Chinese Bistro Ribs Recipes

TAKEOUT-STYLE CHINESE SPARE RIBS

Steps:

• Mix together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger and food coloring in a metal, non-reactive bowl. Pour the marinade into a large zip-top bag, reserving 1/2 cup on the side for basting later. Add the ribs to the bag and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 3 hours, though longer is better and overnight is ideal.
• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to 275 degrees F for direct and indirect grilling.
• Remove the ribs from the marinade (discard the marinade) and place onto a wire rack. Place the rack directly on the cooler side of the grill. Cook until the meat is very tender, basting with the reserved marinade 3 times during the cooking process, 2 to 3 hours.
• Drizzle the ribs with honey, move them to the direct heat side and quickly char each rib to caramelize.

CHINESE-STYLE BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, mince garlic and scallions. Add hoisin, ketchup, honey, soy sauce, rice wine or vodka, rice vinegar and five-spice powder. Process until well blended. Taste for sweetness; the mixture should be sweet like barbecue sauce, not candy. Adjust the taste with honey, soy sauce and vinegar.
• Set aside 1/3 cup marinade for basting. Transfer remaining marinade to a container or pan large enough to hold the ribs, or to large resealable plastic bags. Add ribs and turn until well coated. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, and up to 2 days, turning occasionally in the marinade.
• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Set up a rimmed baking sheet (or two) with an oven-safe wire rack that fits inside, the kind you'd use for cooling cookies. Line the bottoms of the pans with foil or nonstick baking mats. Place the racks inside the pans and place the empty pans on the bottom rack of the oven. Pour in hot water until it comes about halfway up the sides of the pan. (Do not skip the water: The steam helps cook the meat to the right tenderness.)
• When the oven is hot, remove the ribs from the marinade and place on the racks, meaty side up. Bake without basting, 1 hour for baby back ribs, 2 hours for St. Louis style ribs. Check the water level occasionally to make sure it hasn't cooked off.
• Remove ribs from the oven and raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Pour off any water from the baking sheet and return the ribs to the racks. (Alternatively, you can finish the ribs on a medium-hot grill; see below.)
• Return ribs to the oven and roast (or grill), basting 2 or 3 times with reserved marinade, for 20 to 30 minutes (less time for baby backs, more for spareribs). Watch the ribs carefully to make sure that the edges don't burn, and don't baste them too close to the end; they should be dry and sticky, not wet on the surface.
• Use a big knife to cut between the bones, making sure that each rib has meat on both sides. Mound on a platter, sprinkle with scallions and cilantro, and serve immediately.

CHINESE SPARERIBS

Steps:

• In a shallow glass dish, mix together the hoisin sauce, ketchup, honey, soy sauce, sake, rice vinegar, lemon juice, ginger, garlic and five-spice powder. Place the ribs in the dish, and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or as long as overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Fill a broiler tray with enough water to cover the bottom. Place the grate or rack over the tray. Arrange the ribs on the grate.
• Place the broiler rack in the center of the oven. Cook for 40 minutes, turning and brushing with the marinade every 10 minutes. Let the marinade cook on for the final 10 minutes to make a glaze. Finish under the broiler if desired. Discard any remaining marinade.

CHINESE BISTRO RIBS

Steps:

• Rinse beans and soak in warm water to cover, changing water once halfway through soaking, 30 minutes total. Drain beans and finely chop, then stir together with garlic, ginger, and onion in a small bowl.
• Pour boiling water over tea bags and brew 5 minutes (discard bags).
• Pat ribs dry and heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown ribs in 2 batches, turning over, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a bowl as browned.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil from skillet and reduce heat to moderate. Add black bean mixture and stir-fry 1 minute. Stir in tea, soy sauce, Sherry, vinegar, and syrup, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet. Add ribs to sauce and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender, about 1 hour. Remove lid and boil, stirring, until almost all of sauce is evaporated and ribs are well glazed, 10 to 15 minutes.
• *Available at Asian markets.

CHINESE PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Put the ribs in a large pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins. Meanwhile, pour the hoisin sauce in a jug and stir in the soy sauce, honey, vinegar and five-spice.
• Drain the ribs very well, then brush with the glaze - if barbecuing, chill, cover and keep in the fridge for later.
• Heat the grill to high, if using. Grill or barbecue for 15-20 mins, turning from time to time until shiny and slightly charred in places. Serve hot.

CHINESE BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Reserve half of the sauce for basting., Place ribs, bone side down, in a shallow roasting pan lined with foil. Spoon remaining sauce over ribs. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour; drain. , Bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes or until ribs are tender, basting occasionally with reserved sauce. Cut ribs into serving-size pieces. Sprinkle with green onions if desired.

CHINESE SPARERIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place previously cut ribs in a shallow foil-lined pan, meaty side down.
• Combine soy sauce, honey, sherry, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl.
• Brush ribs with sauce, reserving left over sauce.
• Cover pan tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
• Turn ribs over and pour remaining sauce over ribs, brushing thoroughly.
• Bake, uncovered, an additional 30 minutes, brushing sauce from pan over ribs occasionally.
• Remove from oven.
• Sprinkle with chopped green onion and sesame seeds.
• Serve.

CHINESE-STYLE BBQ PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Peel membrane off the bone side of ribs, if desired. Poke meat all over with a fork; place ribs in a resealable plastic zip-top bag.
• Mix soy sauce, white wine, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, five-spice, and black pepper together. Pour over the ribs in the bag, seal, and marinate at least 1 hour, ideally overnight. Shake bag occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove ribs from marinade and place in a greased baking pan. Discard marinade.
• Bake in the preheated oven, turning once, until meat pulls away easily from the bone, 50 to 55 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, mix hoisin sauce, honey, sesame oil, wine, brown sugar, five-spice, garlic powder, and pepper together for the BBQ sauce. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Keep ribs wrapped in aluminum foil until ready to grill.
• Grill ribs over medium-low to medium heat, brushing with the BBQ sauce, until sauce is thick and ribs are heated through, with some grill marks, 15 to 20 minutes. Do not overcook or they will become dry. Slice before serving.