Sweet and Spicy Pork with Apples in Unagi Sauce

Cubes of pork tenderloin simmer together with bell peppers, onions, and apples in this Asian-inspired main dish.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 324 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 onion, cut into strips
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 2 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste
• 1 large orange, peeled, sectioned, and cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
• 10 leaves fresh basil, chopped
• ¼ cup unagi (eel) sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin (Japanese sweet wine) (Optional)
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract (Optional)
• 2 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 red apple - cored and diced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over low heat. Stir in the ginger, brown sugar, and chili powder. Cook and stir for several minutes until the brown sugar has melted and the ginger is fragrant. Add the onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic. Increase heat to medium and continue cooking until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 7 minutes.

Step 2

Stir the soy sauce, unagi sauce, paprika, mirin, and coconut extract into the vegetable mixture; bring to a simmer. Add the pork cubes and chicken stock; return to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the pork is tender and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes.

Step 3

Dissolve the cornstarch in the water; stir into the simmering pork. Add the apple and orange cubes; cover and cook until the apple is becoming tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the basil, green onions, and black pepper; cook 2 minutes more before serving.