Recipe: Berry Fine Baby Back Ribs with Berry Glaze or Prickly Pear Glaze (smoked)

BERRY FINE BABY BACK RIBS WITH BERRY GLAZE OR SOUTHWESTERN PRICKLY-PEAR GLAZE

"Few smoked foods incite more elemental pleasure than chewy, gooey ribs. These baby backs get their juice from a raspberry or strawberry glaze. We like to serve several types of ribs together at a meal, all cooked at the same time but each flavored differently."

FOR THE DRY RUB:
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt

2 slabs of baby back pork ribs, preferably 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds each, membranes removed (see the Technique Tip below)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Berry Glaze OR Southwestern Prickly-Pear Glaze (recipes follows)

At least 3 hours and preferably the evening before you plan to smoke the ribs, mix the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl. Coat the ribs with the Worcestershire sauce. Massage the ribs with all but 2 teaspoons of the spice mixture, reserving the remaining rub. Place the ribs in a plastic bag and refrigerate them for at least 2 hours.

WHEN READY TO COOK:
Bring your smoker to its appropriate cooking temperature.

Remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Transfer the ribs to the smoker. Cook the meat until you can bend it easily between the ribs, about 2 3/4 to 3 hours at a temperature of 225 to 250 degrees F.

About 1 hour before the ribs are done, brush them thickly with the glaze; repeat the step in the last 15 minutes of cooking. The glaze will be sticky and caramelized in spots.

Let the slabs sit for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing them into individual ribs. Serve.

BERRY GLAZE

1 cup raspberry or strawberry jelly
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon ketchup
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Warm the mixture over medium heat, simmering about 10 minutes. Reserve the glaze at room temperature.

SOUTHWESTERN PRICKLY-PEAR GLAZE

1 cup prickly-pear syrup
1 tablespoon ketchup
3 tablespoons minced onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Warm the mixture over medium heat, simmering about 10 minutes. Reserve the glaze at room temperature.

TECHNIQUE TIP:
Slabs of baby back ribs come with a thin membrane that covers their underside. It's not essential to remove the membrane, but spices sink more fully into the meat when it's gone, and ribs slice more easily. Push a small knife tip under the membrane or scrape one of the rib bones until the tissue loosens. Work your fingers under the membrane and then strip it off in one or more sections.

Makes 3-4 servings
Source: Sublime Smoke by Cheryl and Bill Jamison