These grilled baby back ribs are basted in an addictive brown sugar glaze with a just a hint of heat from red chile powder. You'll need a sturdy drip pan to go under the cooking grate.
Photo by: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Randy Mon
1. Remove the membrane from underside of ribs: Slide a screwdriver tip along each bone and under one end of membrane to loosen, then grab membrane with a paper towel and pull off (it's okay if membrane breaks and bits remain).
2. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, and cayenne. Put ribs on a baking sheet and sprinkle on both sides with salt mixture. Snugly wrap each rack in heavy-duty foil. Let sit 30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect medium-low heat (300° to 350°; you should be able to hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 6 to 7 seconds). If using charcoal, light 60 briquets in a chimney on firegrate. When coals are covered with ash, about 20 minutes, bank evenly on opposite sides of firegrate and let burn to medium-low. Set a sturdy drip pan on grate between mounds. The area over the drip pan is the indirect heat area. Add 3 or 4 more unlit briquets to each mound when ribs go on and every 30 minutes while cooking. If using gas, turn all burners to high, close lid, and heat 10 minutes. Then turn center burner(s) off and reduce heat of other burner(s) to medium-low. Place a sturdy drip pan under the turned-off burner(s). The area above the drip pan is the indirect heat area.
4. Place rib packets, bone side down, on cooking grate over indirect heat, overlapping slightly if necessary. Cover grill and cook ribs until fairly tender when pierced through foil, 50 to 70 minutes.
5. Transfer rib packets to a rimmed pan. Carefully remove ribs from foil. Set ribs, bone side up, on grill over indirect heat.
6. Spoon about 1/4 cup glaze into a small bowl and set aside. Using a silicone brush, baste ribs with remaining glaze. Cover grill and cook ribs 10 minutes. Brush melted glaze from center of each rack up along sides of meat, turn ribs over, and baste with more glaze. Repeat brushing and turning every 10 minutes until ribs are browned and tender and meat has shrunk back from ends of the bones, 30 to 40 minutes total.
7. Remove ribs from grill. Cover loosely with foil and let sit about 10 minutes. Stir reserved 1/4 cup glaze and brush over ribs. Cut between bones to serve.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Sunset AUGUST 2009
Time: 2 1/2 hours. You'll need a sturdy drip pan to go under the cooking grate.
1. Remove the membrane from underside of ribs: Slide a screwdriver tip along each bone and under one end of membrane to loosen, then grab membrane with a paper towel and pull off (it's okay if membrane breaks and bits remain).
2. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, and cayenne. Put ribs on a baking sheet and sprinkle on both sides with salt mixture. Snugly wrap each rack in heavy-duty foil. Let sit 30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect medium-low heat (300° to 350°; you should be able to hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 6 to 7 seconds). If using charcoal, light 60 briquets in a chimney on firegrate. When coals are covered with ash, about 20 minutes, bank evenly on opposite sides of firegrate and let burn to medium-low. Set a sturdy drip pan on grate between mounds. The area over the drip pan is the indirect heat area. Add 3 or 4 more unlit briquets to each mound when ribs go on and every 30 minutes while cooking. If using gas, turn all burners to high, close lid, and heat 10 minutes. Then turn center burner(s) off and reduce heat of other burner(s) to medium-low. Place a sturdy drip pan under the turned-off burner(s). The area above the drip pan is the indirect heat area.
4. Place rib packets, bone side down, on cooking grate over indirect heat, overlapping slightly if necessary. Cover grill and cook ribs until fairly tender when pierced through foil, 50 to 70 minutes.
5. Transfer rib packets to a rimmed pan. Carefully remove ribs from foil. Set ribs, bone side up, on grill over indirect heat.
6. Spoon about 1/4 cup glaze into a small bowl and set aside. Using a silicone brush, baste ribs with remaining glaze. Cover grill and cook ribs 10 minutes. Brush melted glaze from center of each rack up along sides of meat, turn ribs over, and baste with more glaze. Repeat brushing and turning every 10 minutes until ribs are browned and tender and meat has shrunk back from ends of the bones, 30 to 40 minutes total.
7. Remove ribs from grill. Cover loosely with foil and let sit about 10 minutes. Stir reserved 1/4 cup glaze and brush over ribs. Cut between bones to serve.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Sunset AUGUST 2009
Time: 2 1/2 hours. You'll need a sturdy drip pan to go under the cooking grate.
1. Remove the membrane from underside of ribs: Slide a screwdriver tip along each bone and under one end of membrane to loosen, then grab membrane with a paper towel and pull off (it's okay if membrane breaks and bits remain).
2. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, and cayenne. Put ribs on a baking sheet and sprinkle on both sides with salt mixture. Snugly wrap each rack in heavy-duty foil. Let sit 30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect medium-low heat (300° to 350°; you should be able to hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 6 to 7 seconds). If using charcoal, light 60 briquets in a chimney on firegrate. When coals are covered with ash, about 20 minutes, bank evenly on opposite sides of firegrate and let burn to medium-low. Set a sturdy drip pan on grate between mounds. The area over the drip pan is the indirect heat area. Add 3 or 4 more unlit briquets to each mound when ribs go on and every 30 minutes while cooking. If using gas, turn all burners to high, close lid, and heat 10 minutes. Then turn center burner(s) off and reduce heat of other burner(s) to medium-low. Place a sturdy drip pan under the turned-off burner(s). The area above the drip pan is the indirect heat area.
4. Place rib packets, bone side down, on cooking grate over indirect heat, overlapping slightly if necessary. Cover grill and cook ribs until fairly tender when pierced through foil, 50 to 70 minutes.
5. Transfer rib packets to a rimmed pan. Carefully remove ribs from foil. Set ribs, bone side up, on grill over indirect heat.
6. Spoon about 1/4 cup glaze into a small bowl and set aside. Using a silicone brush, baste ribs with remaining glaze. Cover grill and cook ribs 10 minutes. Brush melted glaze from center of each rack up along sides of meat, turn ribs over, and baste with more glaze. Repeat brushing and turning every 10 minutes until ribs are browned and tender and meat has shrunk back from ends of the bones, 30 to 40 minutes total.
7. Remove ribs from grill. Cover loosely with foil and let sit about 10 minutes. Stir reserved 1/4 cup glaze and brush over ribs. Cut between bones to serve.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Sunset AUGUST 2009
Time: 1 1/4 hours. If you're serving these vegetables with grilled ribs, grill the vegetables first. They're good eaten at room temperature.
Photo by: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Randy Mon
1. In a bowl, dissolve 2 tbsp. salt in 3 qts. water. Cut eggplant crosswise into 1/2-in. slices. Put slices in salted water; top with a plate or pot lid to submerge. Let sit 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare a charcoal or gas grill for medium heat (350° to 450°; you can hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 5 to 7 seconds). Drain eggplant on a kitchen towel. Arrange eggplant and tomatoes on a baking sheet. Brush all over with 1/2 cup oil.
3. Grill tomatoes, covered, turning once, until grill marks appear, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
4. Grill eggplant (in batches if necessary), covered, turning occasionally, until browned all over and tender to the bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Arrange on a large platter.
5. In a blender or food processor, purée remaining 1/2 cup olive oil, the lemon juice, 1/2 cup mint leaves, the garlic, remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, the pepper, and mustard.
6. Drizzle three-fourths of dressing over eggplant. Arrange tomatoes on eggplant, drizzle them with remaining dressing, and top with remaining 1/2 cup mint. Season to taste with more salt.
Make ahead: Prepare recipe through step 5 up to 3 hours ahead, cover, and hold at room temperature. Assemble just before serving.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Sunset AUGUST 2009
No canned kidney beans here--and the flavors get even better if you start the salad a day ahead.
Photo by: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Randy Mon
1. In a serving bowl, whisk together lemon zest, oil, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. salt, and the sugar. Set aside.
2. In a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 in. water to a boil over medium-high heat. Steam edamame, covered, for 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and steam, covered, until heated through, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour both into a colander, then pat dry on a kitchen towel. Add to bowl with dressing and toss to coat.
3. In the same saucepan, bring another 1 in. water to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Steam green beans, covered, until tender-crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour into a colander and immediately transfer to ice water. Let sit 30 seconds, drain, and pat dry on towel.
4. Add green beans and onions to chickpea mixture, toss to coat, and add more salt to taste if you like.
Make ahead: Prepare recipe through step 3, wrap chickpea mixture and green beans separately, and chill up to 1 day. Bring both to room temperature before proceeding. Dressed salad can stand up to 1 hour before serving.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Sunset AUGUST 2009
Backyard Rib Fest Menu
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Sticky Brown Sugar Glaze
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Basil Chile Lemonade Glaze
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Zaatar Glaze
Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Salad
The New Three-Bean Salad
Ice Cream Floats
Sunset
For your next outdoor party, think grilled ribs 3 ways, zesty salads, and build-your-own ice cream floats. (Serves 8)
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Sticky Brown Sugar Glaze
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Basil Chile Lemonade Glaze
Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Zaatar Glaze
Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Salad
Ice Cream Floats
Back To
Backyard Rib Fest Menu