Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2025)

February 4, 2021Van

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (1)

Share Recipe:

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 8 minutes

Serves: 4

Din Tai Fung came to my hometown years back and became one of my favorite restaurants. Everyone knows about their world famous Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings – and yes they are fantastic, but there are so many other amazing dishes on their menu. One in particular, a dish that completely overwhelmed my taste buds, their Sweet & Sour Pork Baby Back Ribs which is their take on a classic Shanghainese dish. The complexity is hard to describe, initially it’s a familiar sweet and sour sauce taste-but the subtle notes of orange shine brightly in the background finished with the slightest bitterness from the caramelized sugar. The dish is quite small – you only get about 6 riblets for $9! My family devours the appetizer in an instant—the true motivation for me to reverse engineer this culinary marvel. As they say—Necessity is the mother of invention. I present my copycat version for Din Tai Fung’s Sweet & Sour Pork Baby Back Ribs cooked in anInstant Pot Pressure Cooker

You’ll need Pork Riblets or Baby Back Ribs that are cross-cut in half so the ribs are about 1.5-2 inches long.Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2)

A few ingredients that may not be in your pantry, you can usually find these at any Asian MarketInstant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (3)

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (4)

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (5)

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (6)

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (7)

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (8)

Share Recipe:

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (9)

Print Recipe

February 4, 2021Van

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: 8 minutes
  • Serves: 4

Pressure Cooker Recipe for Din Tai Fung's Sweet & Sour Pork Baby Back Ribs

www.foodisafourletterword.com

Ingredients

Method

  • 1)

    Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the ribs and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse the ribs well.

  • 2)

    In a bowl, make the braising sauce by combining 3 Tablespoons Chinkiang Black Vinegar, 3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar, ⅓ Cup Orange Juice, 2 Tablespoons Shaoxing Wine, 3 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce, 2 Tablespoons Dark Soy Sauce and set aside.

  • 3)

    Place 6 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar into the the pot, choose Sauté on High and cook until the sugar melts and turns into a color like maple syrup, you don’t need to stir or touch it – watch it carefully so the sugar doesn’t burn. Add the Ribs, Sauce, Ginger Slices, Green Onions and hit Cancel to turn off Sauté mode.

  • 4)

    Seal the Instant Pot lid, choose High Pressure for 8 Minutes. When the timer is up, wait 18 minutes before switching the knob to venting – once the pin drops, open the lid.

  • 5)

    Choose Sauté on High to reduce the sauce, it will take about 10-15 minutes. Remove the green onions and ginger slices and stir the ribs occasionally. Watch carefully at the end so the sauce doesn’t scorch. Once the sauce looks dark, viscous, and gives the ribs a shiny coating, it’s done (there should only be a little bit liquid left). Plate the ribs and garnish with Sesame Seeds. Enjoy!

Notes

You may also like

8 Comments

  • April

    October 2, 2021 at 9:40 pm

    We made these tonight and they were amazing! The flavor wasn’t spot on, but I had to make a few substitutions, so I knew it would taste slightly different. Still delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  • Patti

    November 22, 2021 at 12:34 pm

    I would like to make these for an appetizer for a holiday. Can these be made a day ahead? How would you reheat them?

    Reply

    1. Van

      November 23, 2021 at 12:01 am

      Hello, yes you can make this a day before. Just reduce the sauce by half, put ribs + sauce into a container & when you want to serve, place into a pot & use med-high heat to continue to reduce the sauce until it’s thick & coats the ribs. Have a nice Thanksgiving!

      Reply

  • Quynh

    December 2, 2021 at 5:46 am

    I tried this today and it was really good!! Ribs were just the right tenderness and sauce was spot on – I was afraid the vinegar would turn out too strong but they were all in harmony and really yummyy. The prep is so quick, I would definitely go for this recipe more often when we crave sticky ribs. Thank you for the great recipe <3

    Reply

    1. Van

      December 2, 2021 at 5:49 am

      You’re welcome Quynh! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Dawn

    December 8, 2021 at 12:46 pm

    Would love to try these but the ribs I got are 1.97 lbs. Would keeping the same amount of liquid ingredients make it too salty? Amateur cook here, thanks for any advice!! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Van

      December 8, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Dawn, just keep the same amount of ingredients & cooking time, it will turn out fine.

      Reply

  • Mara

    April 24, 2023 at 10:43 pm

    Good recipe! So much easier than stove top versions!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Previous RecipeNext Recipe

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (22)

Hi everyone! I’m Van, the creator and recipe developer for FOOD is a Four Letter Word. Follow this page for delicious & eclectic recipes. I hope you find something that you enjoy making on here. Subscribe to my YouTube & Instagram below to get updates when I post a new recipe.
-Van

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (23)Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (24)

Shop Unique + Cool Kitchen Gadgets

Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (25)

Please make anyAmazon purchases using my affiliate link, Amazon sends me a small commission at no additional cost to you, but it helps cover the costs of running my site. Thank you for visiting and for your support♥

FOOD is a Four Letter Word is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

*This site has no affiliation with Trader Joe’s. Any discussions are descriptions of the Trader Joe’s company or it’s products are not endorsed by the Trader Joe’s company and are expressly disclaimed.

Newest Recipes

  • One Piece Strawberry Yogurt Fizzy Drink Recipe for Luffy
  • One Piece Straw Hat Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
  • How to make Yogurt using the Sun
Instant Pot Din Tai Fung Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2025)

FAQs

What is sweet and sour ribs made of? ›

Combines soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, dry mustard, garlic, as well as a few other simple ingredients to make a delicious sauce for cut ribs. Great over rice, too — some say rice with this sauce is their favorite food! A Lechner family tradition.

What is another name for pork ribs? ›

The upper ribs are called baby back ribs because they are shorter in relation to the bigger spareribs — not because they come from a baby pig. Baby back ribs are also sometimes called pork loin back ribs, back ribs, or loin ribs. Underside of a rack of baby back ribs.

What are long pork ribs called? ›

Spareribs. Spareribs (aka side ribs) are the long cuts from the belly behind the shoulder. Racks typically have 11-13 bones and have meat on top of and between the bones. While they have the least amount of meat, a lot of folks think they're the tastiest.

Why are they called pork spare ribs? ›

The term spare ribs is an Early Modern English corruption (via sparrib) of rippspeer, a Low German term that referred to racks of meat being roasted on a turning spit. St. Louis style ribs (or St. Louis cut spare ribs) have had the sternum bone, cartilage, and rib tips (see below) removed.

Why are Chinese spare ribs so good? ›

One of the recognizable factors for a dish like Chinese spare ribs is the sweet, caramelized flavors, which used to come from heating the sugary marinade over the fire. Spare ribs are usually served as an appetizer or small dish, though you can make the char siu in buns or as part of your main meal, as well.

What makes Chinese ribs so red? ›

The characteristic red hue of char siu comes from red food coloring, which you can add to the marinade if you'd like, but I prefer to go au natural. It's plenty pretty on its own. Hoisin sauce—a fermented soy bean-based sweet and savory barbecue sauce—is the primary flavoring agent in the marinade.

What are the three names for ribs? ›

According to their attachment to the sternum, the ribs are classified into 3 groups: true, false, and floating ribs.

How many ribs does a woman have? ›

The Adam and Eve story has led some people to believe that men have one fewer rib than women. This isn't true. The vast majority of people have 12 sets, or 24 ribs, no matter their sex. People born with certain conditions may have too many or too few ribs.

What are the 3 types of ribs called? ›

What are the 3 types of ribs in human body? The thoracic cage has 12 pairs of ribs which can be classified into three types. The three types of ribs in human body are – True ribs, false ribs and floating ribs.

What are Chinese ribs called? ›

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.

Which type of pork ribs are best? ›

Baby backs are some of the best type of ribs to smoke, but they can also be barbecued or roasted in the oven. As mentioned before, they are a bit leaner than other pork ribs. In terms of cooking time, they don't have to cook quite as long or as low as other ribs.

What kind of ribs do most restaurants use? ›

Louis-Style Ribs. For this popular pair, you're going to get attributes that are very similar—and that's no surprise, because St. Louis-style ribs are actually cut from spareribs. They are also on 23.6% of barbecue restaurant menus, and there's good reason why.

Are pork ribs healthy? ›

Like most meats, a rack of ribs is incredibly low in carbs and fiber; it's all protein and fat. So as long as you're not slathering on that sticky sweet barbecue sauce all the time, ribs (especially nutrient-dense Ibérico pork ribs like St. Louis Ribs or a 4-Rib Rack) are ideal for keeping carbs to a minimum.

How many ribs per person? ›

So, if ribs are going to be the main meat you are cooking, you can usually plan for: 6 ribs per person when serving baby back pork ribs. 4 - 5 ribs per person when serving pork spare ribs. 2 - 3 ribs per person when cooking beef back ribs.

Which is better, baby back or St. Louis ribs? ›

You have to be more selective with the St Louis ribs. The meaty rib is heartier and will fill you up faster, plus it is leaner and healthier for you. If you are looking to watch your figure and stick with a diet while still enjoying some delicious ribs, then the baby back ribs are the right choice.

What is sweet and sour pork made of? ›

A Chinese stir-fry dish made with juicy pieces of pork tenderloin, bell peppers, onion, and pineapple. Battered pork gets fried until crispy then tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce.

Are ribs beef or pig? ›

Pork ribs are the most common ribs available; however, beef ribs deserve just as much attention. Both types of meat are very succulent and make for some amazing barbeque when grilled correctly. Both beef and pork have different cuts of ribs that also vary in taste and texture.

Are ribs meat or pork? ›

When we think of ribs, we think about tender, smoky meat rubbed with flavorful seasonings and cooked until it has a crisp bark or falls off the bone. Barbecue staples like spareribs and baby back ribs are pork cuts, while soothing comfort cuts like short ribs come from beef.

Is ribs beef or chicken? ›

In American cuisine, ribs usually refers to barbecue pork ribs, or sometimes beef ribs, which are served with various barbecue sauces. They are served as a rack of meat which diners customarily tear apart by hand, then eat the meat from the bone.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5868

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.