Nothing says summer more than a platter of ribs hot off the grill. Experts say the key to good barbecue is the sauce. I will add that a spice rub is equally important. A dry rub infuses an extra layer of sweet and spicy flavor into the ribs while they cook.
And if they’re left to marinate with the rub for several hours or overnight before grilling, you will be rewarded with succulent, deeply flavorful meat.
During the marinating process, the salt in the rub will pull out moisture from the meat, which will be reabsorbed, while the spices will stick to the exterior and form the coveted crispy bark during grilling.
I make a salty-sweet rub for ribs. It can be as simple as sugar and salt, which act as a cure for the meat, ensuring that each morsel will hit that lip-smacking, balanced flavor and juicy succulence you want. To that simple combo, you can add aromatic spices, such as cumin and paprika, plus a shake of cayenne for a kick of heat.
Sticky Smoky Baby Back Ribs
Active Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 4 hours, plus marinating timeServes 4 to 6
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 2 racks baby back pork ribs, 3 1/2 to 4 pounds, membrane trimmed
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 2 chipotles in adobo, minced, with juices
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over low heat (250 to 275 degrees F). Arrange the ribs on the grill grates over indirect heat and grill until the meat is tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours, turning once or twice. Remove, and using mitts to protect your hands, cut into individual ribs or pairs of ribs.
Return the ribs to the grill and cook over direct medium heat until they begin to crisp, 8 to 10 minutes, basting with the sauce and turning as needed. Serve with the remaining sauce.