It genuinely hurts me when my partner orders a $20.99 salt-and-pepper pork rib dish at a restaurant and the plate arrives with… eight tiny pieces of ribs. Eight. Altogether barely the size of two palms.
That disappointment, combined with my love for anything fried, salty, and peppery (pork ribs, chicken wings, you name it), pushed me to recreate this classic Cantonese dish at home. But with a twist: air-fried, not deep-fried. Healthier and just as satisfying. My air fryer remains one of the best purchases I’ve made since the pandemic.
This recipe is very forgiving. You can easily swap the pork butt for pork ribs, chicken wings, or even fish fillets.
Ingredients
Pork & Marinade
- 0.5 lb pork butt
- 15 ml rice wine
- 10 ml soy sauce
- 3 g salt
- 3 g five-spice powder
- 10 g cornstarch
Coating
- 30 g cornstarch
- 3 g salt
- 3 g ground white pepper
Stir-Fry Aromatics
- 5 cloves garlic, sliced
- Sliced ginger
- 1–2 chili peppers or jalapeños, sliced
- 2 scallions, cut into chunks
Instructions
- Step 1: Slice the pork butt into 1 cm (½-inch) thick pieces. Use the back of a knife to gently pound each slice to tenderizes the meat and slightly increases the surface area.
- Step 2: Combine all marinade ingredients and massage them thoroughly into the pork. Marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight.
- Step 3: Mix the coating ingredients. Coat the pork evenly, let it rest at room temperature for 15 minutes, then re-coat and rest again for another 5–10 minutes.
- Step 4: Transfer the pork to the air fryer and lightly spray with oil. Air-fry at 350°F / 180°C for 7 minutes, flip, then air-fry for another 3–5 minutes. Remove and cut into bite-size pieces.
- Step 5: Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and scallions for 10–30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 6: Add the air-fried pork to the pan. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds, then cover with a lid and let it cook for another 1–2 minutes to finish.
Transfer to a plate and serve this crispy, peppery, and deeply satisfying pork immediately!!
