Air Fryer Salt
Scallion Pork Chops

Make juicy, tender salt and scallion pork chops completely in the air fryer without turning on the stove. Marinated with aromatic spices and coated with starch for a crispy crust.

Ingredients

• 400 g pork shoulder
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 stalks scallions
• 4 bulbs red shallots
• 15 ml light soy sauce
• 5 ml dark soy sauce
• 10 ml baijiu
• 15 g oyster sauce
• 5 ml olive oil
• 1 tsp five-spice powder
• 2 g salt
• 2 g sugar
• 10 ml sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cooked sesame seeds
• 10 g starch

Instructions

1. 1Pat and prep pork shoulder

   

   Place the pork shoulder meat on a cutting board and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Use a meat mallet to pound the surface evenly to break down the internal connective tissues, which helps make the meat tender.

   Tip: Patting the meat dry and thoroughly pounding it are essential steps for tenderizing the pork shoulder.
2. 2Arrange pork chops with aromatics

   

   Transfer the prepared pork chops into a metal tray. Add sliced garlic, green onion sections, and red shallot directly over the meat to build aromatic layers for the marinade.

   Tip: Layering fresh aromatics directly with the raw pork helps infuse deep flavor profiles right from the start.
3. 3Add marinades and seasonings

   

   Pour light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, baijiu, oyster sauce, olive oil, and a moderate amount of five-spice powder over the pork chops and aromatics in the metal tray.

   Tip: Follow the specified sauce measurements precisely to balance the savory and aromatic flavors of the marinade.
4. 4Massage and marinate the meat

   

   Use your hands to thoroughly mix and massage the seasonings, oils, and sauces into the pork chops, ensuring every piece is evenly coated. Let it marinate for over 20 minutes.

   Tip: Allowing the pork chops to marinate for at least 20 minutes ensures the flavors fully penetrate the meat.
5. 5Chop red shallots and scallions

   

   Take fresh red shallots and small scallions, pat them dry, and use a chef knife to chop them into fine small bits on a cutting board to prepare for the soul salt and scallion sauce.

   Tip: Chop the shallots and scallions finely to release their maximum aroma when mixed with the hot oil and seasonings.
6. 6Mix the salt and scallion sauce

   

   Place the chopped scallions and red shallots into a small metal bowl. Add salt, sugar, sesame oil, and cooked sesame seeds, then stir evenly to fully release the scallion aroma.

   Tip: Stir the sauce well so that the salt and sugar dissolve and combine harmoniously with the sesame oil and seeds.
7. 7Mix the Salt and Scallion Sauce

   

   Combine the chopped red shallots and small scallions in a bowl with 2g salt, 2g sugar, 10ml sesame oil, and cooked sesame seeds. Stir everything evenly together to allow the rich aromatics and scallion aroma to fully release.

   Tip: Thoroughly mixing the seasonings with the fresh aromatics ensures the oil and salt draw out the maximum fragrance.
8. 8Coat the pork chops with starch

   

   After removing any lingering aromatics from the marinated pork chops, add 10g of starch directly into the tray. Mix and coat the meat thoroughly until the surface feels sticky and ready for baking.

   Tip: Adding starch helps lock in the juices and creates a wonderful crispy outer texture when air-fried.
9. 9Arrange the pork chops on a tray

   

   Lay the prepared and coated pork chops flat onto a foil-lined baking tray in a single layer to ensure even heat distribution during the cooking process.

   Tip: Line your tray with foil to make cleanup easy and to catch any rendered juices.
10. 10Bake in the air fryer

    

    Carefully slide the baking tray loaded with pork chops into the air fryer oven. Adjust the temperature to 200 degrees and set the timer for about 10 minutes for the initial bake.

    Tip: Preheating your air fryer if required can help achieve an even crispier outer crust.
11. 11Flip the pork chops

    

    Once the initial timer goes off, take the tray out of the air fryer. Use a pair of tongs to flip each pork chop individually, then return them to the fryer to continue baking for another 8 minutes.

    Tip: Flipping ensures both sides develop an even, golden-brown crispy crust.
12. 12Slice the cooked pork chops

    

    Take the fully baked, crispy pork chops out and use kitchen shears to cut them into clean, bite-sized pieces. The interior will look wonderfully tender, moist, and juicy.

    Tip: Kitchen shears make quick work of slicing cooked meat cleanly without damaging your cutting board.
13. 13Coat Pork Chops with Sauce

    

    Take the freshly baked and cut pork chops on the baking tray and use a spoon to spread the prepared salt and scallion sauce evenly across the top of the meat.

    Tip: Distribute the sauce uniformly so every bite of the crispy pork absorbs the savory flavor.
14. 14Final Air Fryer Bake

    

    Place the baking tray containing the sauce-topped pork chops back into the air fryer. Bake for an additional 3 minutes to let the pork chops fully absorb the rich salt and scallion sauce.

    Tip: Keep a close eye during these final 3 minutes to ensure the sauce bakes into the meat without burning.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions