Memphis-Style Ribs
- 6 pounds spare ribs
- 1 3/4 cups cider vinegar
- 1 3/4 cups apple cider
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3/4 cup BBQ Rub, recipe follows
- 3 cups wood chips
- Vinegar Sauce, recipe follows, optional
- Your ribs may already be trimmed, or you can ask the butcher to trim them.
- To do it yourself, place the ribs meat-side up on a cutting board.
- There is a line of fat at the base of the ribs; cut along it to remove the cartilaginous rib tips.
- Turn the meat over, rib-side up.
- Cut off the flap of meat on the inside of the ribs.
- (The reason to remove these pieces is that they will burn, well before the ribs are done.
- You can season them and grill them over direct heat for about 15 minutes, turning once.
- They are delicious.)
- With the rib-side up, finesse a sharp knife under the tough membrane that covers the bones.
- Working from one rib to the next, pull the membrane off the rib.
- (For a better grip, grab the membrane with a paper towel.)
- The membrane may tear and you may have to start over, but be patient - removing the membrane allows the spices and smoke to penetrate the ribs, and makes the ribs much more attractive and easy to eat.
- In a shallow, non-reactive pan large enough to hold the ribs, mix together 1 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup cider, garlic, bay leaves, 2 tablespoons hot sauce and the salt.
- Put the ribs in this marinade, turn to coat, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 16 hours, turning once during this time.
- Remove the ribs from the pan 2 hours before you are going to grill and pat dry.
- Discard the marinade.
- Sprinkle the ribs all over with 1/2 cup of the rub, patting it on with your fingers.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 1/2 hour before grilling.
- Mix the remaining 3/4 cup cider vinegar, 3/4 cup cider, and 1 tablespoon hot sauce.
- You will apply this mixture to the ribs once every hour or so with a spray bottle, a barbecue mop, a pastry brush or a long-handled spoon.
- Soak about 3 cups of wood chips (hickory, oak or apple) for at least 1/2 hour in cold water.
- Prepare a charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill for indirect grilling over low heat.
- Drain and add 1 cup of the wood chips.
- Grill the ribs, covered, until they are crispy, and the meat has pulled back from the bone, 3 to 4 hours, depending on the heat of your grill.
- Spray or baste the ribs with the vinegar-cider mixture every hour, and turn them once during grilling.
- Don't forget to add more wood chips--and, if using charcoal, more coals--as needed (check every hour or so).
- You should have enough soaked wood chips for about 3 hours of cooking time; if your ribs take longer, you will need to soak more chips.
- If the ribs are done before you are ready to eat, wrap them in heavy-duty aluminum foil and leave them over very low, indirect heat for up to 1 hour.
- Remove the ribs from the grill, spray or baste with any remaining basting liquid, and sprinkle with the remaining the 1/4 cup of rub.
- Serve as is, or with Vinegar Sauce.
- 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt, such as kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Mix together all of the ingredients in an airtight container and store at room temperature.
- The rub will keep for several months.
- Yield: about 1 cup, enough for 8 pounds of Memphis-Style Ribs.
- 2 cups cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients.
- Use immediately, or cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Yield: about 2 1/2 cups
cider vinegar, apple cider, garlic, bay leaves, pepper sauce, salt, rub, wood chips, vinegar sauce
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/memphis-style-ribs-recipe.html (may not work)