Ribs with Coke Recipe
A good cola ribs dish should have tender, flavorful ribs and a rich, well-balanced sauce. Master these key steps, and you'll easily make a delicious dish that leaves people craving more.
Why is this recipe effective?
Benefits of slow cooking: Slow cooking allows the ribs to become incredibly tender and fully absorb the flavors, with no need to worry about the heat, making it easy to get it right.
Importance of the sauce: The sauce is the soul of this dish. Not only does it let the ribs absorb rich flavors while slow cooking, but the sauce that is concentrated at the end is also very fragrant, making it a perfect match with the ribs.
Convenient method: After putting everything in the slow cooker, you don’t need to keep an eye on it. You don’t have to worry about it burning or not cooking through, making it easy to handle.
Great texture: The slow-cooked ribs easily fall off the bone, and the meat is so tender that you can’t stop eating. It’s especially delicious.
What type of ribs is best for slow cooking?
Pork rib bones or baby back ribs are best for slow cooking. These ribs have some fat, which makes them especially tender and juicy when cooked. During slow cooking, they absorb the sauce’s flavor, and the meat becomes very flavorful.
If you want the meat to be even more tender, bone-in pork shoulder is also a good choice. It also has great texture, the bones fall off easily, and the slow-cooked ribs taste even better.
Why use Coca-Cola to slow cook ribs?
Tender texture: The sugar in Coca-Cola helps keep the meat moist, preventing it from becoming tough. The ribs will be especially tender after cooking.
Unique flavor: The sweetness of Coca-Cola adds a special aroma to the ribs, and when combined with other seasonings, the flavor becomes layered.
Appealing color: Coca-Cola helps the ribs develop a nice color, making the slow-cooked ribs look darker and more appetizing.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·500g pork ribs (chopped)
Additional Ingredients
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·2 stalks of green onions (cut into sections)
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·3 slices of ginger (sliced)
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·2 star anise
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·2g white sesame seeds (to sprinkle on top when serving)
Seasonings
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·250ml Coca-Cola
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·20ml cooking wine
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·10g rock sugar (about a few pieces)
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·10ml soy sauce
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·5ml dark soy sauce
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·3g salt (adjust to taste)
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Put the chopped 500g ribs in cold water, add 10ml of cooking wine to remove the odor.
Step 2
Once it boils, skim off the foam from the pot.
Step 3
After boiling for 2 minutes, remove the ribs and immediately rinse them with hot water to ensure the odor is removed without affecting the taste.
Step 4
Heat oil in the pot, add 10g of rock sugar, and stir-fry until it melts and turns slightly yellow.
Step 5
Add the ribs, turn the heat to high, and stir-fry until all six sides are golden.
Step 6
Add 2 sections of green onion, 3 slices of ginger, 2 star anises, 10ml of light soy sauce, 5ml of dark soy sauce, and 3g of salt.
Step 7
Then pour in 250ml of Coca-Cola, add an appropriate amount of water to ensure the liquid covers the ribs.
Step 8
Cover the pot, simmer over low heat for 30 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Step 9
Sprinkle with an appropriate amount of sesame seeds and serve.
More recipes worth trying
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Easy Red Wine Braised Pork Belly Recipe
Skillful Braised Beef Recipe: The Art of Slow Cooking
Recipe tips
Choosing the right ribs: Choose ribs with a bit of fat, such as spare ribs or baby back ribs. They will become more tender and flavorful after slow cooking.
Blanching the ribs in advance: Blanching the ribs before slow cooking can remove the odor and keep the ribs tender, preventing the meat from becoming tough.
Don’t add too much water: The Coca-Cola and sauce are enough to flavor the ribs. Don’t add too much water, as too much broth can affect the taste.
Slow cooking over low heat: Keep the heat low when simmering the ribs so the meat can slowly absorb the flavors and not dry out or become tough.
Add sesame seeds when the sauce thickens: Sprinkle white sesame seeds at the end. It will not only enhance the aroma but also improve the texture of the dish.
Variation ideas
Add spices: During the slow cooking process, you can add a little cinnamon, cloves, or star anise to add a unique aroma and flavor.
Switch to other carbonated drinks: If you want the flavor to be more interesting, you can try replacing Coca-Cola with Sprite or orange soda to bring a different taste.
Add some spice: If you like spicy food, you can add dried chili peppers or chili sauce to the seasonings to give the ribs a slight spicy kick.
Marinate before cooking: Marinate the ribs with minced garlic, soy sauce, and honey for 1-2 hours in advance to let the flavors penetrate the meat, making the ribs more flavorful when slow-cooked.
Pair with vegetables: You can add some chopped potatoes or carrots and slow cook them together, making it a one-pot dish. This not only absorbs the sauce's flavor but also adds nutrition.
What dishes pair well with cola ribs?
Stir-fried leafy greens: Vegetables like bok choy or broccoli, stir-fried, can balance the sweetness of the ribs. The fresh texture complements without overpowering the flavor.
Steamed rice: Classic white rice pairs perfectly with cola ribs. The sauce from the ribs mixes with the rice, making it delicious.
Cucumber salad: A simple cucumber salad with a bit of vinegar and minced garlic is refreshing and enhances the flavor, balancing the sweetness of the ribs.
Sour and spicy shredded potatoes: The sour and spicy shredded potatoes have a slight kick, contrasting with the sweetness of the ribs and making the flavor more complex.
FAQs:
A slow cooker also does a great job of maintaining temperature, cooking the ribs slowly, and making them tender while thickening the sauce.
Just pay attention to the time to ensure the ribs are fully cooked, and the sauce has reduced enough.
REVIEWS
