Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs — Culinary Seasons
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These Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs are easy to make. Assembling the BBQ sauce is as easy as mixing it together. Marinate them overnight and smoke or roast in the oven and you will get some deliciously flavored ribs with the the aromatic flavors of hoisin, five spice powder, ginger and garlic.
The classic flavors of hoisin and five spice powder infuse the sauce and the end result is a bbq sauce that is a sweet and tangy glaze for the Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs.
Hoisin is the backbone of this sauce, in addition, the ketchup brings in notes of vinegar and sugar that help balance the sweet and sour flavor of the sauce. Although this sauce has ketchup as an ingredient, the flavors of the final sauce doesn’t have a tomato flavor like some American style bbq sauces.
Use all of the sauce as a marinade for two racks of ribs and reserve the marinade after they go on the smoker. After the ribs go are removed then bring the sauce to a boil and reduce to a medium simmer. Reduce the sauce by 1/3 and then taste the sauce and adjust sweetness with some brown sugar.
Glaze the ribs a couple of times when cooking and the ribs will come out glistening. Serve some of the Hoisin Five Spice BBQ sauce on the side.
Pork and Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year is marked by the first full moon that falls between February 10 to February 20th. Depending on the country or family traditions the food made to celebrate can vary.
Traditionally pork is part of the celebrations, pork belly is often a cut often used in New Year recipes. Pork Ribs also are found on some cultures tables to celebrate.
A pig represents good luck, it also has other significant meanings, wealth, prosperity and good fortune. For the Lunar New Year this year, I wanted to share this recipe for Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs.
Recommended Cooking Methods
Cooking the ribs on a smoker will impart flavor into the ribs that accentuate the aromatic flavors in the Hoisin Five Spice BBQ Sauce. Reduce the marinade down by 1/3. Adjust the sweetness as needed then brush on while cooking and serve as a side to the ribs. Delicious!
Roast the ribs in the oven at the same temperature that is done on the smoker. The ribs will come out with a glistening shine from the bbq sauce basted on them.
Enjoy!