Place the cut rib pieces in a large bowl. Add enough water to cover them, along with 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch. Gently massage the ribs in this starchy water—this helps draw out impurities and blood. Rinse thoroughly under cold water and drain. This step is key for cleaner flavor. Pat the ribs completely dry with paper towels; any excess water will dilute the marinade and prevent crisping.

To the dry ribs, add the minced garlic, smashed ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Using your hands (gloves optional), massage and mix everything vigorously for 1-2 minutes until every piece is evenly and thoroughly coated in the sticky, fragrant marinade.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour. For the most deeply flavored ribs, you can refrigerate for 2-4 hours (or even overnight).

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (355°F) for about 3-5 minutes. For added moisture to prevent drying, you can add some water to the bottom of the air fryer drawer (not the basket).

Arrange the marinated ribs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching or overlapping. This ensures hot air can circulate around each piece for even cooking and crisping. You may need to cook in batches.

Lightly spray the tops of the ribs with a thin layer of cooking oil. This promotes browning and extra crispness.

Place the basket in the air fryer and cook at 180°C (355°F) for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, pull out the basket. The ribs should be starting to brown. Flip each piece over using tongs. Give them another light spray of oil on the now-upward side.

Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 10-15 minutes at the same temperature, until the ribs are deeply golden brown, crispy on the edges, and cooked through. The total time is around 20-25 minutes, but this can vary based on your air fryer model and rib size. If your ribs are larger or you have a packed basket, you may need an extra 3-5 minutes.

Once cooked, immediately transfer the crispy ribs to a serving plate. While they are piping hot, sprinkle generously with pepper salt powder and garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve hot.