Lu Rou Sichuan (Triple-Cooked Spareribs With Chiles) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs pork spareribs, cut into 3 inch pieces
2 cups chinese rice wine
2 tablespoons Chinese five spice powder
3 1/4 cups canola oil
10 garlic cloves (4 sliced, and 6 minced)
8 inches piece peeled ginger (3 inch sliced into \"coins,\" 5 inch minced)
4 dried arbol chiles
3 tablespoons fennel seeds
5 star anise
2 sticks cinnamon, broken in half
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 Thai red chili peppers, stemmed sliced
2 Thai green chili, stemmed sliced
1/3 cup sichuan red chili oil (hong you)
steamed rice, for serving

Preparation

Mix spareribs, wine, and five-spice powder in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, drain ribs, discarding liquid, and transfer to a 6 qt saucepan. Cover with water by 2 inches and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook until slightly tender, 3-5 minutes, and drain. Set aside.
Heat 1/4 cup canola oil in a 14 inch flat-bottomed wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add sliced garlic and ginger, dried chiles, fennel, star anise, and cinnamon; cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer spices and chiles to a piece of cheesecloth; tie into a tight package. Add package to wok with reserved ribs, sugar, salt, and 6 cups water; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium; cook until ribs are very tender, 30-35 minutes. Drain ribs, discarding liquid and spice package, and dry them completely with paper towels; set aside.
Dry wok with paper towels and heat remaining 3 cups of canola oil to 375 degrees F. Working in 2 batches, fry ribs until crisp, 6-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain; set aside.
Discard all but 1/4 cup oil; heat over high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and red and green chiles; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ribs and red chile oil; cook for 1 minute more. Serve with rice.