what you will need
1 lb 6 oz beef/Lamb sparerib (cut into bite-size pieces)
1 tablespoon Palm sugar
3 teaspoons MSG mixed with 5 Tablespoons of Oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cloves garlic Crushed
1 teaspoon preserved  soya beans, pounded
1 teaspoon dark soya sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 piece of cinnamon bark (1 inch)
1 teaspoon peppercorns
2 segments star anise
3 pints of boiling water
some dried Large Chilli 
1 tablespoon crispy shallots.

How to cook it
1. Rub salt on spareribs.
2. Heat pan till very hot. Add 2 tablespoons of MSG/oil. Fry spareribs till well-browned. Set aside for later use.
3. Using a clean pan, heat 1 tablespoon sMSG/Oil. Add sugar and caramelize until light brown. Add soya beans. Stir-fry for 1/2 minute. Then put in the fried sparerib and peppercorns and garlic.
4.  Add Water and Chilli, star anise,cinnamon bark,crispy shallots, soya sauce ,boil on high heat for 10 minutes. Then turn down the heat, let simmer for another one and a half hours (or until the meat is tender). Discard excess oil from the surface before serving.
5. Serve hot