Easy Barbecue Ribs Recipe

Barbecue ribs are a beloved and iconic dish in American cuisine, especially in the realm of barbecue. They typically consist of meaty pork ribs that are seasoned with a flavorful dry rub or coated in a tangy barbecue sauce, then slow-cooked to tender perfection through smoking, grilling, or baking. There are two main barbecue ribs: baby back ribs and spare ribs.

1. Baby Back Ribs: These are cut from the top of the rib cage near the backbone and tend to be smaller and more tender. Baby back ribs are known for their slightly curved shape and are often more lean and meaty than spare ribs.
2. Spare Ribs: Spare ribs come from the lower portion of the rib cage, closer to the belly. They are larger and have more meat between the bones, making them slightly fattier and more flavorful. Spare ribs are often meatier and offer a rich, juicy bite.

Barbecue ribs are typically prepared using a two-step process. First, they are coated with a dry rub made from a blend of spices, herbs, salt, and sugar. This rub is applied generously to the ribs to create a flavorful crust. The ribs are then slow-cooked over low heat, which can be done through smoking, grilling, or baking in an oven. During the cooking process, the ribs absorb the flavors from the rub and develop a smoky, tender texture.

In some variations, barbecue ribs are also glazed with a barbecue sauce during the last stages of cooking. This sauce can be sweet, tangy, spicy, or a combination of flavors, adding an extra layer of richness and moisture to the ribs.

Barbecue ribs are often served with traditional sides like coleslaw, baked beans, cornbread, and potato salad. They are a quintessential dish at backyard barbecues, cookouts, and barbecue restaurants across the United States.

Recipe for Barbecue Ribs:

Easy Barbecue Ribs Recipe

Recipe by Yummy FoodCourse: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Barbecue ribs are a beloved and iconic dish in American cuisine, especially in the realm of barbecue.

Ingredients

• 1 slab pork spareribs

• 5 tbsp Barbecue Rub

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

• ½ cup tomato paste

• ¼ cup blackstrap molasses

• ¼ cup light molasses

• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• Large hickory chunks

Directions

• Massage ribs with the barbecue rub. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Combine remaining ingredients except for hickory in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat until reduced by ½.
• Place hickory chunks in a firebox of 250°F (120˚C) smoker.
• Place ribs in the smoker and cook, brushing often with tomato mixture and changing the hickory chunks as needed, for 5–6 hours.
• Brush ribs generously with mixture and grill on high heat, brushing repeatedly until well-browned on both sides.
• Remove and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve.

Other PORK recipes may be found HERE.

IMAGE SOURCE: Gyfjonas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

RECIPE SOURCE: WIKI COOKBOOK