Dim Sum–Style Steamed Pork Ribs With Fermented Black Beans Recipe

Ingredients (18)

• 1 pound (450g) pork spare ribs, cut into individual ribs and chopped crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces (see note)
• For the Brine:
• 2 cups (475ml) water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (6g) baking soda (see note)
• 2 teaspoons (6g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume or the same weight
• For the Marinade:
• 2 teaspoons (8g) kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
• 1 heaping tablespoon (10g) douchi (dried Chinese fermented black soybeans; see note)
• 2 teaspoons (10ml) toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon (4g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• To Cook:
• 1/4 cup (120g) cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) peanut, rice bran, canola, or other neutral cooking oil
• Water, as needed
• 1/2 of a jalapeño pepper, seeds and white ribs removed, green flesh finely diced (you can also use red or green bell pepper, or any fleshy pepper you’d like)
• Steamed white rice, for serving