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General Tso's Sticky Pork Ribs | 左宗棠排骨 Recipe

Updated: 6 days ago


After making General Tso's Chicken, Orange Chicken, Meatballs, and Lemon Chicken, I still had a container of General Tso's sauce sitting in the fridge. Instead of making yet another batch of fried chicken, I thought, "Why not ribs?"


Ready to be slow roasted...


Pork ribs are one of those ingredients that love bold sauces, and since the oven does most of the work, this quickly became one of the easiest meals in my General Tso's series.


Although General Tso's sauce is best known for coating crispy fried chicken, it works beautifully as a barbecue glaze too. Slow roasting allows the ribs to become tender while the spice rub develops layers of flavor.


After slow roasting...


Right at the end, the sticky sauce is brushed over the ribs and caramelized under the broiler, creating that glossy finish and slightly charred edges. It borrows techniques from both American barbecue and Chinese roasting, making it a fun fusion of two cooking styles.



One thing I particularly love about this recipe is that almost all the work happens at the beginning. Once the ribs go into the oven, you can simply let time do its job. If you've already made a batch of my homemade General Tso's sauce, this is another delicious way to use it.


And don't throw away the juices left behind after roasting the ribs. They're packed with flavor and make an incredible base for fried rice or stir-fried noodles.


Ingredients:

(Serve 4)

  • Rub:

  • Cayenne, 6 TBSP Adjust To Preference

  • Ground Cumin, 1 TBSP

  • Sichuan Peppercorn Powder, 1 TBSP

  • Ginger Powder, 1/2 TBSP

  • Garlic Powder, 1/2 TBSP

  • White Pepper, 1 TBSP

  • Mushroom Powder, 1 TBS{

  • Ribs:

  • Pork Ribs, 1 KG

  • General Tso's Sauce Homemade, 150g

  • Garlic Finely Minced, 3 Cloves

  • Slurry, 1 TBSP Potato Starch + 1 TBSP Water

  • Scallions Coarsely Sliced, A Handful

Equipment:

  • Oven

  • Sauce Pot

Directions:

  1. Please visit my "General Tso's Chicken" page for the sauce recipe.

  2. Prepare the Spice Rub

  3. Combine all the spices in a bowl until evenly mixed.

  4. Store any extra seasoning in an airtight container for future use.

  5. Season the Ribs

  6. Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F).

  7. Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs.

  8. Pat the ribs dry.

  9. Place them on a foil-lined baking tray.

  10. Generously coat both sides with the spice rub, pressing it firmly onto the meat.

  11. Wrap the ribs tightly with foil.

  12. Bake until the ribs become tender, turning them over halfway through cooking, about 2 to 2.5 hours.

  13. Prepare the Sauce

  14. While the ribs are baking, combine the General Tso's sauce and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat.

  15. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

  16. Stir in the slurry.

  17. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  18. Remove from the heat.

  19. Glaze the Ribs

  20. Once the ribs are tender, switch the oven to the broiler setting.

  21. Transfer the ribs onto a clean baking tray lined with parchment paper.

  22. Brush a generous layer of the sauce over the ribs.

  23. Broil until lightly caramelized, about 3 to 5 minutes.

  24. Flip the ribs.

  25. Brush the other side with more sauce and broil again until lightly charred, about 3 to 5 minutes.

  26. For maximum flavor, brush on one final layer of sauce just before serving.

  27. Serve

  28. Scatter sliced scallions over the ribs.

  29. Serve immediately while hot.



Tips

  • Save The Rib Juices

    • Don't discard the liquid left behind after baking.

    • It's packed with pork flavor and makes an excellent addition to fried rice, stir-fried noodles, soups, or even a pot of braised vegetables.

  • Let The Oven Do The Work

    • Low and slow cooking is the key.

    • Rushing the baking process at a higher temperature will result in tougher ribs.

  • Broil Carefully

    • Sugar in the sauce caramelizes very quickly.

    • Keep a close eye on the ribs during broiling because they can burn within minutes.

  • Make It Your Own

    • This same method also works wonderfully with:

      • Chicken wings

      • Chicken drumsticks

      • Pork belly

      • Beef short ribs

    • Simply adjust the cooking time according to the cut of meat.

  • A Great Way To Use Leftover Sauce

    • If you've already made a batch of my General Tso's sauce, this recipe comes together with very little additional work.

    • It's another reminder that one good base sauce can become many different meals.


Sticky finger licking good...

Recipe Video:



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