Easy Memphis-style Barbecued Pork Spareribs

This is for those of you who don’t have the patience or the space to make slow-barbecued ribs. Although they only spend a few minutes on the grill (after several hours in the oven), this version is still mighty delicious. In fact, once they’re oven-cooked, you can refrigerate them for up to two days before finishing them off on the grill. They are “Memphis-style” because, like the pitmasters of that rib-centric city, we don’t put sauce on the meat. Instead, we coat them with our Traditional Barbecue Rub before they get cooked, then pass the sauce separately along with the cooked ribs. That way, the ribs have a nice, crisp, dry crust on the outside, which you can coat with as much sauce as you like.

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Pork

Main Course

Ingredients

2 racks pork spareribs, up to 3 lb (1.35 kg) each		1/3 cup freshly cracked black pepper, for rub
1 cup ketchup, for sauce		1/4 cup dark brown sugar, for rub
1/3 cup cider vinegar, for sauce		2 tablespoons ground paprika, for rub
1/4 cup brown sugar, for sauce		2 tablespoons ground chile powder, for ub
1/4 cup orange juice, for sacue		2 tablespoons ground cumin, for rub
2 tablespoons prepared brown mustard, for sauce		2 tablespoons ground coriander, for rub
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste		2 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper, for rub
1/3 cup kosher salt, for rub		1 tablespoon ground ginger, for rub

directions

Total:

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1
In a small bowl, combine all the rub ingredients and mix well. (If you want to multiply the quantities, this mixture will keep, covered and stored in a cool, dry place, for months; it’s great with any pork cut or with chicken.)
2
Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C). Coat the ribs thoroughly with the barbecue rub, set them on baking sheets, and roast until the meat is tender and pulls easily from the bone (about 3 hours). Remove the ribs from the oven.
3
While the ribs are cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, mix well, and set aside.
4
When the ribs are nearly done, light a small fire in your grill. You want a very low charcoal fire with the grill rack set as high as possible. When the ribs are done, put them on the grill for as long as your patience allows—at least until a light crust has formed, which can take from 10 to 20 minutes per side, depending on your fire. Of course, the longer the ribs cook, the better. Brush them with sauce during the last minute of cooking.
5
Cut the racks into individual ribs and serve, passing the remaining sauce on the side.

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Easy Memphis-style Barbecued Pork Spareribs

Ingredients

directions