Recipe: BBQ pork ribs

Sticky, smoky racks of pork ribs, cooked low & slow on the BBQ… you can’t beat this recipe. Serves 4 generously.

Ingredients:

For the BBQ sauce (by DJ BBQ):

• 1 medium onion, peeled
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 Scotch bonnet chilli, de-seeded
• 1 fresh red chilli, de-seeded
• 50 g unsalted butter
• Oil
• 1 tbsp runny honey
• 2 tbsp soft dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp English mustard powder
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 swig of Bourbon whiskey
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 125 ml tomato ketchup
• a few drops of Tabasco sauce
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper

For the dry rub:

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

For the ribs:

• 4 racks baby back ribs
• French mustard
• 200 ml apple juice

Method:

For the rub:

1. Grind up all the rub ingredients in a pestle and mortar.
2. Take the membrane off the back of the ribs
3. Coat ribs in mustard.
4. Rub the spice mix all over the ribs and refrigerate for a few hours.

For the BBQ sauce:

1. Finely chop onions, garlic and chillies.
2. Add to pan along with butter and oil – sweat for 5-10 mins.
3. Add all the rest of the ingredients plus 200 ml water.
4. Bring to the boil and then turn down to a simmer for 45 mins.
5. Allow to cool and put in a clean jar.

To cook the ribs:

1. Heat BBQ to around 110 degrees C, with coals off to one side (indirect cooking method).
2. Place ribs bone-side down on the opposite side to the coals.
3. Smoke for 3 hours.
4. Create a “packet” for each rack of ribs using tin foil, and place the ribs meat-side down in the packets with 50 ml apple juice each.
5. Place back on the smoker for 1.5 – 2 hours until tender and pliable.
6. Remove ribs from packets and baste with BBQ sauce.
7. Place back on smoker meat-side up for 15 minutes; repeat basting process and smoke for another 15 mins.
8. Remove from smoker and rest the ribs, covered in foil, for 15 minutes.
9. Serve with more of the BBQ sauce.