Chinese Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs Recipe

These Chinese Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs (糖醋排骨) are simmered with soy sauce, vinegar, rice wine, garlic, and brown sugar until tender and coated in a glossy, tangy-sweet sauce. Use long ribs like my mom did or Chinese-style ribs cut into 1–2-inch pieces.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound pork spare ribs, left as long individual ribs or cut crosswise into 1–2-inch pieces
• Water, as needed
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 5 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 tablespoons michiu or Chinese rice cooking wine
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar or Chinese black vinegar
• 2 red chili peppers, chopped, optional
• 2 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Blanch the ribs: Place the ribs in a...: Blanch the ribs: Place the ribs in a pot and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for 2–3 minutes. Drain and discard the blanching water. Rinse the ribs briefly, checking chopped ribs for loose bone fragments, and drain well.
2. 2Melt the sugar: Heat the cooking oil in...: Melt the sugar: Heat the cooking oil in a wok or deep pan over low heat. Add the smashed garlic and brown sugar. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the sugar begins to melt. Do not let it burn.
3. 3Season the ribs: Add the ribs and stir...: Season the ribs: Add the ribs and stir to coat them in the sugar mixture. Add the michiu, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, vinegar, and red chili peppers. Stir well.
4. 4Simmer: Add enough hot water to almost cover...: Simmer: Add enough hot water to almost cover the ribs. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer chopped 1–2-inch ribs for 25–35 minutes or longer ribs for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
5. 5Reduce the sauce: Remove the lid and increase...: Reduce the sauce: Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium or medium-high. Cook for another 5–10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid reduces into a thick, glossy sauce that coats the ribs.
6. 6Finish: Add the green onions and stir well....: Finish: Add the green onions and stir well. Turn off the heat and serve hot with steamed white rice.