Jul 20, 2009

Anonymous Blogger BBQ Ribs

A fellow blogger whom I can't seem to recall gave me a great recipe for BBQ Baby Back Ribs a while back. I've searched high and low (at least 2 minutes worth) and I just can't find who it was.  But I've kept the recipe and with some slight modifications, I've been making my ribs this way ever since. Just made a batch today for a barbecue, and they were fabulous. Here is that recipe:

Anonymous Blogger BBQ Ribs

  • Remove the semi-translucent membrane from the back of the rack of ribs.  You don't have to do this, but I think it results in a more tender batch of ribs.
  • Cut rack into thirds - I do this as it is a pretty decent serving size for barbecues especially if you are serving burgers and hot dogs as well.
  • Prepare a dry rub seasoning of your own choice.  I like to use salt, fresh ground black pepper, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander and dry mustard.  But use whatever you think will taste best.  I'm sure you know what you like.
  • Rub the prepared seasoning on the top of each slab of ribs and wrap securely in plastic wrap.
  • Refrigerate seasoned ribs overnight or for at least 6 hours or so.  I like to do it the day before and let the ribs "marinate" in the dry rub for around 24 hours.  Tenderizes them nicely.
  • Prepare a "steam bath" for the ribs.  I use 1 cup of strong ale like a barley wine or an Imperial IPA, 1 cup of malt vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) and 1 cup of water.  Mix and pour in the bottom of a deep roasting dish.  I used one of those aluminum one-use roasters that you can buy in any supermarket.  Then either use some kind of rack or homemade device (crumpled up lumps of foil work in a pinch) so that when you stack the ribs in the roaster they are all above the level of the liquid below.  And make sure that there is some room between the layers of ribs when you stack them so that the steam can work to the fullest.  Cover with aluminum foil making a tent that will allow a little steam to escape during cooking.
  • Cook at 350 degrees F for around 2 hours or a little longer.  The moisture that the ribs absorb in this  process is essential.  Just make sure that the liquid below is boiling, so you may have to play with the temperature a bit.
  • Remove cooked ribs from steam bath and let cool for at least 15 minutes.
  • Dip each slab of ribs in your BBQ sauce of choice and get 'em good and soaked.  There are plenty of good sauces on the market or you can make it yourself if you prefer.  Doesn't matter to me.  I used some bottled sauce from Daisy May's, a great BBQ joint in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.
  • Grill the cooked ribs dipped in BBQ sauce on one of those outside grills that you have sitting in your backyard or on your porch.  You know the one.  You don't have to cook them long, just enough so that you get a nice crispy char on the outside of the ribs from the sauce.

The ribs should retain a decent amount of the flavor from the rub seasoning as well as the BBQ sauce and they will just fall right off the bone. Juicy and tender on the inside, crispy and delicious on the outside. If you did it right.

A nice tasty beer, some macaroni salad or potato salad and an ear or three of fresh corn also go a long way toward your BBQ rib enjoyment.

How do you cook your ribs?

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. It seems like a lot of work, but it really isn't.

20 comments:

Avitable said...

I don't eat ribs. I can't eat food on a bone.

Water Logged Canine said...

Battered Women? Sounds delicious.

2abes said...

they look good enough to eat cold for breakfast this morning. i had ribs last night on the grill. I love ribs. Last night was a last minute rib craving, I just put em on the grill at low heat for a while then douse them in bbq sauce (jack daniels last night with a couple drops of liquid smoke) and turn up the heat. I have done the before with a rub, but that takes more planning than I was capable of this weekend. I also grilled jalapeno bubba burgers. First time I tried them. I give them 2 thumbs up.

Dave2 said...

GAH!! As a vegetarian, I was gagging in step one when I got to "translucent membrane!" :-)

Verdant Earl said...

Avitable - It's only chicken or turkey that bothers me when it is on the bone. Ribs I can deal with.

WLC - you cook your ribs with battered women?

2abes - Jalepeno Bubba burgers! Sounds delish!

Dave2 - it made me gag a little to type it, but since the result is a more tender rack of ribs...

Avitable said...

Well, I've never actually had ribs, so I don't know if I can handle it. I just know how I feel about chicken and steak on the bone.

Slyde said...

i think avitable just likes saying "bone" alot...

Verdant Earl said...

Avitable - I stayed away from ribs because of the bone thing for a long time as well. I've only really been eating them for the past ten years or so. I tried them before that but I was never really a fan.

Slyde - Isn't the name of your favorite BBQ pit/gay bar The Bone Shack? Or was it The Meat Locker. I can't keep your favorite gay bars straight. Gay...straight. See what I did there?

white rabbit said...

Damn - That sounds good! I marinate ribs in honey (6 tablespoons for about 1.5 kg of ribs) and oyster sauce (3 tablespoons) with a teaspoon of dried chilli flakes a couple of finely sliced cloves of garlic, sea salt and cracked peppercorns

hello haha narf said...

oh my fuck, now i NEED ribs again.
i don't cook, but there are a few decent places around here. although i might make a trip to the south just for a day of bbq eating.

hello haha narf said...

p.s. to avitable...

ribs are good enough that you should consider eating them with a knife and fork. hell, done right they fall off the stupid bone anyhow so ya just need a fork.

Dr Zibbs said...

While I eat this hot dog I'm gonna pretend I'm eating that.

Heff said...

Nice job. I'll probably give that a whirl.

sybil law said...

YUM.
I just had ribs yesterday and they were NOT good. Surprising, since when I usually get them from that place, they are...
Anyway, I've never made them on my own. But my dad uses a pressure cooker and then grills them - they are insanely tender.

Poppy said...

I make Dawg's mom cook my ribs in the oven. :) Or my friend Jerry on the outdoor bbq smoker thingie. Not that I ever eat ribs. ew.

Bruce Johnson said...

With your fasination with bacon and ribs, I would hate to see the inside of your aorta.....

Michelle said...

I don't. Cook my ribs or any ribs for that matter. Just not appealing to me. AT ALL!!!

But they look good, I guess!

Verdant Earl said...

Whitey - Holy Hell! That sounds like a good rub!

Becky - I've found that some of the best BBQ is from Southerners how have moved to the North. Look for it in PA.

Zibbs - I love hot dogs!

Heff - I'm interested to see how it goes for you!

Sybil - Pressure cooker is a good way to steam 'em!

Poppy - so you make them cook them a certain way and then you don't eat 'em? WTF!

Bruce - you suck.

Michelle - veg-head!

Bruce Johnson said...

I suck down bacon greese......mmmmm, tasty.

white rabbit said...

Earl - Marinade I posted here should include a couple of star anise - adds wonderfully to the cooking smells - just remembered this ;)