Microwave Steamed Pork Ribs
Fermented Black Beans

Recreate tea house style dry-steamed pork ribs right in your microwave. Infused with fermented black beans, garlic, and savory spices, they turn out tender, charred, and packed with flavor.

Ingredients

• 300 g pork ribs
• 2 tbsp thin soy sauce
• 0.5 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp potato starch
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp fermented black beans
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 slice ginger
• 1 stalk scallions
• 1 tsp sugar
• 0.5 tsp mushroom powder
• 1 tsp char siu sauce
• 0.25 tsp white pepper
• to taste chopped green onions

Instructions

1. 1Scrub the pork ribs with flour

   

   Place the pork rib pieces into a metal bowl with flour and water, then scrub thoroughly to remove surface impurities and blood, which effectively eliminates the gamey smell.

   Tip: Scrubbing with flour is a traditional technique that helps draw out hidden impurities from meat surfaces more effectively than water alone.
2. 2Dry the pork ribs thoroughly

   

   After rinsing the cleaned pork ribs with water, place them in a metal bowl lined with paper towels and dry them completely.

   Tip: Drying the ribs thoroughly with paper towels is the essential key to successful dry steaming.
3. 3Chop the fermented black beans

   

   Place the fermented black beans on a wooden cutting board and chop them finely alongside scallions to prepare the aromatic base.

   Tip: Finely chopping the fermented black beans helps release their intense aroma more evenly when mixed with cooking oil.
4. 4Marinate and mix the ribs

   

   Add ginger, garlic, white scallion parts, chopped fermented black beans, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mushroom powder, sugar, char siu sauce, and white pepper to the ribs, then stir clockwise by hand until fully absorbed.

   Tip: Stirring the marinade clockwise consistently helps the pork ribs absorb all the liquid flavors evenly.
5. 5Add potato starch and sesame oil

   

   Sprinkle potato starch over the marinated pork ribs to lock in their moisture, followed by a little sesame oil, and let marinate for 15 minutes.

   Tip: Potato starch creates a protective coating that keeps the individual rib pieces tender and juicy during the steaming process.
6. 6Arrange ribs in a single layer

   

   Lay the marinated pork ribs out flat in a single layer on a glass dish, ensuring they are not stacked.

   Tip: Do not stack the ribs in the dish; keeping them in a single layer ensures even cooking and proper charring.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions