Honey Barbeque Spare Ribs

 Honey Barbeque Spare Ribs

IG; @mangia.con.elena

Pinterest: mangia con elena

Birthdays and special celebrations in our family means that the honoured person gets to pick what they would like for their festive dinner. Invariably, my son chooses spare ribs. These ribs are boiled on the stove and then finished off in the oven or outdoor grill to create a beautiful caramelized outer skin and a fall off the bone meat. The secret to my success is to boil the racks of ribs in coca- cola. Stay with me here-the first time I heard about this trick I was skeptical but I tried it and I was incredibly happy with the results. Cola has a very high acidity that breaks down and tenderizes meat without dissolving it. The racks simmer gently for approximately 2-3 hours and the end result is wonderful. The meat is tender and the ribs are also less fatty.  

There are many bbq sauces on the market and this is certainly an option. However they often contain large amounts of sugar, vinegar and additional preservatives. Making your own sauce takes no time at all and you can control the amounts of sugar to your liking. The honey bbq sauce recipe here is a standard one that I use. It can be stored in the fridge in a tightly sealed container(a mason jar) for about 2 weeks but I am sure it won't last that long! This recipe will easily cover 4 racks of ribs. If making more than that, then adjust the amounts accordingly.

As always with my recipes the suggested spice measurements are just estimates. You can omit if you don't like a particular spice. I always recommend starting with the suggested amount and then adjusting as you go along. Remember to let your taste buds be your guide!

Ingredients

• 2-4 racks 
• one large onion halved
• handful of peppercorns
• handful of salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 garlic cloves peeled
• 2-3  2 litre bottles of cola

For the sauce

• 2 cups of ketchup
• 4 tbsps of honey
• 1 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp pepper
• 3 tsp of garlic powder or 2-3 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 3 tsp of onion powder or 1 large onion diced
• 3 tsp of smoked paprika (QB)
• 1/4 tsp of smoked chipotle powder (optional and QB)

Directions

1. Remove excess fat from racks and place in a large stockpot so they fit easily.
2. Fill pot with cola ensuring that the ribs are fully immersed
3. Add all the other ingredients and bring to a boil
4. Reduce heat so ribs are simmering steadily and cover. Stir every once in a while to prevent ribs from sticking to bottom of pot
5. After 2-3 hours remove racks from pot. I use 2 pairs of tongs to carefully lift out and onto a cutting board to prevent them from separating from bone
6. Cut ribs into serving size portions and place on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil 
7. Brush both sides of the ribs with the sauce mixture.
8. Place in a 375 degree oven and bake until you have reached your desired consistency. I bake for about 15 minutes on each side and then broil for a few minutes to get them nice and caramelized
9. If using a grill make sure to clean grill well and spray with an oil spray to prevent from sticking.
10. Half way through the baking, flip the ribs and add more sauce

For the sauce

1. Add all the ingredients to a medium size saucepan and whisk until incorporated. Let simmer for 15 minutes  stirring every so often.
2. Don't forget to taste test and adjust accordingly
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

Finger Licking Good Ribs!!!! 

Elena💜