Grilling Baby Back Ribs

Baby back ribs are an excellent choice for backyard parties and casual occasions. Derived from the top ribcage of market weight hogs, these ribs are more tender and meatier than spare ribs. They are fun and messy to eat and are best consumed with your hands, rather than by spoons, forks, or knives. Barbecued and grilled baby back ribs are offered in restaurants along with fried potatoes, cheese, onion rings, and other finger foods.

For home cooking, purchase frozen packages and cook them by smoking, grilling, or baking. Amongst these, grilling is considered to be the prefect way to enjoy its flavor. Though most people prefer fast cooking on direct heat, a slow and indirect heat grilling will make the ribs more tender and juicy.

Grilling also require barbecue sauce, which you can either buy from the food store or prepare at home. To make barbecue sauce on your own, take a large bowl and combine together the ingredients - ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/3 cup light brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons each of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and your barbecue sauce is ready.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds, baby back ribs
• 1 cup, barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon, ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon, paprika
• 1 tablespoon, chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

First of all, prepare the ribs by removing the membrane from the lower side of each rack. You can use a sharp knife to cut and lift the membrane. Turn on the gas grill and bring it to a high heat.

In a small container with lid, combine the cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Close the lid and shake for a few minutes. Now, brush this spice mixture on both sides of the ribs. If you prefer less spices, brush lightly or else, cover with a thick layer for more spiciness.

In order to avoid flare-ups, you can lay an aluminum foil on the lower rack of the gas grill. This will capture the drippings from the ribs while grilling. Also, lightly oil the grill grate to avoid stickiness. Then, place the spice coated ribs over the grate and reduce the heat to a low temperature setting.

Close the lid and continue grilling for about an hour. When one hour grilling is over, remove the ribs and coat them with barbecue sauce. Grill for another 5-8 minutes in low heat and serve with your favorite garnish.

Ingredients

• 4 pounds, baby back ribs (remove membrane and cut into 4 rib portions)
• 1 cup, barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon, paprika

• 1½ teaspoon, garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon, black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon, ground red pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• Orange peel (for garnishing)

Directions

Preheat the oven to about 350 ºF. In a small bowl, add paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, ground red pepper, and celery salt. After mixing these spices, coat it over the ribs and place them in a shallow baking pan. Bake the ribs for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile start the grill and set it to a high heat.

After baking the ribs, transfer them over the grill grate. Cover the lid and grill on high heat for about 10 minutes. Carefully, remove the ribs from the grill with tongs and brush them with half the amount of barbecue sauce. Return the ribs to the grate, cover the lid and grill for another 10 minutes. Garnish if desired and serve with the remaining barbecue sauce.