Five-spiced sticky honey pork

Some say honey and pork is a match made in heaven and I am inclined to agree. I love the licky sticky experience of digging into a pile of moist tender tasty ribs. The depth of flavour and tenderness of the meat is so much better if you can marinate the meat overnight. If you like a bit more heat and bite, simply add some chilli. A stronger-flavoured honey such as honeydew will give the ribs a unique muskiness. This marinade is versatile and works well on other ribs and meat, as well as seafood and vegetables.

Ingredients

2 tsp	Five spice
2 tsp	Ground ginger
½ cup	Tomato ketchup
2 Tbsp	Brown sugar
½ cup	Red wine vinegar, or malt vinegar
2 Tbsp	Honey, kamahi or beechwood honeydew (Main)
1 ½ kgs	Pork ribs
½ cup	Water
2 Tbsp	Sesame seeds

Directions

1. In a small saucepan mix together the five spice, ginger, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, honey and water. Allow to boil for 5 minutes, remove from heat. Pour over the pork ribs and marinate for 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
2. Heat oven to 140C. Place pork and marinade in a roasting dish, cover with a lid and cook for 2 hours, basting the ribs every 20-30 minutes. Remove the lid, turn the oven up to 200C and cook for a further 15 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven, set ribs to one side and boil the marinade until it becomes thick and sticky. Brush this over the ribs, slice into portions and serve sprinkled with sesame seeds.

See more of Geoff's honey recipes

• Honey thyme roast chicken
• Honey and rosemary kumara
• Honey creme brulee
• Honey parfait
• Honey and walnut bread