Smoked Baby Back Ribs With Prickly Pear Barbecue Sauce Recipes

HICKORY SMOKED/BBQ BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Combine the salt, sugar and water in a large plastic container or non-reactive stock pot.
• Place ribs in brine and refrigerate for one hour.
• Meanwhile, combine all rub ingredients except sugar and grind into a green thick liquid with a food processor, blender or immersion blender.
• Remove ribs from the brine (after the hour) and pat dry with paper towels.
• Brush or rub green liquid over both sides of the ribs, sprinkle with sugar and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
• Place in refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, but preferably 4 hours, you can go overnight for a really flavorful treat.
• Wood/Charcoal method: Soak 2 large chunks of hickory in water. Light about 40-50 coals or you may also use an equal amount of dry hickory chunks for an intense smoke flavor.
• Do not use lighter fluid, a fire starter chimney is the best method.
• Once coals are covered with a gray ash push them over to one side put the soaked hickory chunks on the coals and replace the grate, form a pan with some heavy aluminum foil large enough for the rib, put it on the cool side of the grill, place the ribs in the"pan" add about 1 cup of water and put the cover on the grill with the holes over the meat.
• Turn the meat 180 degrees and over every 30 minutes.
• Add some more coals/wood in about 2 hours.
• Smoke ribs for a total of 4 hours.
• Gas Grill: I don't recommend this as it can leave a very slight chemical gas taste to the meat, but it does work.
• It's the same basic technique as the charcoal method, light the grill and turn off half (or 2/3rds) of the burners, use soaked hickory chips in a throw away aluminum pan on top of the hot side of the grill.
• For either method the temp inside the grill should be around 275°F with a total cooking time of 4 hours.
• Serve with your favorite bbq sauce. Se like recipe#26794, Lee Lee's Famous Barbecue Sauce for Ribs w/ Preserves.
• Brush some on the meat for the last 5-10 minutes of the cooking process if desired.