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Recipe from Weber's Ultimate Grilling by Jamie Purviance

St. Louis Ribs with Smoked Onion BBQ Sauce

Print

  • People

    Serves 6

  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Grilling Time

    3 to 4:30 h

People
Serves 6
Prep Time
30 mins
Grilling Time
3 to 4:30 h

the Ingredients

003 Spareribs Smoked Onion Hero1 Wgb 13062

Rub

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
  • 3 racks St. Louis–style spareribs, each 2½ to 3 pounds

Apple Cider Mop

  • ⅔ cup apple juice
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot®

Smoked Onion BBQ Sauce

  • 1 medium Vidalia or other sweet onion, 10 to 12 ounces, unpeeled, halved lengthwise
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2½ teaspoons prepared chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

Special Equipment

  • 6 fist-sized hickory or oak wood chunks or 6 handfuls hickory or oak wood chips
  • long tongs
Move quickly when basting and repositioning these ribs so the lid goes back on the grill before too much heat is lost. When the ribs are done, a toothpick should slide through the meat as smoothly as poking a ripe banana through the peel: a little resistance at first, then an easy slide.

Instructions

  • 01 If using wood chips, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes (no need to soak wood chunks).
  • 02 Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over very low heat (225° to 275°F).
  • 03 In a small bowl stir together all the rub ingredients.
  • 04 Place the racks, bone side up, on a cutting board. If the racks still have the membrane attached, remove it: Using a dull knife, slide the tip under the membrane covering the back of each rack. Lift and loosen the membrane until you can pry it up, then grab a corner of it with a paper towel and pull it off.
  • 05 Season the racks on both sides with the rub, rubbing more of the mixture into the meaty side of each rack. In a medium bowl whisk together all the mop ingredients until the sugar dissolves.
  • 06 Add four wood chunks or drain and add four handfuls of wood chips to the grill, following manufacturer's instructions, and close the lid. When the wood begins to smoke, cook the onion halves and the sparerib racks, meaty side up, over indirect very low heat, with the lid closed, for 1½ hours.
  • 07 Using long tongs, transfer the onion halves to a cutting board. Check the racks at this point and, if the surface is starting to look dry, transfer them to a baking sheet to brush with the apple cider mop.
  • 08 After brushing both sides of each rack with the mop, add the remaining two wood chunks or drain and add the remaining wood chips to the grill. Cook the racks for 1½ to 3 hours longer. After each hour, brush each rack quickly with the mop, then rotate the position of each rack so they cook evenly. Keep the temperature of the grill between 225° to 275°F.
  • 09 While the ribs are cooking, peel and mince the smoked onion. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
  • 10 Stir in the ketchup, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and paprika. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thickened and reduced to about 2 cups, about 5 minutes.
  • 11 The ribs are done when the meat has shrunk back from the bones by at least ½ inch and you can easily slide a skewer through the meat between the bones. Another good test is to lift a rack by picking up one end with tongs. If the rack bends in the middle and the meat tears easily, the ribs are ready. Discard any remaining mop.
  • 12 When the ribs are ready, brush both sides of each rack generously with the onion sauce. Close the lid and continue to cook over indirect very low heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
  • 13 Transfer the racks to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut between the bones into individual ribs. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.
Ingredients
Instructions

  • the Ingredients

    003 Spareribs Smoked Onion Hero1 Wgb 13062

    Rub

    • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
    • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
    • 3 racks St. Louis–style spareribs, each 2½ to 3 pounds

    Apple Cider Mop

    • ⅔ cup apple juice
    • ¼ cup cider vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot®

    Smoked Onion BBQ Sauce

    • 1 medium Vidalia or other sweet onion, 10 to 12 ounces, unpeeled, halved lengthwise
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
    • 1¼ cup ketchup
    • ¼ cup cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2½ teaspoons prepared chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

    Special Equipment

    • 6 fist-sized hickory or oak wood chunks or 6 handfuls hickory or oak wood chips
    • long tongs
  • Move quickly when basting and repositioning these ribs so the lid goes back on the grill before too much heat is lost. When the ribs are done, a toothpick should slide through the meat as smoothly as poking a ripe banana through the peel: a little resistance at first, then an easy slide.

    Instructions

    • 01 If using wood chips, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes (no need to soak wood chunks).
    • 02 Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over very low heat (225° to 275°F).
    • 03 In a small bowl stir together all the rub ingredients.
    • 04 Place the racks, bone side up, on a cutting board. If the racks still have the membrane attached, remove it: Using a dull knife, slide the tip under the membrane covering the back of each rack. Lift and loosen the membrane until you can pry it up, then grab a corner of it with a paper towel and pull it off.
    • 05 Season the racks on both sides with the rub, rubbing more of the mixture into the meaty side of each rack. In a medium bowl whisk together all the mop ingredients until the sugar dissolves.
    • 06 Add four wood chunks or drain and add four handfuls of wood chips to the grill, following manufacturer's instructions, and close the lid. When the wood begins to smoke, cook the onion halves and the sparerib racks, meaty side up, over indirect very low heat, with the lid closed, for 1½ hours.
    • 07 Using long tongs, transfer the onion halves to a cutting board. Check the racks at this point and, if the surface is starting to look dry, transfer them to a baking sheet to brush with the apple cider mop.
    • 08 After brushing both sides of each rack with the mop, add the remaining two wood chunks or drain and add the remaining wood chips to the grill. Cook the racks for 1½ to 3 hours longer. After each hour, brush each rack quickly with the mop, then rotate the position of each rack so they cook evenly. Keep the temperature of the grill between 225° to 275°F.
    • 09 While the ribs are cooking, peel and mince the smoked onion. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
    • 10 Stir in the ketchup, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and paprika. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thickened and reduced to about 2 cups, about 5 minutes.
    • 11 The ribs are done when the meat has shrunk back from the bones by at least ½ inch and you can easily slide a skewer through the meat between the bones. Another good test is to lift a rack by picking up one end with tongs. If the rack bends in the middle and the meat tears easily, the ribs are ready. Discard any remaining mop.
    • 12 When the ribs are ready, brush both sides of each rack generously with the onion sauce. Close the lid and continue to cook over indirect very low heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
    • 13 Transfer the racks to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut between the bones into individual ribs. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.

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