Costillitas Rancheras con Papas (Braised Pork Ribs with Potatoes)
Pork ribs braised until tender in a chunky ranchera sauce with soft potatoes, a proper Mexican home cooking pot.
Made with Salsa ranchera. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 50
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.66 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Season the ribs with 1.5 tsp salt. Heat the oil in a large lidded casserole over a medium high heat. Brown the ribs in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Lift out.
8 min - 2
Cook the onion in the same pot for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and oregano for 30 seconds.
4 min - 3
Pour in your ready made salsa ranchera (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits.
- 4
Return the ribs, cover and cook gently for 1 hour, stirring now and then.
60 min - 5
Add the potatoes, cover again and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the ribs are very tender and the potatoes are soft.
27 min 30 s - 6
Skim off excess fat. Taste and season with salt. Serve in deep bowls with warm tortillas.
Tips
- Use meaty ribs that are cut into small pieces so they fit the pot.
- Skim fat from the surface before serving or chill overnight and lift off the solid fat.
- Cook uncovered for the last 10 minutes if the sauce is too thin.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours. Keep in the fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the ribs, then cook with everything but the potatoes for 6 hours on low, adding the potatoes for the last 2 hours.
Can I use pork shoulder instead?
Yes. Cut it into 5 cm chunks and cook for 2 hours until tender.
More made with salsa ranchera
Huevos Ahogados en Salsa Ranchera (Eggs Poached in Ranchera Sauce)
NFVSopes con Frijoles y Salsa Ranchera (Thick Corn Cakes with Beans)
GFEFNFCalabacitas con Puerco y Frijoles Refritos (Pork and Courgette Stew with Beans)
DFEFNFChiles Poblanos Rellenos de Pollo y Camarón (Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Chicken and Prawns)
GFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.