Go Back

Chinese Spare Ribs

These Chinese spare ribs are marinated in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, honey, and five-spice for a sticky and delicious glaze that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs
  • 3 pounds St. Louis style pork spare ribs, cut into individual pieces Baby back ribs can be used as a substitute.
For the Marinade
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes Adjust for spiciness.
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 to 3 drops red food coloring Optional for color.
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch For thickening the glaze.
For Garnish
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds For garnish.
  • 2 pieces green onions, sliced For garnish.

Method
 

Build the Marinade
  1. Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, and five-spice powder until smooth and glossy.
  2. Add the brown sugar, red pepper flakes, garlic, and ginger, and stir until dissolves.
Prep the Ribs
  1. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels and slice between the bones into individual pieces.
Marinate Properly
  1. Place ribs in a large dish or resealable bag and pour marinade over them.
  2. Massage the marinade into the ribs, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
Roast Low and Slow
  1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with foil, arrange the ribs in a single layer, and cover with more foil.
  3. Roast for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Thicken the Glaze
  1. Pour reserved marinade into a saucepan, whisk in cornstarch, and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  2. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened into a glaze.
Broil for That Sticky Finish
  1. Uncover the ribs and brush them generously with the thickened glaze.
  2. Switch your oven to broil and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, watching closely.
Garnish and Serve
  1. Scatter sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the ribs and serve warm.

Notes

Marinate longer than 2 hours for deeper flavor; pat the ribs dry for better marinade adherence; keep an eye during broiling to prevent burning.