Steamed Garlic Pork Ribs


Steamed garlic pork ribs flavoured with garlic. Yup, tonnes and tonnes of garlic. Heaps of garlic. Garlic galore!

Nothing but garlic? A bit too simple, perhaps?

Nope, not at all. The garlic is incorporated in 4 different ways. That’s not so simple, is it?

How to incorporate garlic in 4 different ways?

Pork ribs are marinated with raw and fried garlic, and then steamed. Steaming mellows the sharp flavours of raw and fried garlic.

When the ribs are done and almost falling off the bones, more fried garlic is added, along with a bit of fried garlic oil. This time, the fried garlic and oil retain their full aroma.

The layering effect creates a complexity that belies the use of only one flavouring agent. If you love garlic, steamed garlic pork ribs would be right up your alley. If you’re a vampire, then it’s a different story.

The ingredients for steaming ribs with garlic are very simple. But, as Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Garlic’s been used as a cooking ingredient for 6,000 years. Don’t underestimate the plant that sprouted from Satan’s left foot as he was evicted by his landlord.

STEAMED GARLIC PORK RIBS (蒜香蒸排骨)

Source: Adapted from All About Pork Ribs
(Recipe for 4 persons)

400 g pork ribs, rinsed, dried, and chopped into small pieces 2½ cm (1 inch) long
2 packed tbsp fried minced garlic
2 packed tbsp raw garlic
⅛ tsp chicken powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
½ tbsp potato flour
Garnish
½ packed tbsp fried minced garlic
½ tbsp roughly chopped coriander
½ red chilli, slice thinly crosswise
½ tsp oil from frying garlic

1. In a deep plate, thoroughly mix everything except potato flour and garnish ingredients. Marinate for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with potato flour and mix till evenly coated.

2. Steam ribs over rapidly boiling water till tender, about 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Sprinkle with garnish ingredients.

3. Serve immediately.