Sweet Bourbon Baby Backs Recipes

BOURBON-BBQ GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients for the dry rub in a small bowl and mix together well.
• Tear a large enough piece of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil to place rack of ribs on it and be able to fully cover, meat side up. Evenly coat both sides of the ribs with the dry rub, pressing it in with your hands.
• Fold up the sides of the foil to create a rim, and pour the apple juice in around the ribs. Fold the foil over the ribs and crimp it to create a tight seal. Tear off one more piece of large foil and wrap the whole thing again to ensure a tight seal.
• Place the wrapped ribs in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F and cook ribs for about 4 hours. You should be able to easily pierce them with a fork, but they shouldn't be falling off the bone.
• Combine all the BBQ sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken and reduce by about a third, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat grill to high heat. Cover the grill rack with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Place the cooked ribs meat side up on the grill and brush the top with a layer of sauce. Close grill until the sauce is mostly dried, about 5 minutes. Brush another layer of sauce on top and close grill for an additional 5 minutes. Remove ribs from grill and lightly brush with one more layer of sauce.
• Cut the ribs into individual pieces and serve with extra sauce.

SWEET AND SMOKY BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Remove the thin papery skin on the back of each rack of the ribs or ask your butcher to do it. (Pull it off in a sheet with your fingers, using a corner of a dish towel to gain a secure grip.) Place the ribs in a roasting pan and pour the bourbon over them. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour, turning the ribs several times.
• Meanwhile, combine the ingredients for the rub in a bowl and stir to mix. Pour off and discard the bourbon. Sprinkle the ribs on both sides with 2/3 of the rub, patting it in with your fingers. Let the ribs marinate for 30 minutes, while you light your grill.
• Set up your grill for indirect grilling and smoking, using wood chips and adjust the heat to 350 degrees. Arrange the ribs on a rack in the center of the grill away from the heat and cook until very tender and the meat has pulled away from the ends of the bones, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. The last 15 minutes, brush the ribs with 1/3 cup sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining rub. Serve the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

BOURBON AND BABY BELLA MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, basil, rosemary, and pepper in a small bowl; whisk until blended and sugar is dissolved.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon clarified butter and 1/3 of the mushrooms; saute until nicely browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove mushrooms to a plate and repeat with remaining batches, adding more butter as needed.
• Add shallots to the skillet and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Return browned mushrooms to the skillet and pour in bourbon mixture. Cook over medium heat until slightly reduced, scraping the bottom as you cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream. Simmer until blended and thickened to desired consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt.

SPICE-RUBBED BABY BACK RIBS WITH CHIPOTLE-BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet. If the concave side of your ribs still has its papery membrane intact, remove it: Pry it up at the end of the bones using the tip of a meat thermometer or butter knife, then pull it off with a paper towel. Lightly brush the ribs on both sides with the mustard.
• Prepare the rub: In a small bowl, combine the chile powder, brown sugar, salt, pepper and celery seeds. Reserve 1 1/2 teaspoons rub for serving, then sprinkle the remaining rub on the ribs, coating both sides.
• Set up your charcoal grill for indirect grilling and heat to 300 degrees.
• Once the grill comes to temperature, add half the wood chunks or chips to the coals. Arrange the ribs meat (rounded) side up on the grate away from the heat, then cover the grill. Grill the ribs over indirect heat for 1 hour.
• After the ribs have grilled for 1 hour, spray on both sides with apple cider (if using), turning the ribs with tongs. Add the remaining wood chunks or chips to the fire and close the grill again.
• While the ribs grill, prepare the barbecue sauce: Place all the sauce ingredients, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, in a heavy saucepan and whisk to mix. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking often. Reduce the heat and gently simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thick and richly flavored, 6 to 8 minutes. Correct the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper to taste; set aside. (Makes about 2 cups.)
• Continue grilling the ribs over indirect heat, rounded side up, until sizzling, browned, tender, and the meat has shrunk back from the ends of the bones by 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This normally takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours in all, but sometimes you'll need a full 3 hours. The last 20 minutes, brush the ribs on both sides with some of the barbecue sauce. When ready, the meat should be tender enough so you can pull the individual ribs apart with your fingers.
• Brush each rack on both sides with more barbecue sauce. Move each rack directly over the fire and direct grill to sizzle the sauce into the meat, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer the ribs to a platter for serving. Brush once more with barbecue sauce and sprinkle the ribs with the remaining rub. Serve the remaining sauce in a bowl on the side.

BOURBON BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Sprinkle ribs with salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Place ribs, meaty side up, on grill. Cover and grill 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix barbecue sauce, cilantro, onion, bourbon, chili powder and remaining 3/4 teaspoon cumin in heavy small saucepan; bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Place saucepan at edge of grill to keep sauce warm.
• Turn ribs meaty side down. Cover and grill until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Turn ribs over again; brush meaty side generously with sauce. Cover and grill ribs until sauce sets thickly, about 3 minutes longer.
• Divide ribs between plates. Serve with remaining sauce.

SWEET-AND-SMOKY BABY BACK RIBS WITH BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Arrange ribs in large roasting pan. Pour bourbon over. Chill 30 minutes, turning ribs often. Pour off and discard bourbon.
• Whisk salt and next 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Sprinkle spice mixture on both sides of ribs. Let stand 1 hour.
• Place wood chips in medium bowl. Pour beer over; let stand 1 hour. Place handful of torn newspaper in bottom of charcoal chimney. Top newspaper with 25 charcoal briquettes. Remove upper rack from barbecue. Place chimney on lower grill rack. Light newspaper and let charcoal burn until ash is gray, about 30 minutes.
• Open 1 bottom grill vent. Turn out hot charcoal onto 1 side of lower rack. Using metal spatula, spread charcoal to cover approximately 1/3 of rack. Remove 1 cup wood chips from beer and drain (keep remaining chips in beer). Scatter drained chips over coals (avoid using too many wet chips, which may douse the fire). Fill foil loaf pan halfway with water and place opposite the coals on lower grill rack.
• Place upper grill rack on barbecue. Arrange ribs on upper grill rack above loaf pan. Cover barbecue with lid, positioning top vent directly over ribs. Place stem of candy thermometer through top vent, with gauge on outside and tip near ribs (thermometer should not touch meat or grill rack); leave in place during cooking. Check temperature after 5 minutes. Use top and bottom vents to maintain temperature between 275°F and 325°F, opening vents wider to increase heat and closing to decrease heat. Leave any other vents closed.
• After 45 minutes, use technique described earlier to light an additional 15 charcoal briquettes in same charcoal chimney set atop nonflammable surface.
• When temperature of barbecue falls below 275°F, use oven mitts to lift off upper rack with ribs; place rack with ribs on heatproof surface. Using tongs, add hot gray charcoal from chimney to bottom rack. Drain remaining 1 cup wood chips; sprinkle over charcoal. Reposition upper rack on barbecue, placing ribs above loaf pan. Cover with lid. Grill until ribs are very tender and meat pulls away from bones, about 45 minutes longer, brushing with 3/4 cup Bourbon Barbecue Sauce the last 15 minutes of cooking.
• Transfer ribs to platter. Brush with 3/4 cup more barbecue sauce. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately, if desired.