Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies
A fiery stir-fry featuring tender pork slices tossed with dried red chilies and fragrant garlic, capturing the bold flavors of Hunan cuisine. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 32 minutes pairs pork tenderloin, dried red chilies, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 300 g pork tenderloin
- 15 pieces dried red chilies
- 4 cloves garlic cloves
- 1 inch piece ginger
- 3 stalks scallions
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp water
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Thinly slice 300 g pork tenderloin into 1/4-inch strips and toss with 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine. Set aside for 15 minutes to marinate.
- Step 2: Peel and mince 4 garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger piece, then thinly slice 3 scallions separating whites and greens. Remove seeds from 15 dried red chilies if less heat is preferred.
- Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated pork strips, stir-frying for 3-4 minutes until the edges start to brown and the pork is mostly cooked through.
- Step 4: Push pork to one side, add the garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallions to the center of the wok. Fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 5: Toss in the dried red chilies along with 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp sugar. Stir everything together for 1 minute until the chilies release aroma and the pork is fully cooked.
- Step 6: Add 3 tbsp water to the wok and stir-fry for another 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pork evenly.
- Step 7: Garnish with the green parts of the scallions before serving immediately with steamed rice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies take to make?
Total time is about 32 minutes (20 min prep + 12 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork tenderloin from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 3 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 3). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Spicy Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Dried Chilies?
Chinese pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
