Name: Szechuan Pork Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce; 2 tablespoons Chinese Black Vinegar; 1-2 teaspoons Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent; 2 teaspoons Szechuan peppers, (roughly crushed); 1-2 teaspoons Kosher Salt (to taste); 6 cloves Garlic (minced); 3 inch Minced Ginger (minced); 1/2 Onion (sliced); 2 tablespoons peanut oil, (or other cooking oil); 1 pound Boneless Pork Shoulder (cut into chunks); 2 tablespoons doban jiang paste ((Chinese fermented broad bean paste)); 3 cups Water; 3-4 cup bok choy, (chopped); 1/4 cup Cilantro

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This recipe for Szechuan Pork Soup is a family favorite. In fact, everyone I have ever made it for has loved it. Not only is it tasty, but it is low carb and made quickly in your Instant Pot!

Flavorful, low carb version of Szechuan Pork Soup substitutes bok choy for the noodles, while keeping the traditional flavors of this soup. Pressure cooking makes the meat super tender.

I love Sichuan food, but living where I do, I have to drive for 45 mins each way to get decent Szechuan cuisine so I'm trying to make a few dishes at home instead.

What Makes Chinese Pork Soup So Great?

Fast. Enjoy flavorful and tender pork cooked in a fraction of the time with the help of your Instant Pot.
Easy. A simple pour and cook recipe that is great for a quick weeknight meal.
Flavorful. Taste new and exciting flavors with a creative combination of punchy ingredients.
Low Carb. Only 7 grams of carbs per serving makes this a delightful keto meal.

What Does Szechuan Pork Soup Taste Like?

Szechuan Pork Soup is delightfully spicy and flavorful. It has salty and savory notes from the pork and doubanjiang and an umami kick from the soy sauce. All of those flavors are balanced by the freshness of the steamed bok choy and cilantro.

What Is Szechuan Pork Soup Made Of?

Soy Sauce
Chinese Black Vinegar
Sugar- Any sugar substitute will also work in this dish.
Szechuan peppers- If you do not have Szechuan peppers, you can also substitute with a larger amount of ground black pepper. It won't have the same tingle that the Szechuan peppercorns have, but it will still taste delicious.
Kosher Salt- Just a touch, as the soybean paste and soy sauce also add saltiness to the dish.
Garlic
Minced Ginger
Onion
peanut oil- If you don't have peanut oil in your pantry, any other cooking oil will suffice.
Boneless Pork Shoulder- You will cut this into chunks so it can cook more quickly and become incredibly tender.
Doubanjiang paste- This is also commonly known as Chinese fermented broad bean paste.
Bok Choy
Cilantro

How To Make Szechuan Pork Soup

Traditionally this Szechuan Pork Soup has pork that is slow cooked, and once it is cooked, you add noodles into the rich flavorful broth. But of course, there's no way to do that and stay low-carb.

So I made the meat and the broth and then added bok choy to add substance to it. I also cooked this in an Instant Pot because I really didn't have two hours to spend on making this right.

So, below is the quick adaptation I created:

Pour all ingredients except the bok choy and cilantro into your Instant Pot.
Cook for 20 minutes under high pressure and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
Manually release the remaining pressure and remove the Instant Pot lid. Add in the bok choy and cilantro. Close the lid and let the bok choy steam.

What To Serve With It

With a flavorful broth, protein from the pork shoulder, and loads of vitamins from the bok choy and cilantro, this Chinese Pork Stew is truly a well-rounded meal. If you're wanting a side to serve alongside it, try one of these :

Cauliflower rice. It soaks up the broth in the stew beautifully while keeping your meal low carb.
Ratatouille. Roasted veggies pair well with the robustly flavored broth.
Egg Roll. If you're not watching your carbs, enhance your dining experience with the crispy texture of an egg roll or fried wonton.

How Long Does It Last?

I love soup recipes because the leftovers always reheat so well. The same goes for this Chinese Pork Soup recipe. The longer the pork sits in the broth, the more flavor it takes on, and the more tender it becomes. For food safety purposes, eat any leftovers you may have within 3-5 days of initially preparing this yummy soup dish.

Want More Pork Recipes?

Pulled Pork- loaded with delicious Mexican flavor.
Pork Carnitas- Make these in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork- tacos seasoned with Indian spices.
Smoked Mexican Pork Shoulder- lovely smoked flavors.
Pressure Cooker Carne Adovada- a low carb delight.
Schezuan Pork Soup- Sichuan cuisine made at home.
Chile Verde- a quick and easy pork recipe.
Instant Pot Pork Stew- a hearty low carb soup.

If you love Szechuan Pork Soup as much as we do, make sure you share the recipe on Facebook and Instagram so your friends can try it too! Don't forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon.