Go In Face-First: Tangerine Sticky Ribs

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Whether it's sweet, savory or somewhere right in between, there's nothing like the bright, tart burst you get from adding citrus to a recipe. Enhance every course with these colorful, juicy fruits from the ordinary to the exotic with Citrus: Sweet and Savory Sun-Kissed Recipes, a new cookbook by chef and writer Valerie Aikman-Smith. 

Except for the time in the oven, everything for this quick-and-easy recipe happens in a blender. And don't miss the freshly chopped tangerine peel garnish to zest things up. These ribs are so finger-lickin' good!

Reprinted with permission from Citrus

Go In Face-First: Tangerine Sticky Ribs
No Ratings
Prep Time
30
minutes
Cook Time
3
hours
Servings
4
to 6
Ingredients
  • 1 rack baby back pork ribs, about 3 pounds
  • 4 to 6 star anise pods
  • Peels from 2 tangerines
  • 1 cup orange blossom honey
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 (2-inch) knob fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
  • 2 tablespoons chopped tangerine peel
Directions
  1. Rinse the ribs under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Place the ribs in a baking dish, sprinkle with the star anise, and set aside.
  2. To make the marinade, in a blender, combine all of the ingredients and process until the mixture is fairly smooth. Pour over the ribs, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and refrigerate overnight.
  3. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Remove the ribs from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Place the covered dish in the oven and cook for 2 1⁄2 hours.
  4. Remove the ribs from the oven. Remove the foil and set aside. Baste the ribs with the sauce and return to the oven, uncovered. Cook for another 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the ribs from the oven and tent with the reserved foil. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. Transfer the rack to a cutting board and cut between the bones. Serve with a sprinkle of tangerine peel.
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