True Southern Soul Food Style Barbecued Ribs

DEEP SOUTH BARBECUE RIBS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl or large zip-top plastic bag. (You will have about 1 ¼ cups dry rub.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat both sides of slabs dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, remove thin membrane from back of each slab by slicing into it and pulling it off with a paper towel.
• Divide Southern Barbecue Dry Rub evenly between slabs, rubbing on both sides of each. Press gently to adhere. Place slabs, meaty side up, on a wire rack on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Bake in preheated oven until meat begins to pull away from bones but is not yet tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• While the ribs are baking, make the Melting Pot BBQ Sauce. Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add tomatoes, and cook, stirring often, until skins begin to split and char, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onions and garlic, and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add butter to pan, and cook until melted, about 1 minute. Add brown sugar; stir until combined. Cook, without stirring, until edges start to caramelize, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper; reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until tomatoes completely break down and mixture is slightly thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and carefully transfer to a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); process on high until almost smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. (You will have about 1 quart of sauce.)
• After the initial 1 hour and 30 minutes in the oven, increase oven temperature to 450°F. (Do not remove ribs from oven.) Brush both sides of ribs with 1 cup Melting Pot BBQ Sauce. Bake until ribs are very tender and caramelized, 35 to 45 minutes, brushing with another cup barbecue sauce halfway through baking. Remove from oven, and let stand at least 10 minutes. Serve with remaining 2 cups barbecue sauce.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BARBECUED SPARERIBS

Steps:

• Place spareribs on a rack in a large roasting pan.
• Pour water into the bottom of the pan to a depth of 1/2 inch.
• Cover tightly and bake at 300 F for 1 1/2 hours, until ribs are tender.
• Combine all remaining ingredients, blending well. Drain liquid from the ribs and remove​ the rack from pan.
• Pour 1 cup of the sauce over the ribs.
• Bake in open pan at 325 F for 30 minutes.
• Pour remaining sauce over ribs; bake 30 minutes longer.
• Baste occasionally to make sure ribs are completely covered.

TRUE SOUTHERN SOUL-FOOD STYLE BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• 1. Remove the membrane on the back of the ribs by prying up a corner and pulling firmly and evenly away from the ribs. You can use a paper towel to give you a firmer grip as the membrane tends to be greasy. Cut the ribs into 2 or 3 rib cutlets. Rinse the ribs and place in a large roasting pan. 2. Cover the ribs in the roasting pan with water. Add the vinegar and salt. Place over a medium-low flame and watch that the water does not boil. 3. Poach the ribs for 30-40 mins. for pork, or about one hour for beef. Depending on the size of the pan, you may have to turn ribs on the top over to make sure they cook properly. 4. After the ribs are done, remove them from the pan and let cool for about 10 mins. When they are handleable, generously rub them all over with the dry spice rub. 5. It's time to fire up the grill. I prefer to use mesquite wood as it imparts the meat with a wonderful smoky flavor, but regular charcoal or mesquite charcoal briquets work well also. When the charcoal has turned half white and the flames are gone, place the ribs on the grill and cover. If you have a vent on top, half close it. Cook for about 15 mins and turn over. Repeat until the ribs are a nice golden brown. 6. Remove the ribs to large roasting pan lined with heavy foil. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Use your favorite barbecue sauce. (I personally use Everett & Jones' barbecue sauce which comes in mild, medium and hot. If you live in the Bay Area you can buy it at Long's Drugs, Albertson's, and Everett & Jones' restaurant in Jack London Square, Oakland. You can also buy it online at http://super-que.com. It's pure perfection!) 7. For easy application, pour the sauce into a large shall bowl and dip the ribs, covering liberally. Place ribs back into the roasting pan and cover tightly with heavy foil. 8. Bake in oven for approximately 30 mins. Enjoy!

SWEET SOUTHERN-STYLE BBQ RIBS

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup barbecue sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, molasses and water until blended; pour over ribs in large shallow dish. Refrigerate 2 hours to marinate. Drain; discard marinade.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Place ribs in foil-lined shallow pan. Bake 30 min.
• Heat grill to medium-high heat. Grill ribs 10 min. on each side or until done, brushing frequently with remaining barbecue sauce.

MOM'S OVEN-BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• Place ribs in a greased roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute. Drain ribs. Spoon sauce over ribs. Cover and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Uncover; bake 30 minutes longer, basting once.

SOUTHERN GRILLED BARBECUED RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place ribs in two 10x15 inch roasting pans. Pour water and red wine vinegar into a bowl, and stir. Pour diluted vinegar over ribs and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Baste the ribs with their juices halfway through cooking.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together ketchup, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, butter, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer barbeque sauce for 1 hour.
• Preheat grill for medium heat.
• Lightly oil preheated grill. Transfer ribs from the oven to the grill, discarding cooking liquid. Grill over medium heat for 15 minutes, turning ribs once. Baste ribs generously with barbeque sauce, and grill 8 minutes. Turn ribs, baste again with barbeque sauce, and grill 8 minutes.

SUSAN'S TOP SECRET BARBECUE SOUL RIBS!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• OVEN METHOD.
• Place ribs in a 9x13 inch baking dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Drain.
• Mix remaining ingredients in saucepan and heat thoroughly.
• Pour over ribs and bake another 1.5 hours, covered.
• GRILL METHOD.
• Place ribs in a 9x13 inch baking dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover and bake in the oven for 1.5 hours. Drain.
• Mix remaining ingredients in saucepan and simmer while ribs are in oven.
• Pour sauce over the ribs and baste ever piece of meat.
• Grill until completely cooked through and slightly charred (around 30 minutes). Baste throughout cooking process.
• Use excess sauce to pour over ribs to serve.