Spicy Braised Pork Ribs
Melt-Your-Mouth Spicy Pork Ribs: The Ultimate Recipe
Feeling under the weather and losing your appetite? Tired of takeout and an empty fridge? I had some pork ribs on hand from a sale, so I decided to make them extra spicy to chase away any lingering sniffles! It’s been a while since I enjoyed a meal that made my eyes water and nose run, and it really boosted my spirits. Let’s get started on this tear-jerkingly delicious spicy pork ribs recipe!
Main Ingredients
- 1kg Pork ribs
- 2 Korean green chilies (cheongyang peppers)
- 1 handful Tteokbokki rice cakes
- 100ml Cheongju (rice wine)
- Milk, as needed (for soaking)
- A pinch of sesame seeds
For Boiling the Ribs
- 1.5L Water
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/2 Scallion (green part)
- 2 Bay leaves
- 20 Peppercorns
Spicy Sauce
- 5 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp Maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp Corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp Pear nectar (or grated pear)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1.5L Water
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/2 Scallion (green part)
- 2 Bay leaves
- 20 Peppercorns
Spicy Sauce
- 5 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp Maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp Corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp Pear nectar (or grated pear)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Soaking the ribs is key to removing excess blood and impurities. Submerge the pork ribs in cold water or milk for about 2 hours. Soaking in milk helps tenderize the meat and reduce any gamey odor.
Step 2
In a pot large enough to hold the ribs, combine 1.5L of water with 100ml of Cheongju (rice wine) to help eliminate odors. Add the aromatics: 1/2 onion, 1/2 scallion, 2 bay leaves, and about 20 peppercorns. This will form your flavorful broth.
Step 3
Add the soaked pork ribs to the pot with the broth ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for 20 minutes. This initial boiling step helps to further tenderize the meat and remove any remaining impurities.
Step 4
Prepare your rice cakes now. The photo shows cheese-filled tteokbokki cakes, but any kind will work. If you’re not a fan of rice cakes, feel free to omit them.
Step 5
For that extra kick of spice, thinly slice the Korean green chilies on an angle. Adjust the amount based on your spice preference.
Step 6
Now, let’s make the delicious spicy sauce. In a bowl, combine 5 Tbsp gochugaru, 5 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp maesilcheong, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 2 Tbsp mulyeot, 2 Tbsp mirin, and 2 Tbsp pear nectar. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk everything together until well combined.
Step 7
After 20 minutes of simmering, the vegetables in the broth should be soft, and the ribs should be about 70-80% cooked. Be careful not to overcook them at this stage, or they might fall apart later.
Step 8
Carefully transfer the par-boiled ribs to a clean bowl. Strain the broth through a sieve to remove all the cooked vegetables and peppercorns. Don’t discard this flavorful broth; we’ll use it for braising!
Step 9
Return the pork ribs to the pot with the strained broth. Pour in all the prepared spicy sauce. Turn the heat back up to high and bring it to a boil.
Step 10
Once the sauce starts to bubble vigorously, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 15 more minutes, allowing the ribs to absorb all the delicious flavors. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Step 11
When the sauce has thickened to a nice, glossy consistency, add the sliced green chilies and the prepared rice cakes. The rice cakes will soak up the spicy sauce, making them incredibly tasty.
Step 12
Gently stir everything together to coat the ribs and rice cakes. Continue to simmer for another 3-4 minutes, or until the rice cakes are tender. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with a little salt if needed, being careful not to make it too salty.
Step 13
Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of toasted sesame seeds over the top. Your incredibly flavorful and spicy braised pork ribs are ready to impress!
Step 14
But the meal isn’t truly complete without this final step! Mix some cooked rice, a spoonful of the leftover rib sauce, and some crumbled seaweed into the pot. Stir-fry it all together for a perfectly satisfying end to the meal. This fried rice is an absolute must-try!
