A taste of East Asian cuisine

Enjoy harmonious Asian flavours created by a Taiwanese-South African foodie

FOOD blogger Ming-Cheau Lin came to SA from Taiwan at age three, settling with her family in Bloemfontein. In her first cookbook, Just Add Rice, she celebrates the culinary heritage of Taiwan and shares the dishes her family enjoy – many of which have a South African twist because local produce is used instead of East Asian ingredients.

SWEET AND SOUR FRIED SPARE RIBS JĪNGDŪ PÁIGǓ

“My brother’s favourite as a child,” the author says. “Sweet and sour isn’t unique to traditional Chinese cooking – it’s a flavour found throughout East and Southeast Asia. The name is actually ‘sugar vinegar’.

“But it’s not the type of dish locals would order at a restaurant. When immigrants from East Asia opened restaurants in other countries, they realised the sweet and sour flavour was something Western palates enjoyed, and started making more dishes around this sauce.”

SERVES 4 Preparation 20 min Marinade: 2 hours Cooking: 40 min

MARINADE 15ml (1T) oyster sauce 2,5ml (½t) salt 2,5ml (½t) sugar 2,5ml (½t) Chinese five-spice 15ml (1T) soy sauce 2,5ml (½t) white pepper 1 egg 45ml (3T) cornflour MEAT 400g pork spare ribs 250ml (1c) cooking oil 2 garlic cloves, minced SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE 375ml (1½c) water 45ml (3T) tomato sauce 45ml (3T) rice vinegar 30ml (2T) sugar 15ml (1T) soy sauce 30ml (2T) cornflour 15ml (1T) chilli powder 1,25ml (¼t) salt TO SERVE 15ml (1T) white sesame seeds rice

1 Marinade Mix the ingredients. 2 Meat Pour the marinade over the ribs and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours. 3 Heat a wok (or frying pan) on medium heat, add half the oil and stir-fry the garlic. 4 Sweet and sour sauce Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl. 5 Once the garlic is golden, add the sauce to the wok. Cook until the sauce reduces. Add more sugar and salt if needed, then set aside in a bowl. 6 Fry the pork ribs in the rest of the oil until golden and crispy, then drain the oil from the wok. 7 Add the sauce to the wok and toss the ribs in the sauce for 2 minutes. 8 To serve Put the ribs on a plate and sprinkle the sesame seeds over. Serve with rice.