This delicious pork recipe is very quick and easy and has a few ingredients only. I make it in an Instapot but you can make it on the stove or in the slow cooker or even in the oven. The side dish of sauteed mustard greens and tomato mango salsa complements it nicely and makes the meal healthier.

Cooking Methods:

Braising:

I used this method of cooking for the pork ribs. This is a combination cooking method/ The food is seared at a high temperature and then finished in a cooking pot at a lower temperature with some amount of liquid which also adds flavor. (Source: Wikipedia) Chefs swear that this locks in the flavor of the meat and the marinade and that cooking further in a pot results in very tender, flavorful meat.

The process of searing at a high temperature also results in browning which makes for a better looking dish. It helps render out some fat.

Familiar braised dishes include pot roast, chicken cacciatore, coq au vin, beef bourguignon and beef brisket.

Sauteing:

I used this method of cooking for the mustard greens. Sauteing food is a basic cooking method used in many cuisines. I will say that 90% of Filipino dishes start out with sauteing (The Filipino word for this is ‘gisa’, which is why a lot of Filipino dishes are called ‘Ginisa‘ ) ,

It means to cook food quickly in a small amount of fat over medium to high heat. You use a sauteing pan or wok or skillet to do this. We usually add a tablespoon or two of oil, saute the aromatics like garlic, onions or ginger until the aroma comes out, and add diced meat or seafood as needed and season with salt and pepper.

This is done very quickly for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then you can proceed with other cooking methods like simmering or braising.

Braised Pork Ribs Recipes:

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Braised Pork Ribs Recipe

This braised pork ribs recipe is easy to follow and so delicious. It uses just a few basic ingredients.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword braised pork ribs recipe, filipino cooking, healthy eating

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Maria

Ingredients

Marinade:

• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup orange juice divided
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 lbs pork ribs cross-section cut is best, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp sesame seeds lightly toasted
• 2 pcs cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

1. Marinate ribs in soy sauce, orange juice, garlic and pepper for at least 30 minutes
   
2. Fry ribs in hot pan with a little oil to seal in the juices
3. Move ribs to InstaPot or to a stewing pot.
4. Add 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 pcs cinnamon sticks and 1 tbsp sugar
5. For InstaPot, press  Manual Cooking for 12 minutes.
6. For stove top, heat until boiling then lower heat to Medium and simmer until ribs are tender. (about 30 to 40 minutes)
7. Serve with mustard greens and rice or whole fiber grain for a healthier option.

If you want to speed up the cooking process and ensure the meat is tender, you can use an Instapot like I did. Here is a review of different models of Instapot that I created: Best Instant Pot Reviews. For your convenience, I have included stove top method above.

Sauteed Mustard Greens Recipe

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Sauteed Mustard Greens

This is a simple and quick recipe for preparing mustard greens as a side dish.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Chinese, Filipino

Keyword filipino cooking, healthy eating

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Author Maria

Ingredients

• 1 bag bag prepared mustard greens or 1 1/4 lbs greens stems removed
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 pc small red onion chopped
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper optional

Instructions

1. Heat oil in saute pan
2. Saute garlic, onion and crushed pepper until garlic is starting to brown, about 3 minutes
3. Add the mustard greens and stir to coat the leaves with oil and aromatics.
4. Add broth and simmer the greens until tender, about 5 minutes.

We try not to overcook the mustard greens to preserve its nutrients. Here in Texas, the Southern style of cooking mustard greens simmers it for 45 minutes to an hour. Makes it very tender and tasty but we probably lose some good nutrients when we do this. But people eat for more than nutrition and it is true for any kind of cuisine. We who eat pork lechon cannot judge others.

How to Serve:

Serve the ribs with a side of the mustard greens. You can eat this with rice or quinoa or other whole grains like bulgur and barley. Spoon some ribs sauce over the grains.

The tomato mango salad in the picture goes well with this as it adds sour and sweet to the flavors of the meal. It also has nice colors and will make for a good spread on your table. For the recipe, click How to Make Tomato Mango salad.

Health Benefits of This Meal:

• Mustard greens
  • Mustard greens is one of the super foods. It has high levels of Antioxidants and it detoxifies the liver, helps lower Cholesterol. It is high in fiber and Vitamin K for building bones and Vitamin C. It provides protection for the skin and eyes.
• Cinnamon
  • Cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels and is good for diabetics. It can also reduce heart disease risk. Ceylon variety is better than the Cassia variety.
• Garlic
  • Garlic can reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. It is high in Manganese and Vitamin B6. It has antioxidants that can combat Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
• Ginger
  • Ginger has powerful medicinal properties. It has been used for digestion, reduce nausea and help fight colds and flu. It has anti- inflammatory properties which can help with osteoarthritis.
• Pork
  • Pork, especially the lean cuts of pork are good because it is high in protein, amino acids and vitamins and minerals. It is nutrient dense and can fill you up easily. To make this dish healthier, you can use pork tenderloin. Or use the ribs and just reduce the portions that you eat.

What do You Think?

Is this something you would like to try or have tried already? The braised pork ribs recipe has Chinese origins so if you like Chinese food, you will probably like this too. Pairing it with mustard greens puts it on the healthy side and your heart will thank you.

In the Philippines, mustard greens is called ‘mustasa‘ and because it has a slightly bitter taste, is pickled and fermented and used in tamarind soup. It can also be used in a salad if you soak it in salted water for about an hour before using.

Overall, I like this dish because it is easy to make and has few ingredients. It is made healthier by pairing it with nutritious vegetables. I hope you try and like it too,

Kain Na! (Let’s Eat).

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