Best Air Fried Spareribs With Red Fermented Bean Curd 氣炸鍋南乳排骨

氣炸鍋南乳排骨 Air Fried Spareribs With Red Fermented Bean Curd is a popular household recipe in Chinese cooking. This addictive, easy-to-make air fryer ribs recipe deep fries spare ribs with a crispy crust while the meat remains juicy, tender, and flavourful. Enjoy these delicious and guilt-free umami ribs in just 30 minutes.

> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Fermented Red Bean Curd Pork Ribs Air Fryer Recipe 

The combination of fermented red bean curd and this secret ingredient makes this healthier version of marinated spare ribs in red bean curd absolutely a crowd favourite. It is an all-time finger-licking tasty rib in our repertoire. It is an excellent Asian finger food for game day and a late-night snack with a glass of beer!

Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!

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• > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Fermented Red Bean Curd Pork Ribs Air Fryer Recipe
• What Red Fermented Bean Curd?
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• Instructions
• What To Serve With Air Fried Chinese Spareribs with Fermented Red Tofu
• > Recipe Card
• Best Air Fried Spareribs With Red Fermented Bean Curd 氣炸鍋南乳排骨

What Red Fermented Bean Curd?

Fermented Bean Curd (腐乳, Fu ru) is a traditional Chinese condiment commonly used in Chinese pantry. It is preserved tofu made with soybeans (tofu), salt, rice wine, sesame oil or vinegar. 

Red fermented tofu (紅腐乳, hóngfǔrǔ, or 南乳,nánrǔ) gets its distinctive aroma, umami flavour, and crimson-red thanks to the use of red yeast rice (紅麴米, hóng qūmǐ) in the brining liquid. Red Yeast Rice is an excellent natural food colouring.

White fermented tofu (腐乳, fǔrǔ), the white variety of Chinese cheese, tastes somewhat like blue cheese. Its texture is soft and creamy, like cream cheese. Furu is fermented tofu and is a healthy, nondairy, vegan cheese.

Remember that Jiang Dou Fu is not the same as stinky tofu. This salty condiment can be used in Chinese cooking, such as braising liquid in my Braised Spareribs with Lotus Roots. It can also be used in steamed recipes such as fermented tofu steamed chicken 腐乳蒸雞, stir-fried vegetable dishes 椒絲腐乳炒通菜 or served as a side dish to steamed buns, congee or noodles. Some may even use it as a dipping sauce. I would imagine Red Fermented Cauliflower Bites as equally addictive for a more plant-based approach! 

You can find Red Fermented Bean Curd at any well-stocked Asian market. 

Ingredients and Substitutes

This crispy yet juicy air-fried red fermented bean curd sparerib is one of my favourite Ninja Foodi recipes! It is healthier compared to deep frying in hot oil. I always double batch this when we have a large group dining or just want something extra!

Red Fermented Bean Curd 南乳 - Bottles of red fermented beancurd are available at Asian supermarkets and Chinese grocers. Unlike white fermented tofu, preserved red bean curd is distinctively red thanks to the use of red yeast rice! Preserved tofu has an intense umami profile that is irresistible! It is an excellent flavour enhancer. 

Spareribs 排骨 - The optimal cut of meat, spareribs is half lean and half fat. Spareribs that are cut into smaller pieces are the best. Pork hock or pig feet are also great substitutes because they have a lot of meat attached to the bone. Some let to use pork belly. King oyster mushrooms are a great meat alternative for vegan, vegetable-seeking friends!

Maltose Syrup 麦芽糖 - Maltose (malt syrup) adds a delicious caramelized note to pork ribs. It is less sweet than honey or sugar. If you cannot find Maltose, brown sugar is a good substitute. 

Marinade Seasoning

• Ginger 薑
• Garlic 蒜頭
• Salt 鹽
• Shaoxing Wine 紹興酒
• Dark Soy Sauce 老抽
• Light Soy Sauce 生抽 
• Corn Starch 粟粉
• Ground White Pepper 胡椒粉 
• Chicken Essence Powder 雞粉
• Sesame Oil 芝麻油
• Vegetable Oil 植物油 - Choose a neutral-tasting oil. Olive oil is not suitable.

You can purchase most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies at your local Asian grocery stores or online at my Amazon Store. I have linked the products for your convenience!

Instructions

Air Fryer Cooker is the easiest method to make Authentic Crispy Pork Ribs with Red Fermented Bean Curd. This crowd-favourite Hakka Chinese food is deliciously flavourful and tender, and it bursts with umami if you follow our step-by-step instructions! The taste is incredibly addicting and scrumptious! 

Wash, trim, and dry the fresh spareribs with kitchen paper towels.

Cut the ribs into smaller pieces, about 2-inch chunks. 

In a small bowl or ziploc bag, mix the marinade ingredients together. 

Marinade the ribs and the seasoning mixture in a large bowl for at least 20 minutes.

Pro Tip: Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil, Maltose Syrup and Red Fermented Bean Curd to a small mixing bowl. Press down on the bean curd to open the cube. Mix well until well blended before adding other marinade ingredients. 

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.

Use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the basket for easy clean-ups. 

Place marinated spareribs in the air fryer basket. No need to spray with cooking spray. 

Cook for 20 minutes at 365F. Flipping halfway.

Cook at 390F for a further minute or until the spareribs are golden brown.

Adjust the cooking time if you are making a large double batch. Working in small batches will ensure this kind of pork ribs Ninja Foodi recipe turns out perfectly!

Garnish with finely chopped green onion.

Serve and enjoy hot!

How To Meal Prep Fermented Red Bean Curd Pork Ribs

You can efficiently work this Red Fermented Bean Curd Spareribs recipe into your family meal prep ideas for the week. Whether making freezer meals, make ahead for one or batching marinated ribs, store the meal-prepped pork ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  

Marinated spare ribs with red fermented tofu are one of the best ways to make finger-licking Chinese dry ribs. This healthy meal prep for kids and adults can be stored in a freezer ziplock bag. 

Take it out and place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. As it thaws, the ingredients will get a deeper, more flavourful marinade and retain all the au jus. It is an incredible hack to achieve maximum flavour!

Other Spareribs Recipes You'll Love

If you love this succulent spareribs recipe, you may also like these pork rib-forward recipes on our blog. They're a total change of texture and flavour, but they're readers' favourites!

• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Pork Ribs 蒜子蜜汁骨
• Steamed Pork Ribs with Kabocha Squash 豉汁南瓜蒸排骨
• Chinese Winter Melon Soup With Pork Ribs 冬瓜湯

These Chinese Sparerib recipes are so easy you do not even need to rely on an Asian meal prep delivery service for takeout!

What To Serve With Air Fried Chinese Spareribs with Fermented Red Tofu

This great recipe is delicious umami-rich comfort food in Chinese cuisine.  

They would go perfectly with some Dried Scallops Egg White Fried Rice 瑤柱蛋白炒飯. How about balancing half your plate with some stir-fried leafy green vegetables?

Complete the meal with the following delicious dishes.

• Stir-Fried Bean Sprouts and Chives 爆炒豆芽菜韭菜
• Air Fried Chinese BBQ Pork 氣炸鍋蜜汁叉燒
• Fish Maw Crab Meat Soup 蟹肉魚肚羹 (鱼膘羹)
• Instant Pot Braised Chinese Mushrooms 髮菜炆冬菇食譜
• Microwave Soy Sauce Chicken Wings 豉油雞翅微波爐
• Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry 番茄炒蛋

After eating lots of heavy, rich, and deep-fried foods, a great way to reduce heat is with a bowl of this liver-detoxing Chinese Sweet Mung Bean Soup 綠豆沙 or Hawthorn Goji Berry Tea Digestion Tea 山楂杞子茶 that aids digestion.

I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.

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