Rubbed Ribs

6 ingredients
10 steps

Ingredients

  • 3 cups hickory or apple wood chips
  • 3 tablespoons ground California or New Mexico chilies
  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • About 4 pounds pork back ribs

Directions

  1. 1
    In a bowl, pour enough hot water over wood chips to make them float. Drain chips to add to barbecue.
  2. 2
    Mix ground chilies, paprika, pepper, and salt.
  3. 3
    Wipe ribs with a damp towel, then rub all over with the chili mixture.
  4. 4
    Prepare barbecue for indirect heat.
  5. 5
    If using charcoal briqiets, mound and ignite 40 briquets on the firegrate of a barbecue with a lid. When briquets are dotted with gray ash, in 15 to 20 minutes, push equal amounts to opposite sides of firegrate. Add 5 more briquets to each mound of coals now and every 30 minutes while cooking. Set a drip pan on firegrate between coals.
  6. 6
    If using a gas barbecue, turn all burners to high and close lid for 10 minutes. Adjust burners for indirect cooking (no heat down center) and reduce heat to low.
  7. 7
    For charcoal smoke, add 1/2 cup soaked wood chips with the 5 briquets every 30 minutes of cooking. For gas smoke, as soon as you turn on heat, place 1 cup soaked wood chips in the barbecue's metal smoking box or in a small, shallow foil pan directly on heat in a corner of the firegrate; add 1 more cup chips after each hour of cooking.
  8. 8
    Set barbecue grill in place.
  9. 9
    Lay ribs on grill but not directly over heat. If there is not enough space for all the ribs, set them upright in a metal rib rack on grill but not directly over heat. Cover barbecue (open vents for charcoal) and cook until meat pulls easily from bones, about 2 1/2 hours. You don't need to turn ribs on a charcoal barbecue, but on a gas barbecue turn ribs occasionally, even in metal rack.
  10. 10
    Transfer ribs to a large platter; cut between bones and serve with sweet and tangy sauce

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