A hearty meal for the adults in the family

[Serves 4 to 6]

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 4-5 hours

INGREDIENTS
1.5kg pork spare ribs
185ml beer
185ml barbecue sauce
2 tbsps sweet chilli sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp honey
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp cornflour
1 small handful coriander (cilantro) leaves, to garnish 

METHOD
1. Cut the ribs into individual ribs, or into sets of two or three if preferred, and trim away any excess fat.
2. In a large bowl, combine the beer, barbecue sauce, sweet chilli sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, spring onions and garlic. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the ribs and thoroughly coat them in the sauce.
3. Transfer the ribs and the marinade to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. After 4 hours, check to see if the ribs are tender but the meat should not be falling off the bone. If necessary, continue to cook for the extra hour.
4. Using kitchen tongs, remove the ribs to a side plate and cover to keep warm. Mix the cornflour with 1 tbsp water and stir into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring, or until the sauce has thickened.
5. Serve the ribs piled onto plates and spoon over some of the sauce. Sprinkle over the coriander leaves. Supply lots of paper napkins for sticky fingers.

Fast Fact The hops used to make beer contain xanthohumol, a powerful antioxidant, which can stop the early stages of tumour growth. The vitamin B6 in beer also prevents the build-up of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to vascular and heart disease. Beer acts as a blood thinner, reducing the risk of a heart attack.  Did You Know? Slow cookers are also called “Crock Pots”, a brand name introduced in America in 1971. This electrical “casserole”, which comprises a round, oval or oblong cooking vessel made of glazed ceramic or porcelain with a transparent lid, cooks food with a low, steady, moist heat.

Recipes reprinted from Slow Cookers: The Slow Cooker Recipes You Must Have, with permission from Murdoch Books. Slow Cookers retails at $43 (before GST) at all leading bookstores.

If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg

- Mother & Baby
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