Steamed Black Bean Ribs
Tender pork ribs steamed with garlic and black beans.
Ingredients
- 600 g Pork belly
- 2 tbsp Fermented black bean sauce
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Ginger
- 2 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Cut the pork into bite-size pieces.
- Mince the garlic and ginger and thinly slice the scallions.
- In a heatproof bowl, toss the pork with the black bean sauce, light soy, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and cornstarch until evenly coated. Let it rest so the flavours soak in.
- Set the bowl in a steamer over high heat and steam, covered, until the pork is tender and cooked through.
- Scatter the sliced scallions over the top and serve with rice.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Steamed Black Bean Ribs
Steamed pork with black beans is a dim sum and home-cooking staple from southern China, prized for how tender the meat turns under gentle steam. Fermented black beans — soybeans cured with salt until they're funky, salty, and deeply savory — are the defining flavor, mashed with garlic and ginger into a marinade that coats every piece of pork. A little cornstarch in the mix does quiet but important work, thickening the rendered juices into a glossy sauce as the dish steams and helping it cling to the meat.
Letting the pork rest in that marinade before it hits the steamer lets the salt and aromatics work their way in, so the finished ribs taste seasoned through rather than just on the surface. Steaming keeps the meat succulent and lets the black beans stay pungent and bright, unlike the muddier flavor they'd take on if braised. It's an easy, hands-off main once assembled, finished with fresh scallion for lift and meant to be eaten over rice, which soaks up the intensely savory pan juices.
Steamed Black Bean Ribs: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Steamed Black Bean Ribs?
A serving has about 824 calories — 15.9g protein, 8.4g carbs, 80.1g fat, 0.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Steamed Black Bean Ribs gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Steamed Black Bean Ribs take to make?
About 45 minutes start to finish, but only around 10 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Steamed Black Bean Ribs?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Steamed Black Bean Ribs make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.