Apple Soy Braised Pork Ribs

Ingredients

• 1 whole rack of baby back ribs ((pork – about 2- 3lbs / 1 -1.3 kg or individual pork ribs))
• 2 granny smith apple
• 1 onion
• 1 large or 2 small carrots
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 thumb size ginger
• 6 Tbsp dark soy sauce ((jinkanjang))
• 4 Tbsp rice wine or sake
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary ((optional))
• 2 sage leaves ((fresh leaves, optional))
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 325 °F (160°C).

2. 2

   Trim as much fat as possible from ribs and cut into individual ribs if it’s a whole rack.

3. 3

   --- Blend the following in a blender to make the apple soy ginger sauce/marinade ---

4. 4

   1 small granny smith apple (if using sweeter apple like fuji, use less sugar and add 1 Tbs of apple cider vinegar)

5. 5

   1 small thumb size ginger

6. 6

   1/4 cup apple juice

7. 7

   2 Tbs soy sauce

8. 8

   2 Tbs rice wine or sake

9. 9

   2 Tbs sugar

10. 10

    salt and pepper

11. 11

    Marinate the pork ribs in the sauce for about 15 min or more

12. 12

    Clean and peel carrots, onion and apple.

13. 13

    Cut carrot, onion and apple into chunks of similar size.

14. 14

    Remove ribs from marinade (remove any excess marinade from ribs and save remaining marinade). Heat 1 Tbs oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat and brown ribs on all sides.

15. 15

    Take ribs out of pot and set aside.

16. 16

    Add 1 more Tbs of oil, add onions, carrots and apples and season with salt and pepper. Stir often to make sure things don’t burn. Cook until soft for about 5 min.

17. 17

    Deglaze pan by first adding 1/4 cup apple juice, making sure you scrape off all the good brown bits stuck at the bottom and side of pan. Add rest of braising liquid – 1/4 cup apple juice, 1 1/2 cups water, 4 Tbs soy sauce, 2 Tbs rice wine. Also add 1/2 of leftover marinade from ribs, 1 Tbs red pepper flakes, rosemary and sage.

18. 18

    Add ribs back in the pot. Bring liquid to simmer.

19. 19

    Bake in oven, covered for 1 1/2 hr. Bake uncovered for 30 min to reduce liquid.