… I absolutely adore spare ribs… there’s something about food that’s invented to be picked up and get messy with that I love. Like many people in the UK it was Chinese food that first introduced me to ribs as a kid. I would always order them without fail and be salivating whilst I peeled back the cover from the foil box and the heady scent of sweet garlic escaped. I would gnaw those little beauties down to the bone and sometimes beyond, making a complete mess of my entire face, hands and no doubt my shirt. It wasn’t until I was much older on my first visit to the States that I experienced the American Rib in all it’s sticky glory. At that time I had no idea quite what a big deal it was and how ribs were a massive part of the American food culture but with their love of the bbq it all becomes crystal clear but fascinating how two cultures such as the Chinese and American seem worlds apart but they have very similar foods and now that we’re in the middle of a food culture explosion here in the UK it’s fascinating to see a return to the food I loved as a kid but delivered in a slightly different way.
ginger beer sticky ribs
my ribs are a fusion of both the American sticky rib and the Chinese garlic rib and they’re extremely simple to make and utterly utterly divine… i’ve taken the concept of the coca cola cooked ribs and given it a twist with some gorgeous Bundaberg Ginger Beer. I love ginger beer and anything ginger so this was an easy win for me… i’ve even enhanced the ginger flavour with large chunks of fresh ginger that have become sticky sweet little bombs of flavour in all the slow-cooking…
enough for two greedy pigs…
8 pork ribs (i’ve gone for the mathematics of 4 ribs per person but frankly I could eat twice as much)
50g chopped pancetta
7 shallots – roughly chopped
1 fingers length of fresh ginger, peeled and diced
6 bulbs of garlic – crushed
1 375ml bottle ginger beer
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon english mustard powder
3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
pre-heat the oven to 150C
place the ribs into a large oven-proof dish that has a lid. Pour over the ginger beer and throw in all the other ingredients and then get your hands stuck in and smoosh it all together.
pop the lid on and roast in the oven for at least an hour, then take the lid off, turn the heat up to 180C and roast for a further 40 minutes, turning half way… you should end up with a gloriously sticky sauce and some beautifully darkened, meat falling off the bone, ribs
if you want to cook these on the BBQ then simply do the first stage in the oven and then transfer to a hot grill
eat and of course, enjoy!
Sammie says
Ooh these look delicious. What is it about food eaten with our hands – especially when knawing on a bone?? Love the ginger beer twist. Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com
Beck @ Goldenpudding says
sounds beautifully spicy and delicious, and using our local Bundaberg ginger beer too!
Sue/the view from great island says
Thanks for this, Dom – my husband just loves ribs and I keep procrastinating – I've never made them! I love the complexity of flavors in this recipe – I'm going to finally do it!!
Jenny Eatwell says
Ermagherd! Ginger beer ribs? Yes please! Get IN. 😀 I've bookmarked this recipe for my very next fix of nibblish, stickyish, chewful gorgeousness. It just has to be done!
Karen S Booth says
I LOVE sticky ribs and with ginger beer, that is PURE genious Dom!
Karen S Booth says
PS: Sorry for typos, I pressed post before checking – I was so excited at seeing those lush ribs!
Corina says
I love homemade ribs – I think I'll be making something inspired by this this week!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Yes please! Send them over straight away! I need to eat the whole lot….. they look so tempting! A perfect combo of sweet and savoury!
Susan Lindquist says
Prime summertime bbq fare! We always make four racks of baby backs for our annual blueberry picking party … and there are never leftovers! Yours look smashing!
Tricia Buice says
Well I could certainly make a pig out of myself for these! They sound amazing. Have a great week!