First Timers Baby Back Ribs Food

BAKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chipotle chile powder, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, seafood seasoning and black pepper.
• Place each slab of ribs on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to fold over and seal, then place on a baking sheet. Do not seal the ribs in the foil yet (see Cook's Note). Generously sprinkle the dry rub on both sides of the ribs. Place in the refrigerator, meat-side down and uncovered, for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the apple cider, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire and minced garlic. Pour half the liquid over each slab and tightly seal each in the aluminum foil, crimping the edges to make a packet.
• Transfer the foil packets and baking sheet to the oven and bake until the meat is tender and starts to pull away from the bones, about 2 hours.
• Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Carefully open the aluminum packets and pour the braising liquid into a small saucepan. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat until it becomes a thick and syrupy glaze, about 4 minutes.
• While the braising liquid reduces, line a baking sheet with foil and gently transfer the ribs to it. Position a rack on the top level of the oven and preheat the broiler.
• Using a pastry brush, generously brush the ribs with about half the glaze. Place the ribs under the broiler for about 1 minute. Brush with the remaining glaze and return to the broiled until charred in spots, about 1 minute more. Slice each rack between the bones into 2-rib portions and serve.

THE ULTIMATE BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• Special equipment: Kitchen twine
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Put the ribs on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Stick them in the oven, and let the ribs bake, low and slow for 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Wrap the bacon around the middle of the thyme sprigs and tie with kitchen twine so you have a nice bundle. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme bundle and cook slowly for 3 to 4 minutes to render the bacon fat and give the sauce a nice smoky taste. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly, without coloring, for 5 minutes. Add all of the rest of the sauce ingredients, give the sauce a stir, and turn the heat down to low. Cook slowly for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Put some sauce in a separate bowl for basting, reserving the remaining sauce for serving.
• Baste the ribs with the sauce and let them continue cooking, basting twice more, for 30 more minutes. When the ribs are cooked, take them out of the oven. You can let them hang out like this until you're ready to eat.
• When ready to eat, preheat the broiler for 5 minutes and broil the ribs, basting with the sauce. They should become crisp and charred, about 5 minutes on each side. Pick the onion and garlic out of the sauce and serve with ribs.

BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• For the rub: The day before cooking, mix the turbinado sugar, salt, paprika, chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, ground cumin, ground mustard, cayenne pepper and black pepper together.
• For the ribs: Take a slab of ribs and turn over so the curved side is up. Using your fingernail or a knife, pry under the membrane until you can put your finger under it and then pull it off.
• Sprinkle this side of the ribs with about 1 tablespoon rub, and then about 1 tablespoon yellow mustard. Use the mustard to help evenly distribute the seasoning. Turn the ribs over and repeat the process. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight.
• To cook, start a smoker and bring the temp to 200 degrees F. Use apple or cherry wood chunks to provide smoke and flavor. Place the ribs in the smoker, curved side down. Smoke for 2 hours at 200 degrees F, and then raise the temperature to 250 degrees F for about 2 1/2 hours. Check for tenderness by testing if the bones will pull apart with a slight bit of pressure. If they are still tough, allow to cook for another 30 minutes.
• Remove from the smoker. For dry-style ribs, sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon rub. For wet-style ribs, glaze with the BBQ sauce.

NO-FUSS BAKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• For the ribs: Mix together the soy sauce, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, brown sugar, ginger, pinch of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper in a large measuring cup. Arrange the ribs in a roasting pan, hotel pan or baking dish large enough to fit them all. Pour the marinade over the ribs. Toss and flip until all the ribs are coated. Marinate 1 hour at room temperature or refrigerate up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 3 rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil.
• Place 2 racks of ribs on each baking sheet, meat-side up. Brush with any remaining marinade left behind in the roasting pan. Cover with more foil. Bake for 2 hours.
• For the Carolina moppin' sauce: Meanwhile, put the mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, granulated sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and tomato sauce in a large saucepan and whisk until completely combined. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until thickened, about 1 hour.
• Uncover the ribs and drain off the fat, reserving for another use (see Cook's Note). Mop or brush the sauce on both sides, returning the ribs to meat-side up. Raise the oven to 300 degrees F and bake the ribs, uncovered, until the meat is tender and the sauce begins to caramelize, about 1 more hour.
• Mop the ribs again on both sides. Raise the oven to 375 degrees F and bake the ribs, uncovered and adding more sauce as it absorbs, until the meat gets brown and caramelized, about 1 hour more. Cut the ribs into individual pieces. Use the remaining sauce for serving, or keep in the refrigerator for later use.

FIRST-TIMER'S BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• If your butcher hasn't done it, pull the membrane off the bone side of the rack. Use a sharp knife to lift the membrane, then grab hold with a paper towel and pull it off.
• Combine rub ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Apply rub heavily to both sides of ribs. Refrigerate 2-4 hours. Meanwhile, soak hardwood chips (hickory or apple) in cold water.
• Prepare a charcoal grill with an indirect grill setup - put hot coals on outside of grill, leaving a cool center zone, with a drip pan in the center. Place ribs in a rib rack, and stand the rack over the drip pan. Place a handful of hardwood chips on each pile of coals. Position the lid with the vent holes centered over the meat.
• For the mop sauce, melt the butter in a nonreactive saucepan. Add the cider, bourbon (or additional apple cider) and soy sauce. Keep warm until ready to use.
• Once the ribs have been cooking about 45 minutes, use a barbecue mop to baste the racks. Baste every 15-20 minutes for an additional 45-60 minutes. When done, the meat will have shrunken away, exposing the ends of the bones by about 1/4".
• Transfer the meat from the rack to lay directly over the coals. Brush with barbecue sauce and cook an additional 1-3 minutes, until the sauce browns and bubbles.
• Transfer meat to a cutting board or platter. Rest 10 minutes, then cut racks in half, or into individual ribs. Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.

FAST-TRACK BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• BRINE: Combine salt, brown sugar, black peppercorns, hot red pepper flakes, bay leaves and hot water in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar and salt. Add wine and ice water, stir to combine. Place ribs in a large, non-reactive baking dish. Pour brine over ribs, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4-6 hours. Remove ribs from brine, rinse well under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. (Brined ribs may be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated overnight.)
• SPICE RUB: Heat a heavy, dry saucepan on medium high. Add coriander, mustard seeds and whole peppercorns and toast, shaking pan, until fragrant. Grind toasted spices in a spice grinder or small coffee grinder. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in salt, garlic powder, thyme, oregano and granulated sugar.
• RIBS: Rub both sides of rib slabs with seasoning rub and let stand for 30 minutes at room temperature. Preheat a gas grill to medium high and lightly oil grill rack to prevent sticking. Place ribs on grill, meat side down, and grill covered for 10 minutes, checking frequently and reducing heat slightly to control excessive flame-ups. (A little bit of charring will give the ribs nice flavor but you don't want to blacken them completely). Turn ribs and grill covered until cooked through - about 10 minutes more. Serve immediately.

PARBOILED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Put the ribs in a large stockpot and fill with enough cold water to cover. Squeeze the lemons into a bowl and strain the juice into the pot; add the lemon rinds as well (remove any seeds). Add the salt, peppercorns and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Boil until the ribs are slightly soft but not falling apart, about 25 minutes.
• Prepare a grill for high heat.
• Transfer the ribs to the grill, meatier-side down. Grill for 10 minutes; brush with glaze if you like and then grill another 3 minutes. The finished ribs should be at least 165 degrees F in the center; you don't want to char the meat, but you want it to fall apart.