The BEST Moo Shu Pork (Super Easy To Make)

Moo shu pork, sometimes spelled mu shu pork, is an incredible dish that originated in Northern China. It combines thin strips of pork, a sweet and savory sauce, shredded cabbage, mushrooms, and green onions for an explosion of Asian flavors. Prepared and stir-fried in a wok in only 30 minutes, this moo shu pork is fast, healthy, and absolutely delicious!

The Best Moo Shu Pork

If you love Chinese food, then this moo shu pork recipe is going to be right up your alley!

From the juicy pork tenderloin and crunchy stir fry vegetables to the amazing flavor combo of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil, this moo shu pork recipe is absolutely irresistible.

Just thinking about it is making my mouth water!

And it's such a simple recipe to make too. It requires only a few simple steps, and all is cooked in one single wok or large skillet, so you won't even have much washing up to do!

I love to cook this stir-fry recipe on a Friday night and invite all my friends around to dig in. They're obsessed with it and always ask me to make it. Seriously, this recipe is a taste sensation, and once you've made it once, it is sure to become a household favorite.

Now, many American Chinese restaurants serve moo shu pork in flour tortillas or traditional Mandarin moo shu pancakes, so you can wrap up all that delicious goodness! Mandarin pancakes are available in most grocery stores, and if you have any leftover flour tortillas, you can use them to make these awesome air fryer tortilla chips.

Ingredients

As I said, this moo shu pork is really easy to cook and just needs a few classic Asian ingredients. And I can almost guarantee that you'll have most - if not all - of them at your house already since they're all kitchen/pantry staples!

Anyway, here's what you'll need for this tasty recipe:

• ¼ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 lb. boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin cut into thin strips
• 2 tbsp. peanut oil
• ½ cup red cabbage
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 2 green onions, sliced
• ¼ cup radishes, sliced
• Fresh cilantro to serve

Super easy, right?

By the way, you can use a lot of these ingredients to make this beef fried rice, so you might want to give that a shot next!

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

Now, while I recommend making this recipe with the ingredients listed above, it's always fun to experiment with different ingredients and flavors.

With that said, here are some of my favorite ideas.

Add wood ear mushrooms for an intense flavor

Wood ears make a great addition to this recipe because they can add so much flavor. If you can't find fresh wood ears, soak dried wood ear fungus for about 15 minutes in boiling water, dry them, and shake them off in a colander and they'll be good to go. You can either replace the shiitake mushrooms with wood ears or use both!

Add more vegetables to your moo shu

There are so many amazing vegetables that you can add to this dish and really give it a lift. Try adding shredded carrots, fresh ginger, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and dried lily flowers. These all work perfectly in the sweet and savory sauce, especially the bamboo shoots.

Add scrambled eggs for a more traditional recipe

Some moo shu pork recipes add scrambled egg, and this is a really easy way to add a special twist to this dish. You can whisk the eggs up in a small bowl and stir-fry them when you add the vegetables. For this recipe, two eggs should be plenty.

How to Make Moo Shu Pork

Alright, now it's time to get down to business. Again, this moo shu pork is about as easy as it gets to make and only takes six simple steps to bring it all together.

So let's not waste any more time, and let's get cooking!

STEP 1: Make the marinade

This is my favorite part of the recipe because the marinade is where all the flavor in this dish comes from.

So to make the marinade, add the orange juice, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic cloves, and cornstarch to a bowl and give them a mix. Just smell that aroma!

Once you have combined all the marinade ingredients, set aside ¼ cup of the marinade because you'll need it later.

STEP 2: Marinade the pork

Now it's time for the star of this recipe, the pork.

First, cut the pork tenderloin (or pork chops) into thin strips, and add it to the mixed bowl of marinade.

Now stir the pork into the sauce and let the meat sit for half an hour, soaking up all those incredible flavors. When you stir fry the meat, those flavors will all be sealed inside, making it super juicy! So it's really important to let the meat marinate.

Step 3: Stir fry the pork

Once the pork is done marinating, take out a large wok or skillet, put it over medium-high heat, and add the peanut oil to it. By the way, you can substitute peanut oil for vegetable oil if you want.

Anyway, once the peanut oil is hot, add the pork and cook it for a few minutes, constantly moving the meat around with tongs until browned on all sides.

Step 4: Stir fry the vegetables

Now add the cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, green onions, and the rest of the marinade to the same skillet with the meat in. Then you can cook the veggies for a few more minutes, mixing everything around, so it cooks evenly.

Stir-fried vegetables should still have a little bite to them, so make sure you don't overcook them. If the wok gets too hot, turn your burner down to medium-low heat.

Step 5: Serve

Finally, once the veggies are cooked, give everything one last mix to combine and serve immediately with fresh cilantro and radishes.

If you have flour tortillas or Mandarin pancakes, now is the time to start wrapping the meat mixture and extra green onions into little parcels of deliciousness. Enjoy!

How to Store Moo Shu Pork

This recipe for moo shu pork will make about 2 servings. So if you're making it for a big family dinner or gathering with friends, you'll want to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe.

Then if you have any leftovers, you can store the cooled moo shu pork in an airtight container and keep it in your refrigerator for 3-4 days.

How to Freeze 

To freeze your Moo Shu Pork, let it cool completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe container. You can then store it in the freezer for 3-4 months.

One thing to consider is just freezing the pork and sauce mixture. You can then thaw it and add fresh cabbage and other veggies when you cook it again.

How to Reheat Moo Shu Pork

Now, when you're ready to enjoy this moo shu pork again, you'll want to reheat it.

So to reheat, simply put the leftovers back in the wok and stir fry again until it is warmed through. And if you're starting from frozen leftovers, just let it thaw in the fridge first.

FAQS About This Moo Shu Pork Recipe

How can I add extra flavor to my Moo Shu sauce?

There are loads of great ways to play with moo shu sauce and add incredible flavors. Rice wine, rice vinegar, plum sauce, oyster sauce, and sweet bean paste are all classic Chinese marinade ingredients that can take your sauce to new heights. I especially like the addition of oyster sauce in this recipe.

What is the best soy sauce to use?

This really comes down to personal preference, as there are so many amazing soy sauces available. If you want to cut down on your salt intake, a low-sodium soy sauce is always a good option.

How do I wrap the Moo Shu Pork Pancakes?

This part is so simple! Once the pork is cooked, take your tortillas or pancakes and spread a thin layer of Hoisin sauce. Add the meat mixture, wrap, and enjoy!

Do I need to add salt to this recipe?

While you can add salt to taste, Hoisin sauce and soy sauce both contain a lot of salt, so additional salt shouldn't be necessary.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make moo shu pork in just a few simple steps!

The beautifully marinated pork and those tasty stir-fried veggies really are an unbeatable combination. This is the perfect quick weeknight meal or dinner to make for guests if you really want to impress with your cooking skills!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much me and everyone who tries it does. If you give it a try, don't forget to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

More Recipes

If this moo shu pork has you in the mood for more Asian inspired recipes, we have a bunch on the blog you can try next!

Check out all of these recipes:

• Har gow dumplings with dumpling sauce
• Chinese green beans
• Vietnamese shrimp toast
• Panda Express honey walnut shrimp
• Beijing Beef

Oh, and as always, make sure to check us out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube! We post new recipes on them every day.

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