Mandarin Pork and Asparagus. Pork strips sautéed in garlic and oil with sweet mandarin sauce and asparagus. Served with a side of white rice.
Looking for a simple and easy way how to use panda express mandarin sauce? This recipe is for you.
This recipe, mandarin pork and asparagus, is so simple I just love to make it all the time. Perfect for a weekday meal, or if you need something prepared in under 30 minutes. Using the mandarin sauce out of the bottle saves some time, but you can also make this sauce from scratch. See below in the Invent Your Recipe section for the details.
I chose asparagus for this recipe because I like the flavor and crunchiness that it adds. However, broccoli is a great alternative and will do well with the mandarin sauce. There are plenty of other vegetables you can make with this dish so mix it up and cook your favorites.
Let us know how this Sweet Mandarin Pork and Asparagus turns out. Leave a comment below or send us a message. We always welcome suggestions and ideas.
NOTE
Before beginning the recipe remember to read the “Invent Your Recipe” section below for additional suggestions, recipe combinations, or ingredient alternatives.
How to Make Sweet Mandarin Pork and Asparagus
Preparing the Pork:
- Begin by cleaning and trimming the fat from the pork chops and cutting the chops into bit size pieces.
- In a large skillet, add ¼ cup of canola oil and bring to a high heat. Add pork pieces and season with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and sauté on both sides until golden brown in color (about 5 minutes).
- Drain the remaining oil and return skillet to medium heat. Next, add the 2 tablespoons of Panda Express mandarin Sauce and cook for 2 minutes to fully coat the pork (mix occasionally).
Cooking the Asparagus:
- In a medium skillet on high heat sauté 2 cloves of sliced garlic in extra virgin olive oil until golden brown.
- Add asparagus pieces, pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper and sauté for 3-5 minutes until the asparagus softens but remains a bit firm (mixing occasionally).
How to Serve Sweet Mandarin Pork and Asparagus:
- Place the sweet mandarin pork and asparagus on a bed of cooked white rice.
More Pork Recipes To Try
Orange Pork with Broccoli
Orange Pork with Broccoli. Boneless pork loin cut into thin strips and sautéed with a sweet orange sauce and served with broccoli.
Lemon Herb Pork with Tomatoes
Lemon Herb Pork with Tomatoes. Boneless pork chops cut into pieces and sautéed in a lemon butter herb sauce and paired with brown rice and peas.
Pork with Beans and Tomatoes
Pork with Beans and Tomatoes. Boneless pork chops cut into bite sized pieces and sautéed with garlic, beans, and tomatoes.
Pork with Salsa and Sweet Potatoes
Pork with Salsa and Sweet Potatoes. Pork stew meat sautéed with onions, sweet potatoes, black beans and finished with salsa.
The Recipe
Sweet Mandarin Pork with Asparagus
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless pork chops sliced into pieces
- 2 cloves of garlic sliced
- Pinch black pepper for asparagus
- Pinch of salt for asparagus
- 1 bunch of asparagus cut into pieces
- 4 cups of cooked white rice
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
- 2 tbsp. of Panda Express mandarin sauce
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
Instructions
Preparing the Pork:
- Begin by cleaning and trimming the fat from the pork chops and cutting the chops into bit size pieces.4 boneless
- In a large skillet, add ¼ cup of canola oil and bring to a high heat. Add pork pieces and season with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and sauté on both sides until golden brown in color (about 5 minutes).¼ cup canola oil, ½ tsp. garlic powder
- Drain the remaining oil and return skillet with pork to medium heat. Next, add the 2 tablespoons of Panda Express mandarin sauce and cook for 2 minutes to fully coat the pork (mix occasionally).2 tbsp. of Panda Express mandarin sauce
Cooking the Asparagus:
- In another medium skillet on add 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil and bring to high heat. Add the garlic and saute until golden, about 1-2 minutes.2 cloves of garlic sliced, 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- Add asparagus pieces, pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper and sauté for 3-5 minutes until the asparagus softens but remains a bit firm (mixing occasionally).Pinch black pepper for asparagus, 1 bunch of asparagus cut into pieces, Pinch of salt for asparagus
To Serve:
- Place pork and asparagus on a bed of cooked white rice.4 cups of cooked white rice
Invent Your Recipe
Don’t have Panda Express Mandarin Sauce, try using 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a 1/2 cup of orange juice instead.
Nutrition
Invent Your Recipe:
Don’t have Panda Express Mandarin Sauce in the pantry? Try using 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1/2 cup of orange juice instead. Simmer together until the sauce can stick to a spoon, then mix in with the pork.
This mandarin sauce goes great on chicken as well. You can brush it directly onto the chicken, or use it as a marinade. Either way, try this sauce on some chicken and throw it on the grill until it is nice a juicy.
The next time you make a stir fry use this mandarin sauce instead of stir fry sauce. It is sweet, bold, and full of flavor. It is a nice change of pace for stir fry.
If you like this sweet mandarin pork and asparagus dish try another one of our featured pork recipes at this link.
For even more ideas check out our Pinterest page.
