Published July 1, 2002.
We wanted a baby back ribs recipe that would produce juicy, tender, and fully seasoned meat, with an intense smokiness; in short, ribs that would be well worth the time, money, and effort. For ribs that were so flavorful they wouldn’t even need barbecue sauce, we first brined them in a salt, sugar, and water solution, then rubbed them with a spice and sugar mix before barbecuing. A "low and slow" cooking method ensured that our baby back ribs would be moist.
For a potent spice flavor, brine and dry the ribs as directed, then coat them with the spice rub, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate overnight before grilling. You will need two wood chunks, each about the size of a lemon, for this recipe.
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