Hoisin Sticky Ribs
This irresistible sticky ribs recipe is one of the best things we’ve made recently. The ribs are unbelievably tender and coated in the most delicious homemade hoisin glaze. You’ll love them! These Asian sticky ribs are amazing! Every time we make them, we immediately want to make them again. The ribs are slowly baked in the oven with ginger, garlic, and cilantro to become incredibly tender and infused with flavor. Then, we slather over our easy to make homemade hoisin sauce to use as the sticky glaze. These ribs are outrageously good! Key Ingredients Pork ribs: I’ve used baby back ribs in my photos and video, but you can use baby back, spare ribs, or St. Louis-style ribs in the recipe below. Hoisin sauce: I highly recommend using our easy hoisin sauce, which I have included in the recipe below. It’s easy to make and lasts in the fridge for a month. I usually make a double batch and use it to make these chicken lettuce wraps. Garlic, ginger, and cilantro: For this recipe, we slowly bake our ribs in the oven and love to sneak in some aromatics that slowly infuse the ribs with flavor. Toppings: These are optional, but I love them. I add chopped peanuts, sliced green onion, and sliced red chilies to the ribs for serving. Pork ribs: I’ve used baby back ribs in my photos and video, but you can use baby back, spare ribs, or St. Louis-style ribs in the recipe below. Hoisin sauce: I highly recommend using our easy hoisin sauce, which I have included in the recipe below. It’s easy to make and lasts in the fridge for a month. I usually make a double batch and use it to make these chicken lettuce wraps. Garlic, ginger, and cilantro: For this recipe, we slowly bake our ribs in the oven and love to sneak in some aromatics that slowly infuse the ribs with flavor. Toppings: These are optional, but I love them. I add chopped peanuts, sliced green onion, and sliced red chilies to the ribs for serving. Find the full recipe with measurements below. Tips for Making Asian Sticky Ribs Tip 1: Low and slow. I love baking ribs low and slow. We already have this baked ribs recipe on Inspired Taste with over 700 happy reviews. This sticky ribs recipe has a similar baking method, guaranteeing tender, almost falling-off-the-bone ribs! Tip 2: Bake in flavor. I place the ribs on top of fresh sliced ginger, garlic, and cilantro, then carefully wrap parchment paper around them to create a snug packet. Then, I wrap it once more with foil to really make sure that it is well sealed. As the ribs bake to perfection, they transform, becoming unbelievably tender and infused with ginger, garlic, and cilantro. They bake for 2 to 3 hours. Tip 3: Making that delicious glaze. Once the ribs are baked and rested, I unwrap them and generously coat them in our homemade hoisin sauce. Then, they return to a hot oven where the sauce bubbles, reduces, and transforms into a delicious sticky glaze. We worked on this recipe with Chef Richard Hattaway and had an absolute blast! Honestly, we might have indulged in a few extra taste tests along the way (haha). These ribs are so incredible! What to Serve with Sticky Ribs I love serving these with rice, coconut rice, or noodles for dinner. They are also amazing next to fried rice. I also love adding something fresh and crunchy. Try our cilantro lime slaw, garlic green beans, or this cucumber and avocado salad. You can also serve them with spring rolls, egg rolls, homemade crab Rangoon, or this spicy ginger edamame. Hoisin Sticky Ribs PREP 20 mins COOK 3 hr 15 mins TOTAL 3 hr 35 mins PREP 20 mins COOK 3 hr 15 mins TOTAL 3 hr 35 mins These Asian sticky ribs are unbelievably tender and coated in the most delicious homemade hoisin glaze. They are surprisingly easy to make, and their incredible flavor will have you reaching for more. We love them! The sauce in the recipe below makes the perfect amount for one rack of ribs, but I highly recommend doubling it and storing what you do not use in the fridge for other dishes (it lasts for 1 month). Serves 4, 3 to 4 ribs each Watch Us Make the Recipe You Will Need 1 rack baby back ribs (loin back ribs), 2 to 2 ½ pounds 1 cup homemade hoisin sauce, recipe below 8 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced Two 1-inch thumb-size pieces of fresh ginger, sliced thin lengthwise Half a bunch of fresh cilantro Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons finely chopped peanuts, optional 1 Fresno chili pepper, thinly sliced, optional 1 green onion, finely chopped, optional 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated One 1-inch thumb-size piece fresh ginger, finely minced or grated 2 green onions, whites and light green parts only, finely minced 5 tablespoons (65 grams) light tamari or light soy sauce, plus more to taste 5 tablespoons (65 grams) pure maple syrup 2 tablespoons (30 grams) molasses 1 tablespoon (20 grams) peanut butter, try homemade peanut butter 1 ½ teaspoons Gochujang, see notes 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar 1/4 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch Directions Bake Ribs 1Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C) and set aside a large rimmed baking sheet on the counter. 2Trim excess fat from the ribs and remove any thin membrane on the back of the rack. (Some ribs may already have the membrane removed, I show how to remove it in this ribs recipe). 3Pat the ribs dry and season them with salt and pepper. 4Take a piece of parchment paper large enough to wrap around the ribs (you may need to overlap two sheets). Spread half of the garlic, ginger, and cilantro on the parchment paper. Place the ribs on top, with the meaty side facing down. Arrange the remaining garlic, ginger, and cilantro on the bone side of the ribs. 5Wrap the parchment paper tightly around the ribs, folding the edges to seal. Then, wrap the entire package with foil. Remember which side has the meatiest part of the ribs. 6Place the wrapped ribs, with the meatiest side facing down, on the prepared baking sheet. 7Bake the ribs in the preheated oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Carefully unwrap the ribs and pierce them with a knife to check for tenderness. 8While the ribs are baking, you can make the hoisin sauce using the recipe instructions below. 9Allow the ribs to cool while still wrapped. Let them rest at room temperature, or refrigerate the wrapped package on a baking sheet for up to 3 days. Bake Ribs 1Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C) and set aside a large rimmed baking sheet on the counter. 2Trim excess fat from the ribs and remove any thin membrane on the back of the rack. (Some ribs may already have the membrane removed, I show how to remove it in this ribs recipe). 3Pat the ribs dry and season them with salt and pepper. 4Take a piece of parchment paper large enough to wrap around the ribs (you may need to overlap two sheets). Spread half of the garlic, ginger, and cilantro on the parchment paper. Place the ribs on top, with the meaty side facing down. Arrange the remaining garlic, ginger, and cilantro on the bone side of the ribs. 5Wrap the parchment paper tightly around the ribs, folding the edges to seal. Then, wrap the entire package with foil. Remember which side has the meatiest part of the ribs. 6Place the wrapped ribs, with the meatiest side facing down, on the prepared baking sheet. 7Bake the ribs in the preheated oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Carefully unwrap the ribs and pierce them with a knife to check for tenderness. 8While the ribs are baking, you can make the hoisin sauce using the recipe instructions below. 9Allow the ribs to cool while still wrapped. Let them rest at room temperature, or refrigerate the wrapped package on a baking sheet for up to 3 days. Make Hoisin Sauce 1Heat sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and green onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Set the saucepan aside to cool. 2Stir in soy sauce, maple syrup, molasses, peanut butter, Gochujang, rice wine vinegar, and the Chinese Five Spice. Return the saucepan to medium heat and, while stirring, slowly bring to a simmer. Taste the sauce and adjust with 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of soy sauce if necessary. 3Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons water. Whisk the slurry into the sauce. As it simmers, the sauce will thicken. Once thickened, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Make Hoisin Sauce 1Heat sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and green onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Set the saucepan aside to cool. 2Stir in soy sauce, maple syrup, molasses, peanut butter, Gochujang, rice wine vinegar, and the Chinese Five Spice. Return the saucepan to medium heat and, while stirring, slowly bring to a simmer. Taste the sauce and adjust with 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of soy sauce if necessary. 3Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons water. Whisk the slurry into the sauce. As it simmers, the sauce will thicken. Once thickened, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Adding the Sticky Glaze 1Heat the oven to 425°F (218°C). 2Gently unwrap the ribs and scrape away the cilantro, garlic, and ginger (these can be discarded). 3Cut the rack into individual ribs or two- to three-bone portions. Place them in a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish. 4Spoon most of the hoisin sauce over the ribs, ensuring they are well covered (save a little sauce for later). Flip the ribs so the meaty side faces down and move them around in the sauce for even coating. 5Bake the uncovered ribs for 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce bubbles. 6Remove the baking dish from the oven and flip the ribs so the meaty side faces up. Tilt the baking dish and gather as much sauce as possible to spoon back over the ribs. This time, the sauce will be thicker. At this point, I like to add a little extra sauce on top. 7Serve with chopped peanuts, sliced pepper, and green onion. Adding the Sticky Glaze 1Heat the oven to 425°F (218°C). 2Gently unwrap the ribs and scrape away the cilantro, garlic, and ginger (these can be discarded). 3Cut the rack into individual ribs or two- to three-bone portions. Place them in a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish. 4Spoon most of the hoisin sauce over the ribs, ensuring they are well covered (save a little sauce for later). Flip the ribs so the meaty side faces down and move them around in the sauce for even coating. 5Bake the uncovered ribs for 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce bubbles. 6Remove the baking dish from the oven and flip the ribs so the meaty side faces up. Tilt the baking dish and gather as much sauce as possible to spoon back over the ribs. This time, the sauce will be thicker. At this point, I like to add a little extra sauce on top. 7Serve with chopped peanuts, sliced pepper, and green onion. Adam and Joanne's Tips Make Ahead: You can make these Asian ribs 3 days ahead of time. After baking them, wrap them and store them in the refrigerator. Then, when ready to serve, unwrap the ribs and add the hoisin sauce. Finally, bake the ribs in a hot oven until heated through and the sauce becomes sticky. Ribs: I use baby back ribs, but spare ribs, country-style, or St. Louis-style ribs work. Spare ribs may require a little more time in the oven to become tender. I remove the membrane from my ribs, which makes them even more tender (some stores do this for you). See this baked ribs recipe for tips on how to do it. Double or triple the recipe: Wrap each rack individually and then place it on a rimmed baking sheet. You may need more than one baking sheet for multiple racks of ribs. Gochujang and a substitute: Tradtional hoisin sauce incorporates fermented beans. We’ve included Gochujang (a spicy Korean condiment with rice and fermented soybeans). Substitute miso paste and, if you’d like to add some spice, add a dash or two of hot sauce or chili paste like sambal oekek. Hoisin sauce: I love homemade, but if you plan to use store-bought, taste the sauce before adding it to the ribs to ensure it is not too salty. See this article about our homemade sauce for additional notes and substitutions. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Make Ahead: You can make these Asian ribs 3 days ahead of time. After baking them, wrap them and store them in the refrigerator. Then, when ready to serve, unwrap the ribs and add the hoisin sauce. Finally, bake the ribs in a hot oven until heated through and the sauce becomes sticky. Ribs: I use baby back ribs, but spare ribs, country-style, or St. Louis-style ribs work. Spare ribs may require a little more time in the oven to become tender. I remove the membrane from my ribs, which makes them even more tender (some stores do this for you). See this baked ribs recipe for tips on how to do it. Double or triple the recipe: Wrap each rack individually and then place it on a rimmed baking sheet. You may need more than one baking sheet for multiple racks of ribs. Gochujang and a substitute: Tradtional hoisin sauce incorporates fermented beans. We’ve included Gochujang (a spicy Korean condiment with rice and fermented soybeans). Substitute miso paste and, if you’d like to add some spice, add a dash or two of hot sauce or chili paste like sambal oekek. Hoisin sauce: I love homemade, but if you plan to use store-bought, taste the sauce before adding it to the ribs to ensure it is not too salty. See this article about our homemade sauce for additional notes and substitutions. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/4 of the rack (3 to 4 ribs) / Calories 643 / Total Fat 37.9g / Saturated Fat 11.8g / Cholesterol 142.8mg / Sodium 1066.8mg / Carbohydrate 32.7g / Dietary Fiber 1.1g / Total Sugars 25.2g / Protein 45.3g AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us