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Tender, fall-off-the-bone pork spareribs coated in a vibrant, sticky sweet and sour sauce. This Chinese-American takeout classic is surprisingly easy to make at home and perfect for a family dinner.
Boil and Tenderize the Spareribs
Prepare the Sweet and Sour Sauce
Coat and Fry the Spareribs
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Tender, fall-off-the-bone pork spareribs coated in a vibrant, sticky sweet and sour sauce. This Chinese-American takeout classic is surprisingly easy to make at home and perfect for a family dinner.
This chinese_american recipe takes 90 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 1126.11 calories per serving with 47.35g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for dinner or lunch.
Assemble the Dish
Garnish and Serve
This sauce works wonderfully with other proteins. Try it with bite-sized pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, pork loin, or firm tofu. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
For a lower-fat option, skip the frying. After boiling and coating the ribs, arrange them on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp. Then, toss with the sauce.
Feel free to add other vegetables like sliced carrots, water chestnuts, or baby corn. Add the carrots with the onions and peppers, and the canned vegetables with the pineapple.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a touch of heat.
Pork spareribs are rich in high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, muscle maintenance, and supporting overall body function.
Pork is a good source of several B vitamins, including thiamine (B1), niacin (B3), and B6. These vitamins play a vital role in energy metabolism, brain function, and the formation of red blood cells.
This dish provides important minerals like zinc and selenium from the pork. Zinc is crucial for immune function and wound healing, while selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
The bell peppers and pineapple in the sauce are excellent sources of Vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports the immune system and promotes healthy skin.
A typical serving of homemade Sweet and Sour Spareribs contains approximately 650-750 calories. The exact number can vary based on the fat content of the pork, the amount of oil absorbed during frying, and the quantity of sugar in the sauce.
While delicious, this dish is generally considered an indulgence. It is high in calories, fat, sodium, and sugar. The boiling process helps render some fat from the ribs, but frying adds it back. To make it healthier, you can bake the ribs instead of frying and reduce the amount of sugar in the sauce.
Boiling the ribs is a crucial step for achieving a fall-off-the-bone texture. It tenderizes the meat and renders a significant amount of fat. Skipping this step will result in much tougher, chewier ribs that take longer to cook through during the frying stage.
You can perform some steps in advance. The ribs can be boiled, dried, and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The sauce can also be prepared and refrigerated. For the best texture, it's recommended to fry the ribs and assemble the final dish just before serving to ensure they are crispy.
If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it's still not thick enough, you can add a little more cornstarch slurry (mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 2 tsp cold water). If the sauce is too thick, simply whisk in a tablespoon of water or pineapple juice at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
Yes, an air fryer is a great alternative to shallow frying. After boiling and coating the ribs, place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.