Okay, friend, let's get you cooking some yummy sweet and sour pork ribs! It's easier than you think, and way tastier than ordering takeout. Plus, you get bragging rights – you made that!
Let's Make Awesome Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs! (Super Easy Peasy Version)
What You'll Need (Your Ribs' Best Friends):
First, you need pork ribs. About two pounds is a good amount. You can ask the person at the meat store to cut them into small, easy-to-eat bits. If you have a big piece of ribs, you can cut it smaller yourself. To help the ribs get a little crispy, you'll need a bit of flour, maybe about a quarter of a cup. And don't forget salt and pepper – they make everything taste better! If you want your ribs extra crispy, you can use one egg, beaten. This is like a sticky shirt for the flour. You'll also need some oil for cooking, like vegetable oil.
Now for the yummy sauce! This is what makes it sweet and sour. You'll need about half a cup of soy sauce. This gives it a nice salty taste. Then, you need about three spoonfuls of ketchup. Yes, the ketchup you put on fries! For the "sweet" part, use about three spoonfuls of sugar (white or brown sugar is fine). For the "sour" part, you need about two or three spoonfuls of vinegar. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar works great. You also need about two cups of water. To make the sauce nice and thick, not runny, mix one spoonful of cornstarch with a little bit of water.
If you have them, you can also add pineapple pieces (from a can is okay!), chopped bell peppers (any color!), a chopped onion, a little bit of chopped garlic, or a tiny bit of chopped ginger. These make it extra tasty, but if you don't have them, the ribs will still be great!
Let's Cook now
First, if your ribs are not already cut, cut them into smaller pieces. Use a paper towel to dry the ribs. This helps them get crispy. If you're using an egg, dip the ribs in the egg. Then, put the ribs in a bowl with the flour, salt, and pepper. Mix them around so they get a light coat. If you're not using an egg, just mix the ribs with the flour, salt, and pepper.
Next, let's cook the ribs. Put some oil in a big pan. Make the oil hot. You can test it by dropping a tiny bit of flour in; if it bubbles, it's ready. Carefully put the ribs in the hot oil. Don't put too many ribs in at once. Cook them until they are nice and brown on all sides. This takes about 6 or 7 minutes. Take the ribs out and put them on a plate with a paper towel to soak up extra oil.
Now, let's make the sauce. In a bowl, mix your ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and water. If you're using veggies like onions or bell peppers, cook them in the pan for a few minutes until they are a little soft. You can use the same pan you cooked the ribs in (just pour out most of the oil).
Pour your sauce mix into the pan with the veggies. Let it get warm and make little bubbles. Now, add your cornstarch mixed with water. Stir it in, and the sauce will get thick and shiny! Put the cooked ribs back into the pan with the sauce. If you have pineapple, add it too. Stir everything gently so the ribs get covered in sauce. Let it cook for a few more minutes so all the flavors mix together.
How Other Places Cook Pork Ribs
This tasty sweet and sour food is loved in many places, and different people make it in their own cool ways!
It all started in China. The first sweet and sour pork there used things like vinegar and special sweet plums to make it taste just right. Sometimes, they use pork meat without bones. In a part of China called Shanghai, their sweet and sour ribs are often very sticky and a bit sourer. Some Chinese cooks fry the pork two times to make it super crispy.
In Hong Kong, their ribs are a lot like the ones from China, often with a very tangy and sweet taste.
When this dish came to places like the USA and the UK, people changed it a little. The sauce often got thicker and sweeter. They also started adding bell peppers and pineapple a lot. Ketchup became a big part of the sauce.
In Vietnam, they have their own sweet and sour ribs called "Suon Xao Chua Ngot." Some families use tomatoes and vinegar for the sauce. Others might use something called tamarind to make it sour. They often cook the ribs in the sauce for a while to make them soft.
Even in Korea, they have a dish like sweet and sour pork called "Tangsuyuk." The pork is very crispy, and the sauce is sweet and tangy, maybe with some different veggies.
