This recipe for Dim Sum-Style Steamed Pork Spare Ribs 蒸排骨 is a delicious Chinese dish featuring velvety, marinated pork ribs in a savory, black bean-studded sauce.
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What are spare ribs?
Spare ribs (also known as side ribs or pork ribs) are found on the lower portion of the pig.
They consist of rib bones covered with meat and fat.
Short ribs refers to beef, where as spare ribs refers to pork.
Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe for Chinese dim sum style steamed pork ribs (蒸排骨) is:
Easy to make: this Chinese pork spare ribs dish is actually one of the more easier Chinese dim sum dishes to make.
Delicious and flavorful: the savory salted black beans adds a depth of flavor to the pork ribs.
Worth making at home: it's much more economical to make this at home, and you'll know exactly what goes into the Chinese spareribs.
Ingredients you'll need
- pork spare ribs (排骨): cut into small pieces -- use a sharp, heavy cleaver to do this
- salted black beans (豆豉): (also known as fermented black beans); rinsed and soaked in water for 5-10 minutes, then slightly mashed; usually comes dried in a package
- black bean sauce (豆豉醬): comes in a jar, sometimes already seasoned with soy sauce, sugar; I used one by Lee Kum Kee
- sea salt (鹽)
- black pepper (黑胡椒)
- granulated sugar (砂糖)
- sand ginger powder (沙薑粉): is a light-colored powder with a peppery aroma, part of the galangal family; you can find this in Asian supermarkets, specialty spice stores or online
- Shaoxing wine (紹興酒): adds additional flavor; you can substitute with dry sherry
- light soy sauce (生抽): or regular soy sauce
- cornstarch (鷹粟粉): keeps the pork velvety and tender, and thickens the sauce a little
Where to buy?
You can find these ingredients at Asian grocery stores, large supermarkets with an International Aisle, or online.
How to make Chinese steamed spare ribs
In a bowl, combine cut pork ribs, drained and slightly mashed salted black beans, black bean sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, sand ginger powder, Shaoxing wine and light soy sauce.
Mix well to combine and place into the fridge for 30 minutes to marinate.
To the marinated pork ribs, add in the cornstarch and mix again to combine.
Transfer to a heat-proof shallow bowl.
Prepare a steamer over a pot of water on high heat.
Add the pork spare ribs to the steamer and cover with a lid.
Steam for 30 minutes, or until the meat is tender.
Remove from the steamer and garnish with chopped green onion and red chilies, if desired.
How to serve
Serve the steamed pork ribs hot with steamed rice, fried rice, congee (粥), veggies, noodles, or alongside other dim sum dishes such as shrimp dumplings (蝦餃) (har gow), pork siu mai (燒賣), taro puffs (芋角), steamed taro cake (芋頭糕), Chinese radish cake (蘿蔔糕), char siu bao (叉燒包), rice noodle rolls (腸粉) (cheong fun), or sticky rice in lotus leaf (糯米雞) (lo mai gai).
How to store & reheat
Store the steamed ribs with black bean sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Reheat by re-steaming the dim sum spare ribs until warmed through.
Other dim sum recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe?
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Chinese Steamed Pork Spare Ribs (蒸排骨)
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork ribs (排骨) cut into small pieces
- ½ tablespoon salted black beans (豆豉) rinsed and soaked for 5-10 minutes, slightly mashed
- ½ tablespoon black bean sauce (豆豉醬)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (鹽)
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (黑胡椒)
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar (砂糖)
- 1 teaspoon sand ginger powder (沙薑粉)
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (紹興酒)
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (生抽)
- 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch (鷹粟粉)
Garnish:
- 1 stalk green onions (蔥) chopped
- 1 red chili (紅辣椒) optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cut pork ribs, drained and slightly mashed salted black beans, black bean sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, sand ginger powder, Shaoxing wine and light soy sauce.
- Mix well to combine and place into the fridge for 30 minutes to marinate.
- To the marinated pork ribs, add in the cornstarch and mix again to combine.
- Transfer to a heat-proof shallow bowl.
- Prepare a steamer over a pot of water on high heat.
- Add the pork spare ribs to the steamer and cover with a lid.
- Steam for 30 minutes, or until the meat is tender.
- Remove from the steamer and garnish with chopped green onion and red chilies, if desired.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
David @ Spiced
Wow - these look mouthwateringly good! I'm familiar with Lee Kum Kee sauces, but I've never tried the black bean sauce. Sounds like a good excuse to make this recipe!
Michelle
Thanks David, you could definitely use LKK sauce as a shortcut!
Raymund | angsarap.net
Michelle, your recipe for Dim Sum-Style Steamed Pork Spare Ribs sounds absolutely mouthwatering! It is one of my fave dimsums.
Michelle
Thanks Raymund! It is so flavorful and the pork ribs go well with a bowl of steamed rice 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine
Love this simple but delicious spare rib recipe. So tender and with the mild Cantonese flavors we adore.