Universal Studios Style Baked Pork Ribs
Corn
Recreate the iconic, wizarding-world favorite with these ultra-succulent baked pork ribs, richly coated in a sticky, savory-sweet glaze and served alongside a perfectly steamed, buttered ear of corn.
Inspired by the legendary feast served at the Three Broomsticks inside Universal Studios, this dish captures the magic of theme-park comfort food at home. Tender pork ribs are slow-marinated in a savory medley of hoisin, sweet chili sauce, and aromatics, then baked to caramelized perfection alongside sweet corn wrapped in a rich butter bath.
Ingredients
- 700 g pork ribs
- 2 ears sweet corn
- to taste hoisin sauce
- to taste Thai sweet chili sauce
- to taste light soy sauce
- to taste ketchup
- to taste oyster sauce
- to taste honey
- to taste cooking wine
- to taste salt
- to taste minced red onion
- 1 pat butter
Instructions
- 1Add the liquid marinade ingredients
Place the cleaned and dried pork ribs into a large metal bowl. Pour in the liquid sauces, including the hoisin sauce and Thai sweet chili sauce, to begin seasoning the meat.
Tip: Patting the ribs completely dry with kitchen paper beforehand helps the liquid sauces adhere better to the meat surface. - 2Add the ketchup
Squeeze a generous amount of tomato ketchup onto the raw pork ribs in the bowl. The ketchup provides a sweet and tangy base that helps build the rich flavor profile of the marinade.
Tip: Using a squeeze pouch allows for precise control over the amount of sauce added. - 3Season with salt and paste
Add a sprinkle of salt and a spoonful of the thick seasoning paste into the bowl with the ribs and other liquid sauces, preparing them for thorough mixing.
Tip: Distribute the salt evenly over the meat to ensure uniform flavor penetration during the marination process. - 4Mix the ribs with marinade
Thoroughly mix the raw pork ribs with the red marinade sauces using a gloved hand. Ensure every piece of rib is evenly and completely coated with the seasoning mixture.
Tip: Massaging the marinade into the meat with your hand ensures better flavor distribution than using a spoon. - 5Add chopped red onions
Add the finely chopped red onion pieces into the bowl with the marinated pork ribs. The onions will add a fresh, aromatic sweetness to the dish during the marination and baking process.
Tip: Finely dicing the onions helps them blend better into the sauce as it cooks. - 6Cover and marinate
Cover the bowl of seasoned pork ribs tightly with clear plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 40 minutes, allowing the flavors to deeply infuse into the meat.
Tip: Marinating for a longer period, or even overnight, will result in much more flavorful and tender ribs. - 7Boil the sweet corn
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add the sweet corn cobs. Boil them for about 5 minutes until the kernels are tender and turn a vibrant yellow color, then carefully remove them from the pot.
Tip: Boiling the corn beforehand ensures that it cooks evenly and remains sweet and juicy during the final baking process. - 8Butter the hot corn
Place the freshly boiled sweet corn cobs onto a sheet of silver aluminum foil. Top them immediately with a generous pat of yellow butter, allowing it to melt over the hot kernels.
Tip: Adding the butter while the corn is still steaming hot helps it melt instantly and coat every kernel thoroughly. - 9Wrap the corn in aluminum foil
Carefully fold and wrap the silver aluminum foil sheet completely around the buttered sweet corn cobs, sealing the edges well to trap the moisture.
Tip: Ensure the foil packet is tightly sealed so that the melting butter does not leak out while baking in the oven. - 10Cover the ribs with foil
Arrange the marinated pork ribs onto a baking tray lined with aluminum foil, then use a top sheet of foil to wrap and cover them completely before baking.
Tip: Avoid pinching the sides of the foil too tightly to let the hot air circulate and steam the ribs evenly. - 11Set the baking temperature
Preheat the oven and adjust the temperature dial to 230°C. Place the foil-wrapped pork ribs and sweet corn inside to bake for 30 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
Tip: Ensure the oven reaches the full 230°C before timing the bake to get the most accurate cooking results. - 12Unwrap and glaze the ribs
Open the aluminum foil carefully and continue baking the pork ribs for another 10 minutes. This allows the sauce to reduce, thicken, and form a beautifully caramelized, bubbling glaze.
Tip: Watch the ribs closely during the last few minutes of baking to prevent the sweet glaze from burning.
