Braised Pork Ribs And Taro/Yam

I once ate this dish at the local restaurant and I fell in love with the dish. Tried to replicate it but no where near it LOL! anyway this is good too.  The taste was quite near but yet something is missing....of course we can't get it exactly or the Chef will have to hang up his apron :p  Anyway , this is delicious...yam or taro cooked is like a sponge...it absorbs in the gravy well and you get to taste the flavor in one bite :)  The pork ribs were tender soft and juicy .   Braising the pork ribs and yam together was not a bad idea at all.  In fact it was a perfect combination and I can eat two bowls of rice with just this one dish.   

I like the combination of  fermented red bean curd , salted black beans and five spice powder ....it gives a very distinctive, savory and pungent aroma.....and it really flavored up the yam/taro and pork ribs well.  Braised it for 40 minutes under low heat till the ribs and yam are tender soft   Somehow this dish will taste better if you use a claypot to braise it , that was what I did !   

Braised Pork Ribs & Yam 

Ingredients:-

500 g  spare ribs
1/2 tbsp of corn flour
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp of five spice powder

1 small yam- cut into 1/2 inch thick pieces

1 tbsp of grapeseed oil / vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic- crushed and chopped fine
2 slices of ginger
2 -3 cubes of fermented red bean curd plus 1 tbsp of the red bean curd liquid
1/2 tsp of salted black beans/ tou si
10 g of rock sugar
2 cups of water

1 stalk of spring onions - cut for garnishing

Method:-

Marinate the ribs with corn flour , five spice powder and light soy sauce and keep aside.

Lightly fry the yam with 2 tbsp of oil.  Dish up and drain off excess oil on paper towel. Keep aside.   (this is to keep the yam in shape during braising )

Heat up 1 tbsp of oil in claypot .  Add garlic, ginger and saute till fragrant, Add in the fermented redbean curd, salted black beans and stir till well mixed . Add in the marinated ribs and cook till the ribs are  lightly seared on the outside.  Add in the yam  . Add in 2 cups of water and the rock sugar and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 50- 60 minutes till the ribs and yam are tender soft and the sauce thickened .   Season to taste . Garnish with spring onions.

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Have a nice day !