Instant Pot Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Spare Ribs Recipe (Sườn Ram Mặn)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Serves: 4
Every Vietnamese household will likely have their own special recipe for these Caramelized Pork Spare Ribs (Sườn Ram Mặn). You start by making caramel (Nước Màu), which gives the ribs a lovely flavor and that beautiful amber sheen—taste begins with the eyes and that color gets the tastebuds going. The secret to great spare ribs is to make sure they’re extra tender and juicy, I braise them in coconut milk—although coconut water is also an option, I prefer the deep flavor that the coconut milk brings. It’s such a bold and delicious dish-—I hope you enjoy my Instant Pot version of this classic Vietnamese comfort food.
Instant Pot Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Spare Ribs Recipe
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 7 minutes
- Serves: 4
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INGREDIENTS
- 2½ Pounds Pork Spare Ribs, cut into individual riblets
- ½ Teaspoon Five Spice Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Red Boat Fish Sauce
- 1 Large Shallot, minced
- 4 Large Garlic Cloves, minced
- ⅓ Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1¾ Cups Coconut Water or 1 Can of Coconut Milk
METHOD
- 1)
Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the pork spare ribs and blanch them for about 3-4 minutes. Drain them into a colander and rinse well with water. - 2)
In a large bowl, add ½ Teaspoon Five Spice Powder, 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt, ½ Ground Black Pepper, 1 Tablespoon of Fish Sauce, 1 Large minced Shallot, 4 Large minced Garlic Cloves and mix well. Add the spare ribs and toss them well to coat them in the marinade and set aside. - 3)
Add ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar, press Sauté and use the “More” setting. You don’t need to stir it, the sugar will begin to melt and caramelize once it’s hot enough. Depending on your Instant Pot model, it can take 5-15 minutes before the sugar starts caramelizing into a nice dark color, keep an eye on it once you start seeing a little color, you want the caramel sauce to almost be the color of coffee, a dark golden brown. - 4)
Add the pork ribs and marinade to the pot and stir well coating all the pieces with the caramel. Add 1¾ Cups of Coconut Water or 1 Can of Coconut Milk. Seal the Instant Pot lid, switch the knob to “Sealing” and press Manual / High Pressure for 7 minutes (you can do 13 minutes if you want them falling off the bone). After the timer is up and your hear the beep, wait and additional 7 minutes while it releases the pressure naturally. Switch the knob to “Venting” and release the rest of the steam. - 5)
Once the pin drops, open the lid and hit Cancel on the Instant Pot and choose Sauté, it should still be on the “More” setting. Use a fat skimmer to remove some of the fat. Let it Sauté for about 15-20 minutes so the liquid evaporates, stir occasionally to ensure even browning. When most of the liquid has evaporated, the ribs should be a beautiful dark amber color. - 6)
Garnish with sliced green onions or sliced Thai chilies and serve with jasmine rice. Enjoy!