When shopping, most people are mainly interested in pork belly, pork loin, or ham. Additionally, they also enjoy ribs, but in reality, a whole pig only has about 200g of rib meat. However, this is the most delicious part of the pork, with a rich and fragrant taste that is as precious as thousand-year-old ginseng.
What to consider when buying rib meat?
This rib meat is quite scarce, so if you want to buy it, you have to go to the market early or even ask the seller in advance to set some aside for you. When choosing to buy, pay attention to the following characteristics:
– The surface of the rib meat should be dry, not wet. If you touch the meat and it feels moist, it may have been injected with water or frozen.
– The meat should be fresh, bright red in color, without any black spots.
– The meat should have no strange smell, should not release any liquid, and should be resilient.
What are some delicious ways to cook rib meat?
Rib meat has tender fibers and layers of fat, which makes it very soft and delicate. If you manage to buy a piece of rib meat, you can use it to make any dish, but boiling or steaming will retain the natural sweetness of the meat better. One of the simplest dishes is braised rib meat, you can refer to the recipe to treat your family!
Ingredients:
– 500g rib meat
– 1 bulb of garlic
– 1 onion
– Brown sugar, cinnamon, vinegar, cornstarch, star anise, peppercorns, rice wine, soy sauce
Instructions:
– Rinse the rib meat, soak it in diluted saltwater to remove any unpleasant odor. Then, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
– Peel the garlic and onion, wash them. Thinly slice the onion.
– Blanche the meat in boiling water for about 3-4 minutes.
– Remove the meat, put it in a pot. Add the onion, cinnamon, star anise, garlic, and peppercorns, pour enough water to cover the meat. Cover the pot, bring to a boil.
– When the water boils, remove the cover, add ½ teaspoon of vinegar and ½ tablespoon of rice wine to the pot. Simmer for about 7-8 minutes, then remove the cinnamon and star anise. Season with brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of soy sauce to taste. Continue simmering over low heat for about 15 minutes.
– When the meat is tender and the sauce is reduced, dissolve ½ tablespoon of cornstarch in water and pour it into the pot. Stir well to thicken the gravy, then turn off the heat.
This dish has deliciously tender rib meat, flavorful sauce, and goes well with rice or bread.
Tips for cooking delicious rib meat:
The recipe seems quite simple to cook, but to make the perfect dish, when cooking rib meat, please remember the following points:
– Cook the meat for a sufficient amount of time to ensure it is tender, fragrant, and not tough.
– Instead of blanching the meat, you can sear it in a pan until it turns golden on both sides before stewing or braising.
– When blanching the meat, you can add 1-2 slices of fresh ginger or scallions to effectively remove any unpleasant odor.
– Instead of using rice wine, you can use apple wine or red wine to give the meat a unique and delicious flavor.
– Braised rib meat can be combined with various vegetables such as carrots or potatoes for a tasty dish.
