Some dinners just make you feel like you’ve taken a little vacation—without ever leaving your kitchen. The first time I made this Hoisin Pork, the sweet aroma of pineapple mingling with the rich, savory sauce filled the house, and my family kept wandering into the kitchen asking when dinner would be ready. Hours later, the pork was so tender it practically melted, the peppers were perfectly soft yet still colorful, and every bite was a burst of sweet-and-savory bliss. It’s the kind of slow cooker magic that makes you wonder why you don’t make it every week.
Ingredients:
2 lbs (900 g) pork shoulder or tenderloin, cut into chunks
1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp honey (optional for extra sweetness)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
1/4 cup water or pineapple juice
Cooked rice, for serving
Sesame seeds & chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions:
Place pork, pineapple, and bell peppers into your slow cooker.
In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and water (or pineapple juice).
Pour sauce over the pork and stir gently to coat.
Cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until pork is tender.
Serve over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Tip: For a thicker sauce, remove pork and veggies at the end, simmer the sauce in a pan for a few minutes, then return everything to the slow cooker before serving.
