Sticky Five Spice Short Ribs

Feeding a toddler is an exercise in patience. My kid is way pickier now than when he started solid food. He'll eat something one day, and not like it the next. Makes menu planning a little difficult. However, I found one thing that he consistently likes: tender, slow cooked meat. Anytime I make short ribs, he gobbles one down in record time. These were no exception. The adults in the household loved them as well. I especially liked how this recipe cooks down the liquid to make the sticky sauce - very convenient!



Sticky Five-Spice Short Ribs
by Aida Mollenkamp
as seen on Food Network


1 1/2 cups rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 cup oyster sauce
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 1/2 pounds short ribs, English cut
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons five-spice powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 medium garlic cloves, smashed
1-inch piece ginger, sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, halved, seeded, and thickly sliced


Heat the oven to 350 F.
Mix together sherry, oyster sauce, and brown sugar until evenly combined; set aside. Pat ribs dry with a paper towel and season well with salt and five-spice powder.

Place a 3-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed, shallow pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat and add oil. When oil starts to smoke, add ribs and sear until well browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove ribs to a plate and set aside. Discard all but 1 tablespoon drippings, return pan to stove, and add garlic, ginger, and jalapeno and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in reserved sherry mixture and bring to a simmer.

Return ribs to pan and bring to a simmer. Cover and transfer to oven to cook, turning occasionally, until meat is knife tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Increase oven to 400 degrees F and cook, covered, until ribs are sticky, about 20 more minutes.