Try these Chinese pork chops with five-spice powder!

I always pick an easy recipe when I am busy and want to spend a minimum of time in the kitchen. Over the years, I’ve developed simple and delicious recipes using only a few ingredients. Five-spice pork chops are one of them.

The pork chops are bursting with flavor after marinating with the five-spice powder.

So, what is the magic inside the five-spice powder? It’s a blend of spices consisting of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns. Some brands also include extra spices, so it makes more than five!

Marinating the meat with five-spice powder is like having a myriad of spices in one bottle. It guarantees your pork chops are packed with flavors. It is the basis of many Chinese recipes, as the combinations are perfect for all meat items.

Try this pork chop recipe. It will likely become your new family favorite!

So, let’s get started!

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Steps to prepare the five-spice pork chop, Chinese style

This five-spice pork chop recipe is a typical Cantonese home-cooked food. As a result, it may not be served in most Chinese restaurants. However, it is hugely popular among home cooks. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity. It is unquestionably delicious and is best served over white rice.

1. Use loin to make pork chops

• You need pork loin to make pork chops. Your butcher can cut the loin into the thickness you want. It should be around 3/4 inch in thickness. 
• If you decide to cut it yourself, put the pork loin in the freezer until it is half-frozen. Half-frozen pork loin is firmer, making it easier to cut into even thicknesses.
• Next, please put the pork chop on the chopping board. Pound it on both sides with the spine of the Chinese cleaver lightly. This step helps to break down the connective tissue and is an effective way to tenderize the pork chops.

2. The Chinese pork chops marinade

I use a simple marinade for the pork chops: salt, black pepper, vegetable oil,  and Chinese five-spice powder. Place these dry ingredients in a small bowl and mix well, then sprinkle on both sides of the pork chops and rub them into the meat thoroughly. 

This mixture is a simple marinate. Although it looks simple, the five-spice powder combines multiple spices. 

Place the pork chops in a large mixing bowl, then add the above ingredients to marinate the pork chops for at least one hour. It is even better to keep the pork chops in the refrigerator overnight and pan-fry them the following day.

Variations:

• You can add some light soy sauce and oyster sauce, but I will leave it as it is.
• Adding brown sugar to the marinade helps to brown the pork chops more effectively.
• Another optional ingredient is dark soy sauce. You can use it to add some color and make the pork chops look a little darker. 

3. Pan-fry the pork chops

Wok, a nonstick pan, or a large skillet are all suitable for pan-frying pork chops.

• Heat enough oil in the pan.
• Pan-fry the pork chops over medium heat until both sides are cooked. It will take two to three minutes on each side.
• Transfer them onto a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
• Finally, cut some green onions into thin rings and sprinkle them on the pork chops as garnish.
• As an optional step, you can add some sesame seeds on top before serving.

You can serve the pork chops with some salad. The Chinese will serve the pork chops with white rice.

4. Prepare a sauce

The sauce is optional as the Chinese pork chops are packed with the flavor of the five spices. However, if you prefer to dress some sauce on the pork chops, I recommend making a sauce with the following combination: 2 tsp light soy sauce, 2 tsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp Hoisin sauce, and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce.

All you need is to boil half a cup of chicken broth. Then add the above ingredients, and thicken it with cornstarch slurry.

Variations

• I pan-fry the pork chops in this recipe. However, the marinated pork chop is also ideal for grilling and baking in the oven. 
• It is better to use boneless pork chops for pan-frying, as boneless pork chop has full contact with the surface of the pan. Otherwise, bone-in pork chops are suitable for cooking in the oven, griller, or slow cooker.
• A proven variation to this recipe is to add a small amount of curry powder into the marinade. It makes a huge difference to the taste since curry powder is a mixture of spices that complement the five-spice powder. 

Other Asian pork chop recipes you can try

Here are some Chinese pork recipes on this food blog that may interest you:

• Baked pork chop with rice is a classic Hong Kong recipe. It is a famous dish in the Hong Kong-style cafe, a.k.a Cha Chan Teng. This half-Asian, half-western fusion dish is the Chinese equivalent of lasagna when you dig into the layers.
• Try this garlic pork chop marinated with a combination of Chinese and Vietnamese seasonings.

Yield: 4 pork chops

Chinese pork chops with five-spice powder

Print

Indulge yourself in the rich, savory flavors of Chinese pork chops with five-spice powder. I only need 3 ingredients to marinade!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops (weight about one pound)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp oil
• 2 tsp five-spice powder
• Sufficient oil to pan-fry

Instructions

1. Cut the pork loin to around half 3/4 inch in thickness. 
2. Pound it on both sides with the spine of the cleaver lightly to tenderize the pork chops.
3. Marinate the pork chops with salt, black pepper, vegetable oil,  and Chinese five-spice powder for at least one hour.
4. Heat enough oil in the pan.
5. Pan-fry the pork chops over medium heat until both sides are cooked. It will take two to three minutes on each side.
6. Transfer them onto a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
7. Finally, cut some green onions into thin rings and sprinkle them on the pork chops as garnish.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  EXTRA LARGE Organic Bamboo Cutting Board with Juice Groove - Kitchen Chopping Board for Meat (Butcher Block) Cheese and Vegetables | Anti Microbial Heavy Duty Serving Tray w/Handles - 18 x 12"
• 
  KYOKU Samurai Series - 7" Cleaver Knife - Full Tang - Japanese High Carbon Steel Kitchen Knives - Pakkawood Handle with Mosaic Pin - with Sheath & Case
• 
  Joyce Chen 21-9972, Classic Series Carbon Steel Wok Set, 4-Piece, 14-Inch Charcoal
• 
  Frontier Five Spice Powder, 1.92-Ounce Bottle

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 485Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 439mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 41g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 16/01/2023