Salted Egg Yolk Ribs is a unique and impressive Chinese dish. The ribs are fried until crispy and tender, then coated in golden salted egg yolk. Every bite is a perfect blend of the sandy texture, rich savory flavor, and juicy meat—so good you’ll want to gnaw on the bones.
🌴 Ingredients:
· 500g pork spare ribs (cut into small pieces)
· 4-5 salted egg yolks (steamed, mashed)
· 1 egg (beaten, for the batter)
· 3 tbsp cornstarch (about 30g, for coating)
🌴 Aromatics:
· 3 slices of ginger
· A little chopped scallion (for garnish)
🌴 Seasonings:
· 2 tbsp light soy sauce (about 20ml)
· 1 tbsp oyster sauce (about 10ml)
· 1 tbsp cooking wine (about 10ml, for marinating)
· A pinch of sugar (to enhance flavor)
· A pinch of white pepper powder
· Salt, to taste
· Cooking oil, as needed (for frying)
🌴 Instructions:
- Marinate the Ribs
Wash and drain the ribs. Add ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, white pepper, and salt. Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes. ⚠️ Note: Marinate long enough, or the ribs will be bland inside. - Coat the Ribs
Remove the ginger from the marinated ribs. Add the beaten egg and cornstarch, and mix well to coat each rib with a thin layer. ⚠️ Note: Let them rest for 5 minutes after coating so the starch adheres better. - Fry the Ribs
Heat oil to 160°C (about 60% hot). Fry the ribs over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain. ⚠️ Note: Don’t use high heat, or they will burn outside and stay raw inside. - Fry the Salted Egg Yolk
Add a little oil to the pan, turn to low heat, and add the mashed salted egg yolks. Fry slowly until they bubble and release a rich aroma. ⚠️ Note: Never use high heat, or the yolks will burn and turn bitter. I’ve tried it, and they turned black, ruining the dish. - Combine and Serve
Turn to high heat, add the fried ribs, and stir-fry quickly to coat each piece with the salted egg yolk. Turn off the heat, sprinkle with scallion, and serve. ⚠️ Note: Be quick to keep the ribs crispy. I’ve tried cooking too long, and they turned soggy.
💡 Tips:
The key to Salted Egg Yolk Ribs is “crispy outside, tender inside, with a rich sandy texture.” Marinate the ribs long enough, and coat them with egg and cornstarch for extra crispiness. Fry the salted egg yolks over low heat; never burn them. Be quick when combining to keep the ribs crispy.
If you enjoy this crispy and savory flavor, you should also try my Garlic Spare Ribs. For more classic main dishes, check out my Main Dishes category.
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