Taiwanese Pork Chop

Taiwanese Pork Chop is a flavorful way to make pork chops! It is first marinated, then lightly coated, and then pan fried - easy and delicious!

Jump to:

• About the ingredients
• How to cook Taiwanese Pork Chop (Step by Step)
• Storage & Reheat
• FAQ
• Taiwanese Pork Chop Recipe
• More Delicious Taiwanese Recipes to try!
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About the ingredients

Here's some info about the ingredients in case you have any questions!

Pork Chops vs Pork Loin

I hear a lot of confusion with this one so I thought I'd give some clarity. Pork chop is cut from the pork loin. So basically if you find some pork loin with no bones, it is also pork chops (or sometimes called pork loin chops).

For this recipe, I like to use pork loin chops so I don't have to deal with the bone, but this is completely up to you.

Light Soy Sauce

Light soy sauce (aka 生抽, sheng chou) is the most common type used in Chinese cooking. It's used to enhance the flavors! This kind of soy sauce is often used in stir fry sauces, marinades, dipping sauces and more.

If you're not sure what kind of soy sauce you have, this is probably it. Also, if you ever see a recipe that says 'soy sauce' and doesn't specify what kind, this is most likely it.

You can find it in most grocery stores these days and also on Amazon:

Kimlan Light Soy Sauce

Pearl River Bridge Light Soy Sauce

Michiu

Michiu is also known as Rice cooking wine. It contains about 20% alcohol, and is very popular in Taiwanese cooking. Many folks get this cooking wine confused with another cooking wine - Shaoxing. The difference is that Shaoxing is lower in alcohol and darker. Michiu is more dry and has a higher alcohol content.

Michiu is commonly used in stir fry, soup, braising, and more. It's equivalent to adding wine to western dishes, but it also helps eliminate a 'raw flavor' of seafood and meat dishes too.

Some delicious dishes I make with Michiu are Chinese Chicken Mushroom Soup, Sesame Oil Chicken Recipe (Ma You Ji 麻油雞), and Red Braised Pork Belly.

You can find it in most Asian supermarkets but also on Amazon:

Taiwan Michiu

Qian Hu Michiu Rice Cooking Wine

Sweet Potato Starch

Sweet potato starch (蕃薯粉) is made from... sweet potatoes! It is also known as sweet potato flour or powder. It's naturally gluten free (but always check your packaging if you are not sure).

It is often used in Taiwanese cooking such as Taiwanese popcorn or Taiwanese pork chops. It can be used as a thickener, and in cooking and baking.

If you can't find any sweet potato starch you can try substituting it with cornstarch or tapioca starch.

You can find it in most Asian supermarkets but also on Amazon:

Sweet Potato Starch - 14oz.

Sweet Potato Starch (Thick) 蕃薯粉 (粗) 16oz x 2 bags

地瓜粉 粗 Sweet Potato Starch Powder -Thick - 14oz (1 Pack)

White Pepper

White pepper is one of the spices used in this recipe. What makes it different from black pepper is that black peppercorn berries are picked while still green, and white pepper comes from berries that are picked when fully ripe.

The flavor is also different! Black peppercorn usually are slightly hotter. White peppercorn is milder in heat, but it has a grassy and more earthy undertone.

White pepper can be found in most grocery stores these days and also on Amazon:

Badia Pepper Ground White, 2 Oz (Pack Of 1)

McCormick Ground White Pepper, 1 oz

Amazon Brand - Happy Belly White Pepper Ground, 3 ounce (Pack of 1)

Five Spice Powder

Five spice powder is a popular Chinese and Taiwanese spice blend. It is made with star anise, cloves, fennel seeds, Sichuan peppercorns and cinnamon.

Some would argue this is a required ingredient for Taiwanese pork chop, but at my home I grew up eating it without it. The reason I would say it's not absolutely required also is because some people do not like the flavor of five spice too - and I've noticed it's due to the cinnamon. So I say add it if you like the flavor, but don't add it if you don't!

Five Spice Powder can be found in some grocery stores (definitely Asian supermarkets) these days and also on Amazon:

NPG Authentic Chinese Five Spice Blend 1.05 oz

Frontier Co-op Five Spice Seasoning, 1.92 Ounce

McCormick Gourmet Chinese Five Spice Blend, 1.75 oz

How to cook Taiwanese Pork Chop (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• 5 pork loin chops (1.25 lbs)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 3 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon michiu (or rice cooking wine)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon five spice powder (optional)
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoon sweet potato starch
• Cooking oil for frying

Place plastic wrap over the pork loins, and using a meat tenderizer, pound the meat to be about ¼ inch thick to help tenderize meat and help it cook more evenly. Additionally, you can use a fork and poke holes to help it absorb the marinade.

In a mixing bowl or ziplock bag, mix pork loin chops, sugar, white pepper, soy sauce, rice cooking wine, cornstarch, five spice powder (optional) and minced garlic and allow it to marinade for about 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Pour the sweet potato starch on to a plate. Coat the pork loin chops on both sides lightly and set aside.

Heat a cooking pan on medium high. Coat cooking pan with cooking oil. Once hot, add pork in to pan carefully and avoid crowding - you can put it in in batches if you need.

Fry for about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked thoroughly.

Remove from heat and place on paper towels to let it absorb the excess oil.

Serve! I recommend with white rice and some veggie side dishes!

Storage & Reheat

Fridge: Store leftover pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer: If you want to save them longer, freeze the cooked chops in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. For best results, wrap each chop in parchment or plastic wrap before freezing so they don't stick together.

Reheat:

• Stovetop: Warm in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until heated through and crispy again.
• Oven/Toaster Oven: Preheat to 350°F and bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping once.
• Air Fryer: Reheat at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway for extra crispiness.

Tip: Avoid microwaving if possible, since it tends to make the coating soggy. If you must use a microwave, reheat in short bursts and finish with a quick pan-fry to bring back the crisp.

FAQ

Can I use bone-in pork chops?
Yes! Bone-in chops will work, but they may take slightly longer to cook through. Just be sure to pound them evenly to about ¼-inch thick for best results.

Can I marinate overnight?
Definitely. The longer marinate time (up to 24 hours) will give the pork even more flavor. Just keep it covered in the fridge until ready to cook.

Can I substitute cornstarch for sweet potato starch?
Yes. Cornstarch (or even tapioca starch) works fine if you can't find sweet potato starch, though the texture will be slightly different. Sweet potato starch gives it that classic Taiwanese crispiness.

Do I have to use five spice powder?
Nope! It's optional. If you like the warm, aromatic flavor of five spice, add it in. If not, you can skip it - the pork chops will still be delicious. My mom actually doesn't like adding it so we usually skip it.

What should I serve these with?
They're perfect with steamed white rice and a simple veggie stir fry or pickled vegetables. A side of bok choy or Taiwanese a choy stir fry balances the richness nicely.

More Delicious Taiwanese Recipes to try!

• If you haven't had Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, you have to try it now! It's a rich and comforting dish featuring tender braised beef, noodles, and a broth infused with soy sauce, spices and more!
• If you're looking for a tasty chicken recipe, check out my Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken! It featured chicken simmered in a rich blend of soy, sesame oil, rice wine, garlic, ginger and fresh basil!
• Have you ever had Taiwanese Spring Rolls? They're like the Taiwanese version of a burrito! It's got many delicious tasty ingredients such as meat and veggies and usually also grounded peanuts wrapped in a thin soft crepe.
• Don't forget your veggies! If you want to try more different vegetables, check out Taiwan Bok Choy!

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