Steamed Squash with Pork Ribs 南瓜蒸排骨

Steamed Squash with Pork Ribs 南瓜蒸排骨 (nán guā zhēng pái gǔ) is a simple home-style comfort dish.  In English, pumpkin is a type of squash and in Chinese, 南瓜 nán guā, means pumpkin which includes squash.  Pumpkin, in Chinese herbology, can help with night vision, constipation, infertility and correcting menstrual cycles.

In Chinese cuisine, we love using pork ribs!  We braise, steam, deep fry, pan fry, boil and barbeque them.  One of my favourite ways to eat them is steaming.  Steaming is easy, healthy and a great way for food to maintain its natural flavours.  Steamed Squash with Pork Ribs 南瓜蒸排骨 is a good example of how natural flavours can come together in steaming.

Pork ribs are relatively more economical than boneless pork which is why it’s so appealing to everyday folks.  Chinese people are familiar to eating foods with bones like steamed whole fish and whole chicken.  So, even kids at a young age have no problems picking out bones when eating meat.  And pork ribs are a favorite for their well-proportioned lean to fat ratio.  And nowadays, pork ribs aren’t that economical anymore!

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia about the pumpkin or squash.  During the Qing Dynasty when people were addicted to opium, they would use pumpkin vine to make a tea that would help kick their opium addiction.  You can also use pumpkin vines in a stir-fry just like bok choy.

In my Steamed Squash with Pork Ribs 南瓜蒸排骨 recipe, I’ll show you how to make the ribs smooth, soft and tender.  Although this dish traditionally uses pumpkin instead of squash, I use kabocha squash which also goes by the name Japanese pumpkin.  It’s readily available in small sizes here in Vancouver.  It also has a mild taste to it so it goes quite well with pretty much any flavours I add to it.  I added some spicy bean paste to give it some heat.  But If you don’t like it spicy, you can replace it with some black bean sauce.  However you make it, your family is sure to love this healthy dish.

Another steamed favourite of mine, is the Easy Steamed Salted Whole Chicken 簡易蒸鹽焗雞.

Steamed Squash with Pork Ribs 南瓜蒸排骨

I used pork ribs but you can also used sliced pork butt, pork cheek, pork belly…pretty much any pork.

You can use any squash or pumpkin that is starchy. Zucchini and spaghetti squash would not be good options because they have little starch and too much water.

I used spicy garlic soy paste to flavour this dish but you can use simply garlic and soy sauce, fermented black beans or even shrimp paste to flavour.

I also like to add deep-fried wheat gluten (meen gun/seitan) or konjac noodles.

Approximate cost (CAD) $8

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Wait Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 2 Servings

Calories 462 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 300 g Pork ribs
• 300 g Squash
• 3 cloves Garlic , chopped
• 1 tbsp Spicy bean paste
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp White vinegar
• 1 tbsp Green onions , chopped

Ingredients for pork rib marinade:

• 2 tsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 tsp Oyster sauce
• ½ tsp Sugar
• 1 tsp Light soy sauce
• 2 tsp Cornstarch

Instructions

 

• Soak pork ribs in water with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp vinegar for 30 minutes This step will help to remove any odours from the pork and make the meat extra tender
  
• Pour the pork through a colander and rinse well. Let dry in a colander
• Marinate pork with 2 tsp Shaoxing wine, 1 tsp oyster sauce, ½ tsp sugar, 1 tsp light soy sauce and 2 tsp cornstarch for 15 minutes
  
• Cut the peel off the squash and cut into 1 cm thick pieces
• Layer the squash on the bottom of the steam pan
  
• Place the pork on top of the squash including any remaining marinade
  
• In a pan or small pot, on medium heat, add 1 tbsp oil and 3 cloves of chopped garlic. Fry until aromatic and add 1 tbsp of spicy bean paste. Mix well
  
• Add garlic and spicy bean paste on top of the ribs
• Steam on high heat for 10 minutes or until ribs are cooked
  
• Garnish with chopped green onions

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 19gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 1780mgPotassium: 818mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 15975IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Pork, Pork Ribs, Squash

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