet and Sour Pork. It’s tasty and so easy to prepare.
The dish goes well with these Crispy Wontons. The wontons also make a great appetizer for one of your holiday gatherings.
CROCK-POT CANTONESE SWEET AND SOUR PORK
1 (1 1/2-pound) fresh pork loin, sliced
1 yellow or red sweet pepper, seeded and cut into strips
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups pineapple chunks (reserve juice)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chow mein noodles
Place pork strips in a slow cooker. Add yellow or red sweet pepper strips and onion.
In a bowl, mix brown sugar and cornstarch. Then add 1 cup reserved pineapple juice, vinegar, water, soy sauce and salt; blend until smooth. Pour over meat and vegetables.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or on high for 4 to 5. One hour before serving, add pineapple chunks and stir into meat and sauce.
Serve over chow mein noodles. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Note: You may use a slow-roasted golden rotisserie-flavored fresh pork loin for this recipe.
CRISPY WONTONS
4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks, and softened
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 small green onions, chopped
1 (3 ounces) package artificial crabmeat, chopped
24 (3-inch) wonton wrappers
Vegetable oil for frying
Cream the cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon juice and sugar and stir until smooth. Fold in the chopped green onions and artificial crabmeat and stir until all is combined.
Place a generous half-teaspoon of the filling mixture in center of each wonton skin. Moisten all sides of the wonton skin with a little water. Fold wonton skin over filling to form a triangle and press down sides firmly. Overlap the ends.
Heat oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat to 375 degrees. Deep fry wontons, a few at a time, 2 to 3 minutes, or until brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
Serve warm as they are or accompanied with commercial sweet and sour sauce. Makes 24 wontons.
Brotherton offers website readers one stellar recipe a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature. Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email me at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and I’ll see if I have it.
