Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce
Whiskey is a common addition to barbecue sauce in Tennessee, but the smoky flavor it imparts is beloved everywhere. It's a great choice for barbecue pork and baby back ribs.
- Ingredients:
- 3 racks baby back ribs (about 7-1/2 pounds)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 4 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 batch Whiskey BBQ Sauce (see below)
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 325°F, line 2 shallow baking pans with heavy duty aluminum foil and coat them with nonstick spray.
Combine the smoked paprika, sweet paprika, salt, brown sugar, dry mustard, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl.
Sprinkle about 2/3 of the rub mixture over the meaty side of the ribs and rub into the meat with your fingertips. Turn the ribs over and repeat with the remaining rub.
Arrange the ribs on the prepared pans and cover tightly with foil. Bake until tender, 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours, depending on the thickness of the meat. When the ribs are done, juices should run clear and the meat will pull away from the bone easily with a fork.
Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat (about 375°F) and oil the grates. Brush the ribs with the barbecue sauce and place them on the grill. Cook until nicely browned, turning the racks over frequently and brushing with sauce each time, 8 to 10 minutes total.
Note: You may want to cut the racks in half prior to grilling to make turning them easier - long racks can be somewhat unwieldy. For easy cleanup, you can also grill the ribs on oiled, heavy-duty aluminum foil. They will still brown nicely; just increase the cooking time by a minute or two.
To serve, cut the racks between the bones to make individual ribs and pass the remaining barbecue sauce at the table.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Whiskey Barbecue Sauce
- Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 (or bourbon)
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Coleman's prepared mustard
Preparation:
Combine the Jack Daniel's, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, garlic and mustard in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of ketchup, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside until read to serve.
Makes about 1-1/4 cups
