Pair your deliciously savory Chinese Spareribs with "The Night Watchman" by Louise Erdrich for a deeply immersive reading experience. This National Book Award-winning novel weaves profound historical and personal narratives that enrich the soul, much like the rich flavors of the spareribs. Enjoy it with a classic Mai Tai, a vibrant cocktail that complements the ribs' sweet and savory notes. Together, they create a memorable culinary and literary evening.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork spareribs, cut into individual ribs
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, Chinese five-spice powder, ground black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and sesame oil. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved and all ingredients are well combined.
- Marinate the ribs: Place the spareribs in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the ribs, ensuring they are evenly coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Prepare the baking dish: Arrange the marinated ribs in a single layer on a large baking sheet or in a baking dish. Pour the remaining marinade over the ribs and add 1/4 cup of water to the bottom of the dish to keep the ribs moist during cooking.
- Bake the ribs: Cover the baking sheet or dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the ribs are tender. Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of baking to allow the ribs to develop a sticky, caramelized glaze.
- Baste the ribs: Occasionally baste the ribs with the pan juices to enhance the flavor and keep them moist.
- Finish and serve: Once the ribs are cooked and tender, remove them from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
The Night Watchman
Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather, "The Night Watchman" is a powerful tale that shines a light on an overlooked piece of American history. It beautifully captures the transition and struggles of Native Americans in the 1950s as they faced government attempts to end rights protections as tribes. Erdrich’s storytelling weaves personal and collective narratives of struggle, resistance, and love.
WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice. In the Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich creates a fictional world populated with memorable characters who are forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature. Illuminating the loves and lives, the desires and ambitions of these characters with compassion, wit, and intelligence, The Night Watchman is a majestic work of fiction from this revered cultural treasure.
Discussion Questions
- How does Erdrich draw on personal history in "The Night Watchman" and how does it shape the story?
- Discuss the role of women in the novel and how their stories contribute to the narrative.
- What does the title "The Night Watchman" symbolize in the context of the story?
- Examine how the author mixes elements of Native American culture, beliefs, and language in the novel. Why is this significant?
- Discuss the themes of resistance and persistence depicted in the novel.
- How do the individual characters' stories reflect the broader social issues of the 1950s in America?
- How does Erdrich portray the notion of identity and community throughout the book?
- In what ways does the novel explore the concepts of hope and despair?
- How do the relationships between the different characters affect the direction of the story?
- Reflect on the conclusion of the book. How did it leave you feeling regarding the characters’ future?
Authors:
Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03
Mai Tai
A classic Mai Tai is the perfect cocktail to complement your Chinese Spareribs, offering a refreshing balance of citrus and rum to counter the rich, savory flavors of the dish.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz white rum
- 3/4 oz orange curaçao
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/4 oz orgeat syrup
- 1/2 oz dark rum
- Mint sprig (for garnish)
- Lime wheel (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add the white rum, orange curaçao, lime juice, and orgeat syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
- Gently pour the dark rum over the back of a spoon to float on top of the drink.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wheel.