Slow Cooker Black Bean Pork Ribs

Country Style Port Ribs were on sale at the grocery store last week.  I don't often buy that cut, but for a change I did. I decided that I wanted to try something with black bean sauce......and  a quick search brought me to this recipe.  I know Mary's recipes always look good so I was not at all hesitant to try it out.  I was out of fresh ginger and did substitute with powdered....and I was not disappointed at all.  It's a quick to prepare slowcooker recipe, and the results were tender and delicious.  I will most definitely be making this one again.....maybe even on a larger scale and with some fresh ginger too.  I would recommend it for a potluck dish to bring along.  It's simple to make and looks like more effort was involved than there actually was.  This dish was so easy....I think I may get my son to make it next time.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Pork Ribs

3-4 lbs country style pork ribs cut in bite size pieces
3 Tbsp black bean sauce
2 Tbsp Chinese soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger ( I used 2 tsp ground ginger)
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp szechuan pepper, ground
1 Tbsp tapioca starch
For after cooking to prepare the sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 cup chopped green onion

Place bite sized pieces of pork in you slow cooker.  Mix the next 8 ingredient in a bowl and pour over the meat in the slow cooker.  Cook on low setting for 5-6 hours....no more.  Remove meat after 6 hours (or when the meat is tender to your liking) and cover with foil to keep warm while you prepare the sauce.  Strain the sauce and transfer it to a pot.  now is a good opportunity to skim off any fat that has accumulated on top of the sauce and discard.  Bring sauce to a boil, and simmer about 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced to nearly half the volume and begins to thicken.  Add in chopped green onion (reserving a few Tbsp to sprinkle on the top if you wish), and sesame oil to the sauce and pour over ribs in your serving dish.  Sprinkle with reserved onion greens and serve.