Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   3      pounds        pork spareribs -- cut across
                        into 1 1/2 inch -- length
                        peanut oil
     1/2  cup           sugar
     1/3  cup           Chinese rice vinegar
   1      teaspoon      salt
   1      tablespoon    dark soy sauce
   2      cups          sugar -- brown, dark
   2      cups          water
   1 1/2  cups          soy sauce -- light
     3/4  cup           molasses -- dark
     1/2  teaspoon      galangal -- ground
     1/2  teaspoon      cilantro -- ground
     1/2  teaspoon      pepper -- black

Preparation:

This one isn't for the barby, but I thought I'd pass it on anyway. Don't be deceived by the simplicity of this recipe. It's one of the very best sweet and sour rib recipes I've run across as well as being one of the easiest. The taste of the ribs shines through rather than being overwhelmed as it often is with more complex sweet and sour recipes. Combine and sugar and water in a 2-quart stainless steel saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and cook briskly, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the syrup reaches 200F on a candy thermometer. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the soy sauce, molasses, galangal, cilantro, and pepper, and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat; let cool. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve set over a bowl. Sauce will keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 months if tightly cov