Pork ribs glazed with tree tomato and panela over green plantain mash with cheese and pickled onion

Instructions

1. 1

   1. Season the pork ribs with 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, cumin, annatto, half of the crushed garlic, and 1 tablespoon oil. Mix well and let rest for 15 minutes while you prepare the remaining components.

2. 2

   2. Preheat the oven to 190 °C / 375 °F.

3. 3

   3. For the pickled onion, place half of the red onion, thinly sliced, in a bowl with the lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and half of the chopped cilantro. Gently massage with your hands and set aside.

4. 4

   4. For the glaze, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the other half of the chopped red onion and the remaining garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chopped tree tomato, grated panela, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, and 60 ml (1/4 cup) water. Cook for 10 minutes until the fruit breaks down and the sauce thickens slightly. Blend or mash the mixture and set aside.

5. 5

   5. Heat a large skillet or oven-safe pot and brown the ribs on all sides for 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the ribs to a baking dish, add 120 ml (1/2 cup) water to the bottom, and cover tightly with aluminum foil.

6. 6

   6. Bake the covered ribs for 50 minutes at 190 °C / 375 °F. Remove the foil, brush with some of the tree tomato glaze, and bake 20 minutes more at 200 °C / 400 °F, turning once and adding more glaze halfway through, until glossy and well browned.

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   7. While the ribs bake, cook the green plantains in a pot of water with a pinch of salt for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain well.

8. 8

   8. Mash the hot plantains with the butter, warm milk, and fresh cheese. Adjust with the remaining salt until you get a creamy mash that still has some texture.

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   9. Stir the remaining cilantro into the pickled onion. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

10. 10

    10. Serve a bed of green plantain mash with cheese on each plate, top with the glazed ribs, and finish with the pickled onion and a few extra spoonfuls of the tree tomato glaze.