View source for Spare ribs

{{Short description|Pork ribs variety}}
{{other uses|Spare rib (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2023}}
[[Image:Spareribs 20160506 182617113.jpg|thumb|A typical example of Southern United States style spare ribs]]
'''Spare ribs''' (also '''side ribs''' or '''spareribs''') are a variety of [[ribs (food)|ribs]] cut from the lower portion of a [[Pork|pig]], specifically the belly and breastbone, behind the shoulder, and include 11 to 13 long bones. Meat and fat cover the bones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn the facts about fat |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fat/art-20045550 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Mayo Clinic |language=en}}</ref> Spare ribs (pork) are distinguished from [[short ribs]], which are beef. Spareribs are typically cooked low and slow, either smoked, grilled, or braised.
Pork spare ribs are cooked and eaten in various cuisines around the world. They are especially popular in [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] and [[American Chinese cuisine]], in which they are generally called ''paigu'' ({{zh|c=[[wikt:排骨|排骨]]|p=páigǔ|cy=pàaih gwāt|l=row of bones}}), and in the [[cuisine of the Southern United States]].
== Preparation ==
[[file:Spare ribs with Chinese barbecue sauce.jpg|thumb|Chinese spare ribs]]
[[file:Spareribs bbq.jpg|thumb|Basted spare ribs on an [[barbecue grill|outdoor grill]]]]
===Asia===
In Chinese cuisine, pork spare ribs are generally first cut into {{convert|7|to|10|cm|adj=on|0}} sections, which then may be [[Frying|fried]], [[Steaming|steamed]], or [[Braising|braised]].
In the [[Cantonese cuisine]] of southern China, spare ribs are generally red in color and roasted with a sweet and savory sauce. This variety of spare ribs is grouped as one of the most common items of ''[[siu mei]]'', or Cantonese roasted meat dishes.  In [[American Chinese cuisine]], pork spare ribs are generally cooked in ''[[char siu]]'' style, and often feature as a part of the appetizer dish called [[pu pu platter]].
Chinese-style spare ribs are usually consumed by gnawing the meat off small bone sections held aloft with chopsticks.
Spareribs are a popular dish in Korean cuisine. They are often grilled or barbecued. They can also be made into a stew or soup.
===Southern American===
Spare ribs are popular in the [[Southern United States|American South]]. They are generally cooked on a [[barbecue grill]] or on an open fire, and are served as a slab (bones and all) with a sauce.  Due to the extended cooking times required for barbecuing, ribs in restaurants are often prepared first by boiling, parboiling or steaming the rib rack and then finishing it on the grill.
American butchers prepare two cuts:
* ''Pork spare ribs'' are taken from the belly side of the pig's rib cage above the sternum (breast bone) and below the back ribs which extend about 6" down from the spine. Spare ribs are flatter than the curved back ribs and contain more bone than meat. There is also quite a bit of fat which can make the ribs more tender than [[baby back ribs]].
* ''St. Louis Cut ribs'' are spare ribs in the style of [[St. Louis-style barbecue]], where the sternum bone, [[cartilage]] and the surrounding meat known as the rib tips have been removed. St. Louis Cut rib racks are almost rectangular.
Southern-style spare ribs are usually pulled from the whole slab and consumed individually by hand, with the small amount of meat adhering to each bone gnawed off by the eater.
Spareribs are a popular dish in Mexican cuisine. They are often cooked in adobo sauce, a chili-based sauce. They can also be made into tacos or burritos.
==See also==
{{portal|Food}}
* [[Prime rib]]
* [[Soki]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons}}
* [http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/meats/beef/glossary.asp Beef Glossary - diagram of various beef cuts, including beef spare ribs]
{{Cantonese cuisine}}
{{Cuts of beef}}
{{Beef}}
{{barbecue}}
[[Category:Cantonese cuisine]]
[[Category:American Chinese cuisine]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Southern United States]]
[[Category:Chinese pork dishes]]
[[Category:Korean pork dishes]]
[[Category:Mexican pork dishes]]
[[Category:Dim sum]]
[[Category:Cuts of pork]]
[[Category:Cuts of beef]]
[[Category:Cuisine of St. Louis]]
[[Category:Barbecue]]