GRILLED BABY BACK RIBS WITH SWEET-SOUR BBQ SAUCE

As promised in a previous post here’s the photo of the baby back ribs with my  Sweet-Sour BBQ Sauce.  As I mentioned in the post of the sauce it goes especially well on chicken or ribs prepared on the grill. 

Baby back ribs have been my ribs of choice since I first tasted them when we lived in Chicago. They are much meatier and less fatty than spare ribs.

I have found it better to pre-bake the ribs in a low oven for several hours prior to grilling them. 

Season both sides of the ribs with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper and place them bone-side down on a rack on a large rimmed baking sheet, covering tightly with foil. 

Place in a preheated 225 degree oven for 2 and ½ to 3 hours.  If using more than one pan, rotate pans from top to bottom and bottom to top halfway through cooking time.  This slow roasting will allow the fat to drip away and reduce the cooking time on the grill.

When ready to grill place the ribs in rib racks.  This will allow you to cook more ribs at one time and help to prevent flare-ups.   On the low setting with the lid down cook the ribs about 20 minutes before you begin basting with the sauce.

Note:  Although these directions are for a gas grill they can easily be adapted for cooking on a charcoal grill.

Baste liberally while the ribs continue to cook on low heat, allowing ten minutes before reglazing with the sauce, and allowing another ten minutes to cook.  This layering on of the sauce will create a lovely caramelization, and ribs that are finger lickin’ good! 

So  what’s stopping you?   There’s still plenty of time for one last BBQ rib dinner before turning our thoughts to braising, pot roasting, stewing and and all those comforting good things to come as we settle in for another fall/winter season.