Wuxi Spareribs Recipes

Steps:

• Put the ribs in a large bowl, season with sea salt and the ground white pepper. Add the garlic, yellow bean paste, shaoxing rice wine and dark soy sauce to create a paste. Mix together well to combine, using your hands to work the marinade into the pork. Put it in the fridge, covered, for 20 mins to let the ribs marinate.
• Heat a wok or heavy-based saucepan over high heat and fill just less than half-full with the groundnut oil. Heat to 180C or until a cube of bread dropped in turns golden brown in 30 secs. Drain the ribs of the marinade. Using a spider or slotted spoon, carefully lower the ribs and shallow fry for 7-8 mins or until browned. Gently turn them to ensure even cooking. Once cooked, remove them and drain on kitchen paper. Do this in batches until all the ribs are cooked.
• In a small jug, combine all the ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce, mixing well with a fork or whisk and set aside.
• Put the wok or a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the ribs and pour in the sauce, cooking on medium heat for 5-6 mins or until the sauce has reduced to a sticky consistency. Garnish with the micro chives and serve immediately, accompanied with some stir-fried greens and jasmine rice, if you like.

Steps:

• Blanch whole scallion in a 4-quart pot of boiling water until softened, about 1 minute. Transfer scallion to a work surface and return pot of water to a boil. Add ribs to boiling water and return to a boil, then immediately drain ribs in a colander. Transfer ribs to a wide 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy pot. Carefully tie blanched scallion into a knot and add to pot with ribs.
• Add wine, soy sauces, 3 cups water, ginger, anise, cinnamon, sugar, and pepper to pot with ribs and simmer, covered, until meat is just tender, about 1 hour. Remove lid and boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced by three fourths and meat is very tender, about 20 minutes more. Whisk together cornstarch and remaining tablespoon water in a cup. Reduce heat to moderate and add cornstarch mixture to ribs, then cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil. Serve sprinkled with chopped scallion and cilantro.

Steps:

• Blanch whole scallion in a 4-quart pot of boiling water until softened, about 1 minute.
• Transfer scallion to a work surface and return pot of water to a boil.
• Add ribs to boiling water and return to a boil, then immediately drain ribs in a colander.
• Transfer ribs to a wide 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy pot.
• Carefully tie blanched scallion into a knot and add to pot with ribs.
• Add wine, soy sauces, 3 cups water, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, rock sugar, and pepper to pot with ribs and simmer, covered, until meat is just tender, about 1 hour.
• Remove lid and boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced by three fourths and meat is very tender, about 20 minutes more.
• Whisk together cornstarch and remaining tablespoon water in a cup.
• Reduce heat to moderate and add cornstarch mixture to ribs, then cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil.
• Serve sprinkled with chopped scallion and cilantro.