Guy's Righteous Ribs Recipe

Ingredients

3 (4-pound) slabs pork spare ribs, St. Louis style-cut (trimmed, fat ends)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons. kosher salt
4 teaspoons chili powder
4 teaspoons garlic powder
4 teaspoons onion powder
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Begin by trimming the ribs of any excess fat or sinew. Remove the thin membrane from the back side of the ribs and discard. Make the rub by combining the brown sugar, salt, chili powder, garlic and onion powder, paprika, cumin, white and cayenne pepper and cloves in a mixing bowl.

Set out a few large sheets of foil (one set for each slab). Place 1 rack on each sheet and divide the dry rub between each slab. Rub the mixture into the ribs on both sides, and then fold the foil over to form a sealed pouch around each rack. At this stage, make sure the racks are meat-side down. Place each pouch on a roasting tray and bake in the oven for 2 hours. After 2 hours, open up the foil and peel back so the ribs are exposed. Carefully turn the meat over so the meat side is on top.

Brush the top and bottom of the racks with a generous amount of Root Beer BBQ Sauce (recipe follows). Brush the second rack with Firecracker BBQ sauce and the final rack with Guy’s Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ sauce (available at foodnetworkstore.com) — or use Root Beer sauce on all three. Cook racks for 1 1/2 more hours with the open foil. When done, the ribs will be tender and the meat will have shrunk back from the bones. Remove from oven, cut into portions, serve with extra BBQ sauce.

Root Beer BBQ Sauce
• 1 quart good quality root beer
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbs. light brown sugar, or to taste
• 1 Tb. molasses
• 2 cloves
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

To make root beer BBQ sauce, begin by reducing root beer over high heat until reduced to ¼ of its original volume, 8 to10 minutes. Allow to cool then combine all the ingredients in the pot. Gradually bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer the sauce until thick and richly flavored, 10 to 15 minutes.

Yield: 20 servings