Best 12 Balsamic Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipes

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Balsamic glazed baby back ribs are a tantalizing culinary delight that combines the tangy sweetness of balsamic vinegar with the tender succulence of baby back ribs. This dish takes your taste buds on a delectable journey, leaving you craving more. So, prepare to embark on a culinary adventure as we unravel the best recipe for balsamic glazed baby back ribs and guide you through the steps to create this mouthwatering masterpiece in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BALSAMIC-GLAZED OVEN-BAKED RIBS



Balsamic-Glazed Oven-Baked Ribs image

Conventional wisdom holds that pork ribs taste best when cooked outdoors on a grill or smoker. Conventional wisdom hasn't experienced the sweet-sour balsamic-glazed St. Louis-cut spare ribs at Animal in Los Angeles. The restaurant's chefs, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, prepare them in a way that most barbecue purists would never order, much less eat: baked in the oven. Here, their recipe has been adapted for the home cook.

Provided by Steven Raichlen

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 2h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 spare-rib racks, the smallest you can find 5 to 6 pounds total
2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil
Kosher salt
4 large flat-leaf parsley sprigs
4 garlic cloves, peeled and gently crushed
4 thyme sprigs
1 cup balsamic vinegar, or to taste
1 cup ketchup
6 ounces (1/2 can) your favorite beer
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoon molasses
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, or to taste
1/2 red onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
Salt

Steps:

  • To prepare the ribs, heat the oven to 350 degrees. If the butcher has not removed the membrane on the back of each rack, gently pry it up by sliding a sharp implement (like the tip of an instant-read thermometer) under it, then lifting gently. Grab the membrane with a paper towel and peel it off.
  • Spread a 24-inch sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side up, on a work surface. Place one rack on top, rub it all over with oil, and generously season both sides with salt. Place 2 parsley sprigs and 2 garlic cloves under the concave side of the rack and 2 thyme sprigs on top. Wrap the ribs in the foil, pleating the edges to seal well. Repeat with the second rack. Place the rib packets in a large roasting pan.
  • Roast the ribs for 30 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 250 degrees. Cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours more, until the meat has shrunk back from the ends of the bones by 1/4 to 1/2 inch and the ribs are tender enough to pull apart with your fingers.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the barbecue sauce. Place the balsamic vinegar in a large nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until reduced by a third. Add the remaining barbecue sauce ingredients with 1/4 cup water, bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thick, 30 to 40 minutes. If the sauce starts to thicken too much, add a little water. The sauce should be highly seasoned; adjust to taste by adding vinegar, brown sugar or salt.
  • Remove the ribs from the oven and let cool briefly, then open the foil, being careful of the escaping steam. Transfer the ribs to a baking sheet. Turn on the broiler or raise the oven to 450 degrees.
  • Slather the ribs on both sides with the barbecue sauce. Broil the ribs until the sauce sizzles and browns, 2 to 4 minutes on each side. Alternatively, bake in the oven 8 to 12 minutes. Baste with the barbecue sauce and serve at once with any remaining sauce on the side.

BABY BACK RIBS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE



BABY BACK RIBS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE image

PALEO BABY BACK RIBS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE made with AIP approved Coconut Sugar and Balsamic Vinegar. A healthy Italian twist for slow oven-roasted pork ribs. Glazed to perfection and falling off the bone!

Provided by Absolutely Flavorful

Categories     Main Course

Time 3h10m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 ½ lbs Pork Ribs (Rack of 12 Baby Back Ribs)
½ tbsp Paprika
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
½ tsp Mustard Powder
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Himalayan Salt
4 tbsp Balsamic Glaze (See Recipe for details)
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Thyme (Fresh leaves only, garnish)
1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
¼ cup Coconut Sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a sheet pan with enough aluminum foil to wrap around the rack of baby back ribs. On top of it lay a sheet of parchment paper of equal size. (Watch the video for visual details)
  • Combine the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, black pepper, and salt in a bowl, mixing well with a fork
  • Pat dry the rack of baby back ribs. Coat every side with the dry rub, distributing it evenly and thoroughly
  • Wrap the foil/parchment paper around the rack and seal it in well
  • Roast the ribs on the middle rack for 2 ½ hours
  • Remove the ribs from the oven and unwrap them carefully
  • Combine 4 tbsp of warm balsamic glaze with 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and with a brush coat every side of the rack generously
  • Return to the middle rack in the oven uncovered and roast for an additional 25-30 minutes
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves. Carve, serve, and dig in!

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 4 ribs, Calories 320 kcal, Carbohydrate 10 g, Protein 9 g, Fat 20 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Cholesterol 71 mg, Sodium 480 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 8 g

BALSAMIC GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



Balsamic Glazed Baby Back Ribs image

These may look like everyday ribs, but a balsamic-based barbecue sauce makes a pronounced difference thanks to balsamic's distinctive acidity, plus a unique rub that melds that's designed to compliment the flavor of the vinegar.

Provided by Joshua Bousel

Time 5h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

For the Rub:
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Kosher salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 racks baby back ribs
1 to 2 fist sized chunks of light smoking wood, like apple or cherry
1 cup balsamic barbecue sauce

Steps:

  • To make the rub: Mix together brown sugar, salt, sugar, paprika, white pepper, black pepper, ground mustard, dried thyme, garlic powder, Szechuan peppercorns, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Remove membrane from back of each rack of ribs and trim meat of excess fat. Season ribs liberally with rub all over.
  • Fire up smoker or grill to 225°F, adding chunks of smoking wood when at temperature. When the wood is ignited and producing smoke, place the ribs in smoker or grill, meat side up, and smoke until the ribs have a slight bend when lifted from one end, 4-5 hours.
  • In the last 1/2 hour of cooking, baste top of each rack with balsamic barbecue sauce and continue smoking to caramelize sauce. Remove from smoker, slice, and serve with remaining balsamic barbecue sauce.

BABY BACK RIBS WITH BALSAMIC BBQ SAUCE RECIPE - (4.5/5)



Baby Back Ribs with Balsamic BBQ Sauce Recipe - (4.5/5) image

Provided by Lilylace

Number Of Ingredients 17

~~ DRY RUB Ingredients:
3 racks Babyback Ribs
12oz bottle beer
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. dried oregano
~~ BBQ SAUCE Ingredients:
3 cups balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 cup ketchup
3 cups of any basic BBQ sauce

Steps:

  • Mix the herbs and spices together to create your rub. Rub generously onto ribs, covering both sides. Place ribs in a baking pan with raised sides. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Pour beer into pan, and seal the pan with foil. Bake for 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, and remove from oven. Open foil pouch carefully to release steam. Balsamic BBQ Sauce Yields: 3 quarts In a medium saucepan, reduce vinegar and brown sugar to 1 cup. Add remaining ingredients and stir thoroughly. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. Preheat outdoor grill to highest setting. Grill ribs over high heat, brushing generously with BBQ sauce, until the ribs are caramelized. ~ Or ~ Spread BBQ sauce generously over ribs and bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven until the ribs are caramelized.

BOURBON-BBQ GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



Bourbon-BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs image

Slow-cooked ribs, roasted to perfection, finished on the grill with a bourbon-BBQ sauce from Dan Seidman of The Chef Dan.

Provided by Reynolds Kitchens(R)

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Reynolds®

Time 4h25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 23

1 rack baby back pork ribs, outer membrane removed
4 ounces apple juice
Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
¼ tablespoon garlic powder
¼ tablespoon onion powder
¼ tablespoon ground coriander
¼ tablespoon dry mustard
⅛ tablespoon cayenne pepper
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup bourbon whiskey
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 clove garlic, finely minced
½ tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 pinch sea salt

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 436.9 calories, Carbohydrate 30.9 g, Cholesterol 87.6 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 19.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 2018.9 mg, Sugar 25.2 g

STICKY BALSAMIC RIBS



Sticky Balsamic Ribs image

Provided by Ian Knauer

Categories     Kid-Friendly     Backyard BBQ     Dinner     Lunch     Vinegar     Pork Rib     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Gourmet     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Small Plates

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

For ribs:
8 large garlic cloves
2 tablespoons finely chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon cayenne
8 pounds baby back pork ribs (8 racks; see cooks' note, below)
1 cup water
For glaze:
2 cups hot water
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
Equipment: 2 large roasting pans

Steps:

  • Marinate and roast ribs:
  • Mince and mash garlic to a paste with 1 teaspoon salt. Stir together with rosemary, brown sugar, vinegar, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Rub evenly all over ribs and transfer to roasting pans. Marinate, chilled, 8 to 24 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
  • Pour 1/2 cup water into each roasting pan and tightly cover pans with foil. Roast ribs, switching position of pans halfway through, until meat is very tender, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pans from oven and transfer ribs to a platter.
  • Make glaze and grill ribs:
  • Add 1 cup hot water to each roasting pan and scrape up brown bits. Skim off and discard fat, then transfer liquid to a 10-inch skillet. Add vinegar and brown sugar and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil until reduced to about 1 cup, about 15 minutes.
  • Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure .
  • Brush some of glaze onto both sides of racks of ribs. Grill, turning occasionally, until ribs are hot and grill marks appear, about 6 minutes.
  • Brush ribs with more glaze and serve remaining glaze on the side.
  • What to drink:
  • Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07

MAPLE GLAZED RIBS



Maple Glazed Ribs image

Basted with a savory sweet sauce, these ribs are definitely finger-licking good!

Provided by Karen Toellner

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Pork Rib Recipes     Baby Back Ribs

Time 3h40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 pounds baby back pork ribs
¾ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon mustard powder

Steps:

  • Place ribs in a large pot, and cover with water. Cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until meat is tender. Drain, and transfer ribs to a shallow dish.
  • In a small saucepan, stir together the maple syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and mustard powder. Bring to a low boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Cool slightly, then pour over ribs, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  • Prepare grill for cooking with indirect heat. Remove ribs from marinade. Transfer marinade to a small saucepan, and boil for several minutes.
  • Lightly oil grate. Cook for about 20 minutes, basting with the cooked marinade frequently, until nicely glazed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 485.2 calories, Carbohydrate 30.5 g, Cholesterol 117.1 mg, Fat 29.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 24.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 411.1 mg, Sugar 14.3 g

MOLASSES-GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



Molasses-Glazed Baby Back Ribs image

My husband grills up his luscious ribs recipe for our family of five at least once a month in the summer. The sweet-and-sour barbecue sauce is the perfect condiment for the moist tender meat. Serve it with other finger-licking foods like corn on the cob. -Kim Braley, Dunedin, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

4-1/2 pounds pork baby back ribs
1 bottle (2 liters) cola
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
BARBECUE SAUCE:
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Place the ribs in large resealable plastic bags; add cola. Seal bags and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. , Drain and discard cola. Pat ribs dry with paper towels. Combine the seasonings; rub over ribs. , Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. Place ribs over pan; grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 1 hour, or until tender, turning occasionally. , In a small bowl, combine barbecue sauce ingredients. Brush over ribs; grill, covered, over medium heat 10-20 minutes longer or until browned, turning and basting occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1218 calories, Fat 69g fat (26g saturated fat), Cholesterol 275mg cholesterol, Sodium 1189mg sodium, Carbohydrate 91g carbohydrate (85g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 57g protein.

BALSAMIC GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS RECIPE



Balsamic Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe image

These may look like everyday ribs, but balsamic vinegar makes a pronounced difference, thanks to a distinctive tang that melds well with the sugars and multiple peppers in the rub.

Provided by Joshua Bousel

Categories     Mains

Time 5h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 17

For the Rub :
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Kosher salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 racks baby back ribs
1 to 2 fist sized chunks of light smoking wood, like apple or cherry
1 cup balsamic barbecue sauce
Type of fire: Indirect
Grill heat: Low

Steps:

  • To make the rub: Mix together brown sugar, salt, sugar, paprika, white pepper, black pepper, ground mustard, dried thyme, garlic powder, Szechuan peppercorns, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Remove membrane from back of each rack of ribs and trim meat of excess fat. Season ribs liberally with rub all over.
  • Fire up smoker or grill to 225°F, adding chunks of smoking wood when at temperature. When the wood is ignited and producing smoke, place the ribs in smoker or grill, meat side up, and smoke until the ribs have a slight bend when lifted from one end, 4-5 hours.
  • In the last 1/2 hour of cooking, baste top of each rack with balsamic barbecue sauce and continue smoking to caramelize sauce. Remove from smoker, slice, and serve with remaining balsamic barbecue sauce.

BALSAMIC GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



BALSAMIC GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS image

Categories     Pork

Number Of Ingredients 22

For ribs:
12 large garlic cloves
3 tablespoons each finely chopped rosemary and thyme
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
8-10 pounds baby back pork ribs (4 racks)
1 cup water
For the glaze:
2 cups balsamic vinegar (don't waste your best balsamic here)
1/2 cup honey
2 cups ketchup
1 can beer (preferably dry)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 red onion, diced
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/4 cup grainy mustard
1 or 2 teaspoons Tabasco (depending on how spicy you like it)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water

Steps:

  • Marinate and roast ribs: Mince and mash garlic to a paste. Stir together with rosemary and thyme, brown sugar, vinegar, cayenne and salt. Rub evenly all over ribs and transfer to roasting pans. Marinate, chilled, 8 to 24 hours. Preheat oven to 425°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Pour 1 cup water into roasting pan and tightly cover pan with foil. Roast ribs, rotating position of pan halfway through, until meat is very tender, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from oven and transfer ribs to a platter or leaved covered. Make glaze: To make the glaze, combine all of the ingredients in a large pot on medium-low heat. Allow to simmer, stirring every so often, for a few hours, until the sauce is nice and thick. Set aside. Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas) Brush some of glaze onto both sides of racks of ribs. Grill, turning occasionally, until ribs are hot and grill marks appear, about 6 minutes. Brush ribs with more glaze and serve remaining glaze on the side. To bring the ribs and glaze together, do the following. Turn on the broiler (if you don't have a broiler, get the oven up to 450°F). Cut the rib racks into individual ribs, place them on a foil-lined cookie sheet or broiler tray, and brush them aggressively with the glaze. Pop them under the broiler and watch them carefully: all that sugar makes them burn very easily! You want the glaze to fuse with the ribs; it takes 8 to 10 minutes. Serve the ribs hot with lots of napkins-trust me, you'll need them. Cooks' notes: •Ribs can be roasted and glaze can be made 1 day ahead and chilled separately (covered once cool). Bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before glazing and grilling. •Ribs can be broiled 3 to 4 inches from heat (instead of grilled) about 8 minutes.

BALSAMIC BABY BACK RIBS WITH TRUFFLED TWICE-BAKED POTATOES



Balsamic Baby Back Ribs with Truffled Twice-Baked Potatoes image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

1/4 cup fresh flat- leaf parsley leaves, minced
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple flakes
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly cracked pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 sprig fresh oregano, leaves minced
1 rack baby back ribs
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup aged balsamic vinegar, minimum 7 years old
30ml whiskey (1 shot)
1 habanero chile, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red onion, minced
2 russet potatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, minced
1/4 cup chopped scallion greens
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons truffle oil
Sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 package baby spinach

Steps:

  • For the rub: To a bowl, add the parsley, brown sugar, maple flakes, smoked paprika, salt, cracked pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic and oregano. Mix well.
  • For the ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the ribs down on foil, brush with canola oil and massage with the rub. Wrap the foil tightly around the ribs, place in a roasting pan and roast for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Unwrap the ribs and cover with the balsamic barbecue sauce. Broil, uncovered, at 500 degrees F until the sauce is bubbling and caramelized, about 5 minutes.
  • For the sauce: Heat a pot on medium. Add the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, maple syrup, aged balsamic vinegar, whiskey, habanero, garlic and red onions. Stir and bring to a simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  • For the baked potatoes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the russet potatoes in foil for 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, slice open and delicately scoop the cooked potato flesh into a bowl. Add the heavy cream, parsley, scallion greens, butter, truffle oil and sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste and whip. Stuff the mix back into the potato skins, wrap in foil and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
  • On a long rectangular plate, lay down some fresh baby spinach. Place the rack of ribs on top and add the truffled twice-baked potatoes.

SOUTHERN COMFORT GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



Southern Comfort Glazed Baby Back Ribs image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 racks baby back pork ribs, membrane removed, cut into 3 to 4 rib pieces
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup apple juice
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
3 shots (4 1/2 ounces) Southern Comfort
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Frank's RedHot
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 onion
Oil, for drizzling
Coarsely ground pepper

Steps:

  • For the ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • In a small mixing bowl, add the light brown sugar, espresso powder, mustard powder, paprika and cayenne.
  • Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper, then generously rub with the spice blend. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet, add the apple juice and cover with foil. Place in the oven and cook until tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
  • For the BBQ Sauce: Meanwhile, combine the tomato sauce, chicken stock, Southern Comfort, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, hot sauce, garlic, onion, a drizzle of oil and some ground pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook at a low bubble for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard the onion and garlic.
  • Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and pour off the liquid. Place under the broiler and cook until lightly golden brown in color, about 3 minutes. Brush the ribs with 1 to 2 cups of the BBQ Sauce, and broil again, about 3 minutes more.

Tips:

  • Selecting the Right Ribs: Opt for high-quality baby back ribs, preferably from a reputable butcher shop or market. Ensure they're meaty, well-trimmed, and have a good layer of marbling.
  • Preparing the Ribs: Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs to enhance the flavor and tenderness. This can be done easily by inserting a knife under the membrane and pulling it off gently.
  • Creating the Perfect Rub: Combine a blend of spices that complement the ribs, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, and chili powder. Rub the mixture evenly over the ribs to create a flavorful crust.
  • Smoking the Ribs: Smoke the ribs low and slow at a temperature of around 225°F (107°C) for 3-4 hours. This allows the ribs to cook thoroughly and develop a rich, smoky flavor.
  • Preparing the Glaze: Combine balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to create a tangy and flavorful glaze. Brush the glaze over the ribs during the last 30 minutes of cooking to caramelize and enhance their taste.

Conclusion:

Balsamic-glazed baby back ribs offer a delectable combination of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. By following these detailed steps and incorporating the provided tips, you can create restaurant-quality ribs at home. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or impressing your family and friends with a special meal, these balsamic-glazed baby back ribs are sure to be a hit. So, fire up your smoker or oven, gather your ingredients, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.

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