Food & Receipts

The Perfect Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs: A Tasty, Tangy, and Tender Treat

Sweet and sour spare ribs is a dish loved by both adults and children alike. This mouth-watering, tantalizing dish is a feast for the senses and a favorite among many. With its perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors, this dish is a true delight. Learn how to create this delectable dish that will leave your taste buds dancing and your eyes sparkling with joy.

Administrator

1 December, 2024

Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

– Spare ribs: about 800 – 900 grams

– Onions: 2 bulbs, chopped finely

– Garlic: 1 bulb, minced

– Seasonings: fish sauce, salt, sugar, vinegar, and pepper

– Pork belly: for added flavor and moisture

Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

How to Make Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Selecting and Preparing the Spare Ribs

There are three types of pork ribs: front ribs (including the first 6 ribs from the neck down), middle ribs (6 – 8 middle ribs), and back ribs (the last few ribs). For sweet and sour spare ribs, it’s best to choose middle ribs (pork loin). These ribs have flat bones, thick and tender meat, making them ideal for this dish without worrying about dryness.

When selecting spare ribs, look for fresh, bright pink pieces with good elasticity when pressed and a dry surface, free from slimy wetness.

Once you’ve chosen your desired ribs, separate the ribs and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Then, soak the ribs in a dilute salt water solution for a while, rinse them, and let them air dry. This step helps remove any unpleasant odors and enhances the flavor of the ribs before cooking.

Preparing the Other Ingredients

To prepare sweet and sour spare ribs in the Northern style, the main ingredients that create the distinctive flavor are traditional fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Unlike the Southern style, which often uses a variety of ingredients, this dish offers a simple yet sophisticated blend.

First, prepare the onions and garlic by peeling and chopping them finely. Some people like to take it a step further by pounding the garlic to extract its juice, keeping the pulp to fry and create an attractive aroma for the dish. If you want to add a pop of color to your stir-fry, you can add a little bit of caramel sauce, but this step is optional.

Next, make the sauce for the ribs by combining 3 tablespoons of 30-degree protein fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Add a little water to dissolve the ingredients and create a homogeneous mixture. Note that if you choose a fish sauce with a higher protein content, your dish will be saltier, so adjust the seasoning to your family’s taste.

Note that if you choose a fish sauce with a higher protein content, your dish will be saltier, so adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Blanching and Marinating the Spare Ribs

To prepare the spare ribs, place them in a pot of cold water with a little bit of salt, and bring it to a boil. Add the chopped onion to the pot to infuse its aroma. Blanching the ribs in cold water before boiling helps remove impurities more effectively. If you put the ribs directly into hot water, the surface will seal, trapping any dirt or impurities inside.

Once the water boils, remove the ribs and rinse them under the tap. To make it easier to separate the meat from the bone and improve the taste, you can use a sharp knife to make an incision along the rib where the tendon is located.

The next step is to marinate the ribs. Mix the ribs with 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper. Combine all the ingredients well and let the ribs absorb the flavors for about 30 minutes. If you’ve already pounded and extracted garlic juice, now is the ideal time to add it to the marinade to enhance the flavor.

Frying the Spare Ribs

First, heat the pork belly fat in a pan. Then, divide the spare ribs into smaller batches and fry them. Fry until all sides of the ribs turn a beautiful golden color. Note that because you made an incision along the tendon, the meat will separate slightly while still remaining attached, making it easier to detach the meat from the bone when eating.

It’s important to remember to only fry the ribs until they are golden; overdoing it can make them dry and tough. The goal is to achieve a crispy outer layer while retaining moisture and flavor on the inside.

Stir-Frying in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Start by frying the onions and garlic in the pan until fragrant. Then, add the prepared spare ribs along with the sauce mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar. Simmer over low to medium heat, stirring continuously, so that the sauce permeates every piece of rib. When the sauce starts to thicken and turns an attractive reddish-brown color, your dish is ready.

Finally, place the ribs on a plate, drizzle the sauce over them, and serve hot, accompanied by white rice for a more enticing and complete flavor experience.

Serve the ribs hot with white rice for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Desired Outcome

The sweet and sour spare ribs should meet specific criteria to achieve perfection. The ribs should be tender, with meat that easily separates from the bone, showcasing its deliciousness. The sour, salty, and sweet flavors must blend harmoniously, creating an appealing balance in every bite. The sauce should have a moderate thickness, with a natural reddish-brown color that is visually appealing and enticing.

When served, this dish is even more exceptional when accompanied by hot white rice and pickled cucumbers. This combination not only enhances the flavors but also provides a satisfying and tasty dining experience for the whole family.

Notes on Cooking Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

When it comes to sweet and sour spare ribs, there is a distinct difference between the Northern style, especially in Hanoi, and other regions, such as the South or Chinese cuisine. Northern-style spare ribs tend to retain the original flavor, using familiar ingredients like vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, along with dried onions, and garlic to create a pure and savory dish.

In contrast, the Southern and Chinese versions offer unique twists. They often coat the ribs with batter and deep-fry them to create a crispy texture, pairing them with a tomato and bell pepper stir-fry, adding not only color but also flavor to the dish.

When cooking spare ribs, pay attention to frying them just right, so the surface is slightly charred but not overdone, to avoid making the meat dry and tough. Additionally, you can adjust the amounts of fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar to suit your personal taste preferences, ensuring that each rib is just right and full of flavor.