Crispy & Juicy Air Fryer Teriyaki Pork Ribs
Delicious Air Fryer Teriyaki Pork Ribs – A Perfect Weekend Family Meal
I made these delicious pork ribs in the air fryer for a weekend family feast. They turn out wonderfully crispy on the outside and incredibly juicy on the inside, infused with a savory-sweet teriyaki glaze. If you don’t have an air fryer, no worries! You can achieve a similar delicious result by pan-frying the ribs in a non-stick skillet over medium heat, letting the pork’s own rendered fat do the work without adding extra oil.
Main Ingredients- Pork spare ribs 900g
- Onion 1/2
- King oyster mushrooms (or enoki mushrooms) a handful
- Coarse salt a pinch
- Black pepper a pinch
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce- Soy sauce 6 Tbsp
- Mirin (or cooking sake) 6 Tbsp
- Sake or cooking wine with ginger essence 1 Tbsp
- Xylose sugar 2 Tbsp (or granulated sugar)
- Water 10 Tbsp
- Apple 1/4
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 6 Tbsp
- Mirin (or cooking sake) 6 Tbsp
- Sake or cooking wine with ginger essence 1 Tbsp
- Xylose sugar 2 Tbsp (or granulated sugar)
- Water 10 Tbsp
- Apple 1/4
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the pork spare ribs under cold running water for about 1 hour to remove any blood impurities. Pat the ribs thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season them generously on all sides with coarse salt and black pepper, and let them marinate for about 10 minutes. Place the seasoned ribs in an air fryer preheated to 180°C (350°F) and cook for 15 minutes for the first stage of cooking (par-cooking). If you don’t have an air fryer, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the ribs without any oil and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. The natural fat rendered from the pork will provide enough richness and prevent sticking.
Step 2
Prepare the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce. Peel the quartered apple and grate it finely using a grater. This will add a natural sweetness and depth of flavor to the sauce.
Step 3
In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce (6 Tbsp), mirin (6 Tbsp), xylose sugar (2 Tbsp), minced garlic (2 Tbsp), sake with ginger essence (1 Tbsp), and the grated apple. Add the water (10 Tbsp). Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Let it gently bubble and reduce until the sauce thickens and is about one-third of its original volume, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Taste and adjust sweetness or saltiness as needed.
Step 4
While the ribs are par-cooking, prepare the accompanying vegetables. Slice the onion into thick wedges and trim the root end of the king oyster mushrooms, then separate them into smaller pieces. You can cut the vegetables into your desired shapes.
Step 5
Once the ribs have completed their first cooking stage, remove them from the air fryer. Using a pastry brush, generously coat both sides of the ribs with the prepared teriyaki sauce. Return the glazed ribs to the air fryer, still at 180°C (350°F), and cook for another 15 minutes. This second cooking stage allows the sauce to caramelize and adhere beautifully to the ribs, creating a glossy, appealing finish.
Step 6
When the ribs are nearly done, add the prepared onion wedges and mushrooms to the air fryer with the ribs. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. This final step will gently cook the vegetables until tender and slightly sweet, making them a perfect complement to the rich teriyaki ribs. Serve the finished pork ribs immediately while hot and delicious.
