Delicious Chinese-Inspired Sticky Spare Ribs

Chinese-inspired spare ribs are a delicious dish that is jam-packed with flavors and texture. You get the complexity of flavors from the Chinese five-spice mix, dark soy sauce, and richness from brown sugar and honey. This dish is a perfect blend of flavors and textures. Whether it is lunch or a dinner date, this dish will never disappoint, trust me so delicious! So, what are you waiting for? Indulge in the flavors of these delicious sticky Chinese-inspired spare ribs, and try it now!

What will you need?

If you think making Chinese-inspired spare ribs needs a long list of ingredients, you are probably right! But here is the good news! The ingredients are pretty basic and are always available in your kitchen pantry. And if not, you can easily get them at any grocery store. Here is everything you need for this delicious recipe.

  • Pork Rib Tips: The hero of the show is the pork ribs. You can find these easily. Reach out to your favorite butcher’s shop and get high-quality and delicious pork ribs for this recipe. Although I prefer fresh meat, you can also use frozen ribs for the purpose. However, make sure you thaw it thoroughly before cooking for better results. 
  • Garlic and ginger: Ginger and garlic are essential ingredients many Chinese-style dishes. These add a depth of flavor and set up a base for the flavors.
  • Green onions: Green onions not just add color but a distinct flavor to the dish as well.
  • Seasonings: For seasoning, salt, and black pepper powder are enough; and if you want to add heat and spice things up, add red chili flakes
  • Soy sauce: I love to use dark soy sauce for this recipe. It not only adds a dark color but also gives the dish depth and umami flavor.
  • Five-spice powder: This powder is a traditional Chinese spice mix. Although you can get a pre-made powder from any Asian grocery store, you can prepare your five-spice powder as well. It is made from five main spices, i.e.Fennel Seeds, Cinnamon Stick, Star Anise, Whole Cloves, and Szechuan Peppercorns. Simply grind these spices together to get a mix. You can store it in an air-tight jar in your spice closet!
  • Honey: Honey makes these ribs not only sweet but also sticky. So, it is an essential element.
  • White wine vinegar: White wine vinegar has several uses. You can use it to rinse the ribs and also to deglaze the pan. All-in-all it adds sourness to the dish and balances flavors out.
  • Brown sugar: Adding honey might seem enough, but if you are looking for a lot of stickiness, along with a rich, complex, and caramel-like flavor, brown sugar does it for you.
  • Chicken stock: to add in more flavor, you can add chicken stock. You can use vegetable stock as well.
  • Garnish: Finish the ribs off with chopped Scallions and chili pepper as a garnish.  

 

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Delicious Chinese-Inspired Sticky Spare Ribs


  • Author: FoodieNotAChef

Description

These sticky Ribs are the perfect balance between sweet and savory. They are tender and absolutely delicious!” 


Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. Pork Rib Tips   
  • 4 Cloves of garlic   
  • Fresh ginger, diced (2 ½ inches in diameter 1-inch-thick)
  • 3 Green onions   
  • 1 Tsp red chili flakes   
  • 2 Tsp dark soy sauce   
  • 1 Tsp. five spice powder   
  • 3 Tbsp honey, divided  
  • 1 Tsp Rice wine vinegar   
  • 2 Tsp better-than-bouillon roasted chicken base
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar, divided  
  • 2 cups of water 
  • 1 cup of white vinegar *prep 
  • ¼ cup Vegetable oil 
  • Salt and pepper to taste   
  • Scallions and fresh chili pepper to garnish 

Instructions

Do not get intimidated by the long list of ingredients. It might seem too much to you, but the cooking process is simple. And if you love cooking, you will enjoy it. Here is a step-by-step guide to enjoying delicious sticky Chinese-inspired spare ribs: 

  1. First, you need to prepare the ribs by washing them off with vinegar and water. Vinegar cleans the ribs and tenderizes the meat a bit allowing the authentic flavor of the meat shine through. 
  2. Next, blend garlic, ginger, and scallions into a fine paste. Add two tablespoons of water to aid in smooth blending. Place this paste in a bowl and add soy sauce, honey, five-spice mix, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, and mix well. Set it aside.
  3. Place a skillet on medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is heated, place the ribs in the skillet to sear them on all sides. 
  4. Once the ribs get a nice brown color, remove from the skillet, and place them in a pot. Add blended marinade, water, and better than bouillon. Place the pot on high flame and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
  5. Transfer the ribs and sauce into a baking pan. 
  6. Place the pan in a preheated oven at 325-degree F for about 35-40 minutes.
  7. Remove the ribs from the pan and save the sauce for later use.
  8. Heat the skillet and add brown sugar. 
  9. Once the sugar starts to melt, pour the sauce, and add honey as well. Vigorously stir until the sauce begins to thicken up.
  10. Place the cooked ribs into sauce and mix well so that the sauce coats the ribs.
  11. Remove from the heat and garnish with chili and scallions.

Helpful for delicious spare ribs: 

Although making spare ribs is straightforward, here are a few tips you should keep in mind: 

  • Washing ribs with vinegar ensures it is free from any unwanted contamination. So, do not skip it.
  • If you are using frozen ribs, wait for them to thaw completely before cooking them.
  • When buying ribs, ask the butcher to remove the silver skin or membrane from the ribs for your convenience.
  • You can adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the dish according to your liking.

What to serve with spare ribs? 

Here are a few ideas for you to try: 

  • Rice:A traditional way to serve any Chinese-inspired dish is to serve it with rice. 
  • Noodles:Noodles go well with anything, and the same goes with the ribs. 
  • Roasted vegetables:Herb-roasted vegetables are a perfect complement to any dish. 
  • Mashed potatoes:Classic creamy mashed potatoes along with Chinese pork ribs is an exciting fusion. 
  • Salad:Bring in the freshness of tropical fruits and fresh vegetables by serving pork ribs alongside a salad. 
  • Category: Lunch

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