| When cooked right, bbq ribs are delicious. They are | | | | in your smoker. As the water heats, the herbs |
| moist, flavorful and tender, falling off the bone with | | | | release flavorful oils, which mix into the steam that is |
| the lightest touch. They are also quite versatile. | | | | being used to keep your ribs moist. |
| Instead of making the same old bbq ribs that | | | | Many rib ideas come from combining the flavors we |
| everyone else on the block is making, why not try | | | | love from other cuisines with them. For instance, |
| some of these rib ideas? You may be surprised by | | | | plum sauce is a tasty condiment found in Chinese |
| how changing just a few ingredients can make your | | | | cuisine. Combine the sauce with some onions, garlic, |
| ribs take on a whole new flavor. You may even find | | | | oil, red wine, red wine vinegar, sugar, french mustard, |
| a new family favorite. | | | | chili sauce and tomato puree for a delicious bbq |
| Ribs can be cooked in a variety of ways. You can | | | | sauce. Just baste the ribs with it while they are |
| cook them on a grill or in a smoker, crock pot or | | | | cooking and you will have bbq ribs with a Chinese |
| oven. However you choose to cook your ribs, you | | | | flair. |
| will find them easier to cook and handle if they are | | | | Basque flavors also pair nicely with ribs. Salt and |
| left as a whole rack, rather than separated into | | | | pepper ribs and add to grill. Baste with a mixture olive |
| individual ribs. This also helps keep your ribs from | | | | oil, garlic and paprika. About fifteen minutes later, you |
| drying out, a common problem associated with ribs. If | | | | will have delicious ribs with a hint of Spain. |
| using a crock pot, you may not be able to fit the | | | | Most bbq sauces tend to be sweet. If you are not |
| entire rack in one piece. In that case, try using a half | | | | afraid of spice, try one of the hotter rib ideas. Mix |
| rack or cutting the rack down to where each piece | | | | caster sugar, hot paprika, dry chili flakes, brown |
| contains several ribs rather than only one. | | | | muscovado sugar, salt, pepper, cumin and cayenne |
| Ribs typically get their flavor through sauces, glazes | | | | pepper to make a rub. Apply rub to ribs, let sit for an |
| or rubs. Sauces can be added before putting the ribs | | | | hour to absorb flavors, then smoke. The typical |
| on or used to baste throughout the cooking time. | | | | cooking time is one hour per pound of ribs. |
| Glazes are generally applied in the last ten to fifteen | | | | If you prefer to mix spicy and sweet, try one of the |
| minutes of cooking. This is because glazes generally | | | | rib ideas that combine these. Make a rub by |
| have high sugar content, which can lead to burning if | | | | combining sugar, garlic salt, chili powder, salt, paprika, |
| left on the heat too long. | | | | ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Apply the |
| Rubs are almost always added prior to putting the | | | | rub and put your ribs in the smoker. In the last |
| ribs on the grill. For a stronger flavor, apply your rub | | | | fifteen minutes, apply a glaze made of ketchup, |
| and let it sit for a while before grilling or smoking. The | | | | English mustard, white vinegar and brown sugar that |
| longer you allow the meat to sit, the more intense | | | | has been simmered for a while to meld the flavors. |
| the flavor will be. Some of the more interesting rib | | | | At first taste, you get the glaze with its sweet |
| ideas involve combining methods. This works | | | | flavor. Then the heat of the rub kicks in. |
| especially well when you are wanting to bring more | | | | In many cases, the best rib ideas are the ones you |
| than one flavor to your food. | | | | come up with on your own just experimenting. Think |
| Some people prefer to let the meat speak for itself. | | | | about what flavors your family loves and see if you |
| In this case, you can give your ribs a hint of flavor | | | | can apply them to ribs. You may be surprised to learn |
| by adding some fresh herbs and spices to the water | | | | how tasty your own rib ideas can be. |