Chinese Char Siu Sesame-Crusted Pork Ribs

A few years ago, we mimicked the flavors of char siu in tofu. And while the sentiment of vegetarianism remains—we love ourselves a good vegetable (or meat-free alternative) recipe; this time, we're indulging our carnivorous selves. We still love char siu with a fiery passion, so we're using that flavor in this char siu ribs recipe.

This Serious Eats-inspired recipe takes 4 hours to make. But it's absolutely worth the wait to get juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone meat enveloped in a rich, thick sauce and a crispy exterior. This recipe uses a bark inspired by Texas-style barbecue so the fully-cooked ribs finish for over an hour in a low oven to get that crunchy outer layer.