This is my good friend June's recipe that she recently shared with me. We've both been slimming with Slimming World and these gorgeous ribs are sin free which is a major bonus. Sounds so strange but the ribs are cooked in diet coke. As always I tweaked the recipe a little to suit my taste. These are sticky and lip-smacking delish. Great for the whole family.
The recipe should serve 4 as a starter
2lbs pork spare ribs, all obvious fat removed
2 cans diet coke
1 large carrot chopped
1 large onion chopped
2 sticks of celery chopped
salt & pepper
Put all the above in a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer for around 1½ hrs
Remove the ribs and reduce the cooking liquid by half
Place the ribs into a roasting tray & set the oven to 180c/350f/gas4
Strain the cooking liquid into a jug discarding the chopped vegetables
Flavourings:-
to the liquid I added
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 heaped teaspoon Chinese Five Spice powder
2 whole star anise seeds
1 large/2 medium red chillies chopped
3 or 4 chopped spring onions
Add everything to jug except the spring onions.
Pour over the ribs
Bake for around 40 minutes turning once or twice while cooking
The Ribs are ready when they are sticky and most of the liquid has been evaporated
Sprinkle of the spring onions and bake for a couple more minutes.
Serve while still hot.
