Mexican-style chilli ribs
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- plus marinating
- Easy
- Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½kg pork spare rib - the meatier the better (3 per person)
For the dry rub
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp hot smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp dried oregano, or 2 tbsp fresh leaves, chopped
- 1 heaped tbsp dark soft brown sugar
- 1 lime, zested then cut into wedges, to serve
For the chipotle barbecue sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 fat garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 3 tbsp dark soft brown sugar
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp chipotle paste
- juice 1 lime
Method
- STEP 1
Mix the dry rub ingredients with ½ tsp flaky sea salt, then massage into the meat. Marinate for at least 1 hr, or ideally up to 1 day in the fridge.
- STEP 2
To make the sauce, heat the oil in a small saucepan and soften the garlic for 1 min. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, plus 2 tbsp water and simmer for a few secs until the sugar melts. Season with salt and set aside.
- STEP 3
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Put the ribs in a roasting tin in 1 fairly snug layer. Pour in 100ml hot water, cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 2 hrs until the meat pulls easily from the bones. Drain off any fat. The ribs can be cooled and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- STEP 4
For the final stage of cooking, get the barbecue ready and wait until the coals are glowing white and grey. Cook the ribs for 4-5 mins on each side until dark golden and hot through – use tongs to turn them carefully. Brush with some of the chipotle sauce and give the ribs 1 min more to char here and there. Serve on a platter with the rest of the sauce for spooning, lime wedges, plus a big bowl of Smoky corn & avocado salsa (see related recipes, right).
