Racks of glazed barbecue pork ribs Photo: jeffreyw · CC BY 2.0

Main Courses

Dad’s Super Secret Barbequed Ribs

From Dad·Yield: 3 cups sauce · Serves 8–12

This one’s for Thomas!

Directions

    The sauce

  1. Melt bacon drippings in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, and then add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is transparent. Add the remaining ingredients, reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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    Tomato sauce simmering in a pot
    Low and slow. The sauce knows when it’s ready. Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0

    2. The ribs

  2. When fire is ready, position the rack 3 inches above the heat source. Place the racks of ribs on the grill and sear the meat for 2 minutes per side.

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    Meat cooking over open grill flames
    Over the fire — sauce, turn, and sauce again. Photo: _BuBBy_ from USA · CC BY 2.0

  3. Remove the meat from the grill, raise the rack 2 inches, and cover it with a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Puncture the foil to make plenty of ventilation holes.

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  4. Place the ribs on the foil and generously spoon on the barbecue sauce. Allow the ribs to cook for 15 minutes before turning and saucing the second side. Once the second side is basted, cook for an additional 15 minutes before turning and saucing them again.

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  5. Allow the ribs to grill 10 minutes, then turn and sauce them one last time. Both sides of the ribs should then have a crisp glaze. Continue saucing and turning until a sharp knife inserted between the ribs shows no pink meat.

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  6. Transfer the racks to a carving board, cut the ribs apart and pile them on platters.

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  7. Serve with corn (grilled in the husk if you have room on the grill!), freshly baked Jiffy cornbread, and homemade coleslaw. Yum!

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    A dish baking in the oven
    Into the oven until golden and bubbling. Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0

*This sauce is GREAT on chicken too! Love, Dad