Izakaya Pork Ribs from Japan

An izakaya is a Japanese version of a pub.  The sole purpose of an izakaya is for you to drink and talk nonsense with your friends.  As with all pubs, they need to sell easy finger food to go with the alcohol.  So that you keep drinking of course.  Pork ribs or pork belly would be shared with friends tapas-style.  The Japanese would use sake (rice wine) and rice vinegar, however as I don't have either I used ingredients most people would be able to get quite easily.

1 kg pork ribs
Ginger root thinly sliced into finger length pieces
1 onion finely chopped
1 green chili finely chopped
1/3 cup soy sauce
4 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup sugar
1 stalk celery finely chopped
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons tomato puree
1/2 cup water
1 star anise
Cut the rack into individual ribs.  Put the oil in the pot and braise the ribs until they are brown on both sides.  Add the ginger, chili, onions, garlic and sugar and cook until it begins to caramelise.  Add the rest of the ingredients and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.  Remove ribs from the pot and place in an oven pan, pour over the liquid from the pot.  Grill at 180 degrees Celsius for an hour, turning the ribs over after 30 minutes.
Cindy Vine is a South African currently living in Kyiv Ukraine.  She is the author of Survival Tips for the Suddenly Single, Hush Baby, Defective and The Case of Billy B.  All her books are available on Amazon in both Kindle and print format.