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David’s Barbecue Ribs

David Scott Allen, Cocoa & Lavender
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Ingredients
  

For the Ribs

  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt I use Morton’s - adjust for Diamonds Crystal
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons medium hot chile powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 pounds baby back ribs in 3 or 4 pieces
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce homemade if possible (recipe follows)

For Mom’s Barbecue Sauce

  • 3 cups ketchup
  • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika or mild chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions
 

Making the Ribs

  • Take ribs out of the refrigerator about an hour before putting them in the oven.
  • Preheat oven to 300°F. Combine spices in a small bowl. Place each rack of ribs on its own piece of heavy duty foil large enough to accommodate the whole rack – about three times wider than the rack – sufficient to be folded up and sealed. See the photo below. (You can use a double layer of regular foil if you don’t have heavy duty.) Rub top and bottom of each rack with the spice mixture (I find using a brush to distribute the spice rub gets a better coating, and less of the spice mixture ends up on your fingers). Wrap each rack individually, and place on a large baking sheet.
  • Bake ribs for 2 hours. Place barbecue sauce (recipe below, or your favorite) in a small saucepan. Unwrap ribs and pour 2-3 tablespoons juices from foil into the bowl with the barbecue sauce and stir to mix and loosen; discard other juices. Let ribs cool completely.
  • Heat gas or charcoal grill to high; oil the grate. Baste the meaty side of the ribs lightly with the barbecue sauce. Grill ribs, starting meaty side down, basting both sides with barbecue sauce and turning a couple of times, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; cut between ribs using a very sharp knife. Transfer ribs to a platter; reheat any leftover sauce to eliminate any cross contamination. Serve ribs with extra barbecue sauce.

Making Mom’s Barbecue Sauce

  • Mix all ingredients and simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally, scrape bottom so it does not scorch. Makes generous 3 cups.

Notes

Serves 4.