How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs in 30 Minutes (New Method)
Unlike other methods, this sweet and sour pork ribs recipe skips the frying step, so it only takes 30 minutes to complete. The ribs remain tender and fall off the bone, making it perfect for those with a busy schedule.
Ingredients
- 700g baby back ribs
- 1-2 chili peppers
- 2 garlic cloves
- Annatto oil
- Rice vinegar
- Coconut caramel sauce
- Coarse salt
- Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, MSG, seasoning powder, pepper
Instructions
Prepare and Marinate the Ribs
Cut the ribs into bite-sized pieces, rinse thoroughly, and blanch them. Boil a pot of water with a pinch of coarse salt. When the water is boiling, add the ribs and blanch for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the ribs and rinse them well under running water. This step helps clean the ribs, preventing any bone fragments and reducing the amount of scum during cooking. Additionally, rinsing the ribs under water helps make them more tender.
After rinsing, marinate the ribs in the pot with the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon annatto oil
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning powder (optional, for a stronger flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon MSG
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon coconut caramel sauce
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
The amount of seasoning used is ideal for 700g to 800g of ribs. If you are cooking more or less, adjust the seasoning to taste.
Peel and finely chop the garlic.
If you like it spicy, chop 1-2 fresh chili peppers as well.
Cook the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
Place the marinated ribs on the stove, cover the pot, and cook on low heat.
The traditional method for making sweet and sour pork ribs involves frying the ribs, but if not done carefully, the ribs can become either undercooked or too crispy, resulting in tough and dry ribs.
With this method, after marinating, simply let the ribs simmer gently on low heat without frying or using high heat.
Ribs, like chicken, cook well with steam, so just cover the pot and cook for about 25 minutes. The ribs will become tender and fall off the bone.
After about 25 minutes, when the ribs are tender, add the minced garlic and chili. Increase the heat and stir until the ribs turn a beautiful caramel brown and the sweet and sour sauce thickens. Then, turn off the heat.
Transfer the sweet and sour pork ribs to a plate and serve with hot rice.
Note that sweet and sour pork ribs are best enjoyed hot and should not be reheated multiple times or eaten over several meals.
Reheating the ribs will cause them to dry out and lose their tender, juicy texture. Therefore, it's best to cook only the amount you plan to eat to avoid waste.
If you don't have much time but still want to enjoy tender, delicious sweet and sour pork ribs, give this method a try.
Tips & Notes
When preparing the ingredients, pay attention to selecting the right ribs.
Sweet and sour pork ribs typically use baby back ribs, which are meaty and tender. If you prefer more cartilage, you can opt for spare ribs, which are better suited for noodle dishes like sour rib noodles.
This method requires a bit of annatto oil to give the sweet and sour pork ribs a more appealing color.
