The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Finger-Lickin’ Good Sweet and Sour Ribs (Northern, Central, and Southern Styles) at Home

Sweet and sour spare ribs is a popular dish in Vietnam with many regional variations. In this article, we will explore different ways to prepare this delicious dish, originating from the North, Central, and South of the country.

Ingredients

• 500g of pork spare ribs
• 4 shallots
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 fresh chillies
• 3-5 tomatoes
• Basic seasonings: MSG, fish sauce, salt, sugar, cooking oil, pepper, vinegar

Note: Adjust the amount of ingredients to suit your taste. However, to achieve the best flavor, avoid using too much or too little of any ingredient as it may affect the natural taste of the dish.

Buying Good Quality Spare Ribs

To make tasty sweet and sour spare ribs, it is essential to choose fresh and high-quality pork spare ribs. Here are some tips to select the best spare ribs:

Color: Look for spare ribs with a light pink color, which indicates that the meat is fresh and tender.

Smell: Fresh spare ribs should not have any unpleasant odors. If the meat smells sour or rancid, it is not fresh.

Texture: Good quality spare ribs will have a firm and elastic texture. When pressed, the meat should spring back without leaving a dent.

Choose spare ribs with smaller bones and less fat to avoid greasiness in the dish.

Northern-Style Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

To prepare sweet and sour spare ribs in the style of Northern Vietnam, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Peel and wash the shallots and garlic, then crush and finely chop them. Set aside in a bowl.

For the chillies, choose fresh horn peppers. Cut them lengthwise, remove the seeds, and finely chop the flesh.

For the tomatoes, select ripe but firm ones. Wash, cut into quarters, remove the seeds, and chop into small cubes.

Step 2: Prepare the Spare Ribs

This step is crucial to ensuring the flavor of the dish. Wash the spare ribs thoroughly and soak them in a brine solution for about 10 minutes. Then, cut the ribs into bite-sized pieces.

In a bowl, marinate the spare ribs with a mixture of MSG, salt, pepper, and a small amount of sugar. Wearing food-grade gloves, massage the marinade into the meat for 3-5 minutes. Let the ribs rest for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

Step 3: Prepare the Vinegar Sauce

Mix 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 5 tablespoons of water, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.

Step 4: Fry the Spare Ribs

Heat a pan with 4 tablespoons of cooking oil. Add the chopped shallots and garlic to the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Remove the shallots and garlic from the pan and set aside.

In the same pan, fry the marinated spare ribs over medium heat. Turn the ribs occasionally to ensure even cooking and browning. Once the ribs are golden on both sides, remove them from the pan and drain the excess oil on a paper towel.

Step 5: Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce

In the same pan, add the chopped tomatoes and 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and broken down. Then, add the fried spare ribs back to the pan.

Pour in the prepared vinegar sauce and adjust the seasoning to taste. Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the chopped chillies and cook for another 2 minutes to allow the chillies to release their flavor.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Turn off the heat and transfer the spare ribs and sauce to a serving dish. Garnish with the fried shallots and garlic on top. Your Northern-style sweet and sour spare ribs are now ready to be enjoyed!

If desired, sprinkle some freshly ground black pepper on top to enhance the aroma and flavor of the dish.

Tip: Instead of using sugar, you can substitute it with honey. However, use twice the amount of honey as you would sugar, as honey is less sweet.

Desired Outcome

The Northern-style sweet and sour spare ribs should have the following characteristics:

• The meat and sauce should have a thick consistency, not watery.
• The dish should be well-seasoned, with a balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.
• The spare ribs should be tender and moist, not overcooked or dry.

2. Central-Style Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

In Central Vietnam, sweet and sour spare ribs are prepared with a unique twist. Follow this recipe to create a delicious dish with a distinct Central Vietnamese flavor.

Ingredients

• 500g of pork spare ribs
• 3 ripe chillies
• 4 tablespoons of white sugar
• Peanut oil
• Rice vinegar
• Onions
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Fresh coriander
• Other seasonings: MSG, chicken powder, black pepper, fish sauce, and cooking oil

Steps to Prepare Central-Style Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

To create this delicious dish, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Wash the spare ribs and soak them in a brine solution for about 5 minutes to remove any unpleasant odors. Rinse the ribs again and drain them in a colander.

Cut the spare ribs into bite-sized pieces. Peel and chop the onions and garlic. Grate or finely chop the ginger. Wash and finely chop the chillies, removing the seeds if desired to reduce the spiciness.

Step 2: Boil and Marinate the Spare Ribs

In a pot, bring some water to a boil with a pinch of salt and a few slices of ginger. Add the spare ribs and blanch them for about 1 minute. This step helps remove any impurities and enhances the flavor of the meat.

Remove the spare ribs from the pot and place them in a bowl. Season with MSG, chicken powder, sugar, chopped onions, garlic, and chillies to taste. Mix well and let the ribs marinate for about 45 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Step 3: Fry the Spare Ribs

Heat a pan with some peanut oil. Fry the marinated spare ribs over medium heat. First, fry the chopped onions and garlic until fragrant, then add the ribs to the pan. Continue frying until the ribs are cooked and slightly charred.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer the spare ribs to a serving dish and garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Your Central-style sweet and sour spare ribs are now ready to be savored!

Desired Outcome

The Central-style sweet and sour spare ribs should have the following characteristics:

• The meat should be cooked through, tender, and moist, with a slightly charred exterior.
• The dish should have a balanced blend of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, with the seasonings penetrating the meat.
• The sauce should be well-absorbed into the spare ribs, creating a harmonious combination of flavors.

3. Southern-Style Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

In Southern Vietnam, sweet and sour spare ribs are prepared with a unique twist. Discover the secrets to creating this mouthwatering dish with a distinct Southern flair.

Ingredients

• 500g of pork spare ribs
• 4 shallots
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 green papaya
• 3 stalks of green onion
• Seasonings: MSG, salt, sugar, black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and cooking oil

Steps to Prepare Southern-Style Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Follow these steps to create a delicious Southern-style sweet and sour spare ribs:

Step 1: Prepare the Spare Ribs

Wash the spare ribs thoroughly and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Blanch the ribs in boiling water for 1-2 minutes to remove any unpleasant odors. Drain the ribs in a colander and pat them dry with a paper towel.

In a bowl, marinate the spare ribs with MSG, salt, sugar, and black pepper to taste. Let the ribs marinate for about 2 hours to absorb the flavors thoroughly.

Step 2: Prepare the Other Ingredients

Peel and chop the shallots and garlic. Wash and cut the green papaya into large pieces. Wash and chop the green onions into small sections.

Prepare the apple cider vinegar mixture by combining 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 3 tablespoons of water, and ⅓ tablespoon of salt. Stir until the sugar and salt dissolve completely. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute it with lemon juice.

Step 3: Fry the Spare Ribs

Heat a pan with 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Add the chopped shallots and garlic to the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Then, add the marinated spare ribs to the pan and fry until they are golden brown on all sides.

Note: Maintain a low to medium heat and stir frequently to ensure even cooking and browning.

Step 4: Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce

Add the prepared apple cider vinegar mixture to the pan, along with the chopped green papaya. Stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste. You can add more or less chillies depending on your preferred level of spiciness.

Continue cooking until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the chopped green onions and a pinch of black pepper to the pan and stir well. Your Southern-style sweet and sour spare ribs are now ready to be served!

Desired Outcome

The Southern-style sweet and sour spare ribs should have the following characteristics:

• The spare ribs should have an appealing golden color, neither burnt nor undercooked.
• The sauce should be thick and have a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
• The spare ribs should be well-seasoned, tender, and moist, not dry or tough.

4. Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with Tomatoes

For a unique twist on the traditional sweet and sour spare ribs, try adding tomatoes to the dish. This variation not only adds a burst of color but also a delicious tangy flavor. Let’s explore how to prepare this restaurant-worthy dish.

Ingredients

• 400g of pork spare ribs
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 onion
• Pineapple
• Cucumber
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Seasonings: Fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, salt, and other desired seasonings

Steps to Prepare Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with Tomatoes

Follow these steps to create a mouthwatering dish with a unique flavor profile:

Step 1: Prepare and Marinate the Spare Ribs

Wash the spare ribs thoroughly and soak them in a brine solution for a few minutes to remove any unpleasant odors. Cut the ribs into bite-sized pieces.

In a bowl, marinate the spare ribs with 40ml of fish sauce, 60g of sugar, and 5g of black pepper. You can adjust the amount of black pepper according to your preference. Refrigerate the ribs for about 40 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

Step 2: Prepare the Other Ingredients

Wash and chop the tomatoes into small cubes. Select a slightly unripe pineapple, as it will provide a nice tangy flavor without being too soft. Peel and cut the pineapple into 3cm cubes.

Wash and cut the cucumber, onion, bell pepper, and celery into small pieces.

Step 3: Fry the Spare Ribs

Heat a pan with some cooking oil. Add the marinated spare ribs to the hot oil and fry over low heat until they are golden brown on all sides. Remove the ribs from the pan and set aside.

Step 4: Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce

In the same pan, add the chopped onions and fry until golden brown. Then, add the tomatoes and cook until they are soft. Next, add the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, and celery to the pan and stir-fry until all the vegetables are cooked.

Return the fried spare ribs to the pan and season with fish sauce, sugar, and other desired seasonings to taste. Continue cooking for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer the sweet and sour spare ribs with tomatoes to a serving dish and enjoy while it’s hot with steamed rice or rice noodles.

Preparing sweet and sour spare ribs with tomatoes is quite simple, and the result is a delicious and unique dish for your family to enjoy.

5. Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with Tamarind

Another variation of the classic sweet and sour spare ribs uses tamarind to create a tangy and flavorful dish. Let’s explore how to prepare this mouthwatering dish with a unique twist.

Ingredients

• 500g of pork spare ribs
• 1 ripe tomato
• 50g of tamarind paste
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 shallots
• Other seasonings: MSG, chicken powder, salt, fish sauce, black pepper, and cooking oil

Steps to Prepare Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with Tamarind

Follow these simple steps to create a