Honey roast ribs with anise

Honey roast ribs with anise

Sticky ribs are a classic example of sugar and spice working brilliantly together. You might never have thought of making them at home, but the results are amazing.

Ingredients

6 tbsp thickish honey

3 heaped tbsp oyster sauce

¼ tsp chilli flakes

4 whole star anise

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black peppercorns

4 cloves garlic

1.5kg/3lb 5oz meaty pork ribs

Preparation method

To make the marinade, spoon the honey and oyster sauce into a roasting tin or baking dish. Add the chilli flakes, star anise and salt. Grind the peppercorns and add them to the marinade.

Toss the ribs in the marinade and tuck the garlic cloves whole between the ribs, then set aside for at least 2 hours. It wouldn’t hurt if they stay there overnight.

Roast the ribs at 160C/325F/Gas 3 for 90 minutes, turning them in their sauce from time to time.

Then turn the heat up to 200C for 15 minutes, Keep an eye on them, as sometimes they burn easily. They are ready when the meat is tender, though far from falling off the bone, and the ribs are sticky and almost charred.