Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Roasted Pork Ribs

Tender and flavorful pork ribs marinated with aromatic garlic, ginger, and spices, then air-fried to golden-brown perfection with a crispy exterior.

Ingredients

• 500-700 g pork ribs
• 1 spoonful flour or starch
• 2 spoons minced garlic
• a few slices ginger
• 2 spoons light soy sauce
• 1 spoon oyster sauce
• 1 spoon sugar
• 1 spoon cooking wine
• half a spoon black pepper powder
• half a spoon sweet chili powder
• 1 spoon starch
• to taste cooking oil
• optional chopped green onions

Instructions

1. 1Prepare the pork ribs

   

   Start with 500 to 700 grams of fresh pork ribs. Choose ribs with a good balance of meat and fat to ensure maximum flavor and tenderness after roasting.

   Tip: Ask your butcher to cut the ribs into even, uniform pieces so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
2. 2Add flour or starch

   

   Place the pork ribs into a large mixing bowl. Add a spoonful of flour or starch over the ribs. This dry coating acts as a gentle abrasive to help lift away impurities and excess blood from the surface of the meat.

   Tip: Cornstarch, tapioca starch, or all-purpose flour all work perfectly for this cleaning step.
3. 3Wash the ribs

   

   Thoroughly wash the starch-coated ribs under cold running water. Use your hands to gently rub each piece, ensuring all the starch, bone fragments, and impurities are rinsed away, leaving the meat completely clean.

   Tip: Cleaning with starch and rinsing well results in a much cleaner tasting rib without the need for blanching in boiling water.
4. 4Pat the ribs dry

   

   Transfer the washed ribs onto a thick layer of paper towels. Gently pat them completely dry to remove all excess surface moisture. This is a crucial step to ensure the marinade sticks properly to the meat and doesnt become diluted.

   Tip: If the ribs are too wet when marinated, they will steam rather than properly roast and caramelize in the air fryer.
5. 5Add the seasonings

   

   Return the dried ribs to a clean bowl. Add two spoons of minced garlic, a few slices of fresh ginger, two spoons of light soy sauce, one spoon of oyster sauce, one spoon of sugar, one spoon of cooking wine, half a spoon of black pepper powder, half a spoon of sweet chili powder, and one spoon of starch.

   Tip: The spoonful of starch in the marinade helps to bind all the liquid seasonings to the meat and seals in the juices while roasting.
6. 6Mix and marinate

   

   Using your hands, thoroughly mix and massage the ribs to ensure every piece is evenly and generously coated with the garlic and seasoning mixture. Cover the bowl and let the ribs marinate for 1 to 2 hours so the savory flavors deeply penetrate the meat.

   Tip: Massaging the meat for a couple of minutes tenderizes it and forces the flavorful marinade deep into the muscle fibers.
7. 7Add water to air fryer

   

   Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the air fryer basket before placing the ribs inside.

   Tip: Adding a little water helps prevent smoke and keeps the meat moist during cooking.
8. 8Arrange marinated pork ribs

   

   Place the marinated pork ribs flat in a single layer inside the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.

   Tip: Do not overcrowd the basket so the heat circulates properly around every piece.
9. 9Spray oil on ribs

   

   Lightly spray oil over the arranged pork ribs to help achieve a golden and crispy exterior texture.

   Tip: A light, even mist of oil is enough to enhance browning.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions