Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potatoes

This Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potatoes is a simple and comforting dish that’s easy to prepare. After steaming, the pork ribs turn tender, juicy, and slightly chewy, while the sweet potatoes become soft and naturally sweet. You also get a fragrant, savoury sauce with a natural sweetness from both the ribs and sweet potatoes. You’ll love how easy it is to put this together — it only takes 10 minutes to prep, some time to marinate, then you just let the steaming do all the work. It’s comforting and so satisfying with a warm bowl of rice.

This is part of my Easy Steam Recipes series, where I share simple steamed dishes that are delicious, and easy to prepare at home.

Watch How to Make Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potatoes:

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple ingredients with natural flavours
• Pork ribs turn tender, slightly chewy and juicy
• Sweet potatoes add natural sweetness
• Easy steaming method with minimal effort
• Perfect for everyday home-cooked meals

What Pork Ribs to Use?

For this recipe, you can use spare ribs cut into small pieces.

Try to choose ribs with a good balance of meat and fat so they stay tender after steaming. Cutting the ribs into similar sizes also helps them cook evenly.

What Sweet Potatoes Should I Use?

You can use any sweet potato but keep in mind that each variety adds it’s own unique taste to the dish.

Add Herbs For More Aroma

The bay leaf and star anise are simple herbs that add warmth and fragrance to the dish. Try to use good quality ones as there will be a noticeable difference in the taste, especially the bay leaf. I prefer bay leaves that smell aromatic and slightly sweet rather than overly green or grassy. There are quite a few varieties available, and their aroma can differ depending on the origin. So feel free to experiment with different ones.

(This is the bay leaf I used in the video. It was a little too green, which made the dish taste slightly grassy. )

Ingredients 材料

Main Ingredient

+/- 400 grams pork ribs 排骨 +/- 400 克

90 grams sweet potato 红薯 90 克

1 bay leaf 月桂叶 1 片

1 star anise 八角 1 颗

Marinate 腌料

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2茶匙盐

1 teaspoon light soy sauce 1茶匙生抽

2 cloves garlic, minced 2瓣蒜，切碎

1/2 tablespoon minced ginger 1/2汤匙姜末

1.5 teaspoon cornstarch 1.5茶匙玉米淀粉

1 tablespoon cooking oil 1汤匙食用油

Garnish 装饰

1 sprigs spring onion, julienned 1根葱，切丝

Method:

Prepare the sweet potatoes

• Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into thin, even pieces.
• Arrange them on a heatproof plate in a single layer.
• Once the water in the wok comes to a boil, steam the sweet potatoes on high heat for 10 minutes until just soft.

Clean the pork ribs

• Rinse the pork ribs a few times until the water runs clear.
• Add a little salt and cornstarch.
• Mix well, then rinse again to remove impurities.
• Drain thoroughly to remove excess water.

Marinate the ribs

• In a bowl, add pork ribs, salt, light soy sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger.
• Mix well.
• Add cornstarch and mix again. (This helps soften the edges of the meat.)
• Drizzle in a little oil. (This helps lock in moisture.)
• Set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Combine with sweet potatoes

• Once the sweet potatoes have softened, mash them.
• Gently mix them into the marinated pork ribs.

Prepare to steam

• Place one bay leaf and one star anise on a clean heatproof plate.
• Add the sweet potato and pork mixture on top.
• Spread it out evenly.

Steam the dish

• Bring the water in the wok to a boil.
• Steam the ribs on high heat for about 20 minutes or until fully cooked.
• Check that the wok does not run out of water while steaming.

Garnish and serve

• Carefully remove the plate from the wok.
• Garnish with fresh coriander.
• Serve hot with a bowl of rice.

Cooking tips:

Pre-wash with cornstarch and salt:
This helps remove impurities and gives the ribs a cleaner taste. Rinse thoroughly after.

Cornstarch for tenderness:
A small amount of cornstarch in the marinade helps coat the meat and soften the outer layer after steaming.

Place the spices beneath the ribs:
Placing the bay leaf and star anise underneath helps infuse a subtle fragrance into the dish.

Do not over steam:
About 20 minutes is ideal. Over steaming may make the ribs tough.

Check the water level:
Make sure the wok does not run out of water during steaming.

Use good quality spices:
Good quality spices, especially bay leaf, will give a more noticeable fragrance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What type of pork ribs should I use?
Best to use spare ribs, but smaller pieces with a good balance of meat and fat work best for steaming.

How long should I steam the pork ribs?
Steam on high heat for about 25 minutes, or until the pork ribs are fully cooked and tender.

How do I check whether the pork ribs are cooked?
The pork ribs should be tender and easy to bite through. You can also check by cutting into a piece — the meat should no longer be rubbery pink.

Why add cornstarch to the pork ribs?
Cornstarch helps make the outer layer of the meat have a softer texture after steaming.

What to Serve with this dish

This dish pairs very well with a bowl of warm rice and simple sides. These dishes pair nicely together for a balanced meal, like:

Steamed Tofu with Century Eggs

Steamed Egg with Chicken Essence

Chinese Seaweed Soup with Minced Pork

This Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potatoes is simple, comforting, and full of flavour. The pork ribs are tender and juicy, while the sweet potatoes turn soft and naturally sweet, making every bite really satisfying. It’s an easy dish to put together and a great one to keep on rotation for everyday home-cooked meals.

Print Recipe for Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potatoes: