There are many things I would never do on a first date and pork ribs is one of them. Call me old fashioned but finger lickin’ food consumption is something best saved for that familiar more settled stage in the relationship.

Lucky for me my relationship has graduated from those impressionable early days to the sleep in your eyes Sunday mornings ‘staring-at-the-papers’ stage so seeing each other up to our elbows in ribs is the least of our problems 😉

In fact for the established relationship, this hearty, sticky, Flintstonian style meal might just be a perfect primal heart starter for when the romance side of things may be showing some signs of wear and tear.

Don’t be alarmed but this recipe has the pork ribs baked in coca-cola for its first stage. I was a little daunted at even bringing this product into my kitchen but just roll with it as it apparently helps in tenderising the pork (I read it on the internet so it must be true).

When served with jacket potato/mac and cheese or ‘slaw this serves two people who are crazy hungry and happy to sit on the couch post- meal for the next couple of hours with their pants undone. Alternatively it works well as part of a meal for four making it great for when you want to invite friends over cause you’ve run out of shit to talk to each other about.

AMERICAN STYLE PORK RIBS (Serves 4)

2 American-Style pork rib racks
300ml bottle of coca-cola (you heard me)
8 tablespoons brown sugar
8 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tbsps Worcestshire Sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sambal oelek
1 tsp smoked paprika

METHOD

1. Pre-heat your oven to 150 degrees.
2. Pat dry your pork ribs with a paper towel and place in an oven dish.

3. Pour the bottle of Coke over the ribs and then top up with water until the pork is covered. Cover with al foil and bake in the oven for a good 2.5 hours.

4. To make the sauce put all of the remaining ingredients in a small pot and heat on low to medium to combine, stirring as you go. Cook for a couple of minutes on the stove pot then leave.

5. When the ribs are done in the oven, drain the liquid from the oven dish, pat the ribs dry again and then coat in the sticky sauce. Use a pastry brush to make sure both sides are well covered. Leave a bit of sauce over for basting whilst the ribs are cooking.

6. Cover up and sit in the fridge for your preferred marinating period (1-24 hours).
7. Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees and when really hot get the ribs in there uncovered.
8. Cook the ribs for about 10 mins on both sides roasting as you go, and basting as you go.

9. Basically when they are looking sticky and caramalised – they’re ready.

Serve with a jacket potato or like we did with Macaroni & Cheese. The Apple Slaw from the Pulled Pork recipe is also handy for cutting through this rich dish.

WATCH OUTS: This is dead easy and I don’t think much can go wrong. My only watch out is that this is not an every day meal, it’s a special treat meal so don’t come crying to me if you’re eaten this every night and your cholesterol goes through the roof 😉

HOT TIP: If you’re in Sydders try pork from Trunkey’s Pork Purveyor at the Sydney Pyrmont Grower’s Market (1st Saturday of every month). They’re from Orange and they’re pigs are sweet and tasty.