Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Ribs

Ingredients

• 2 racks pork ribs (about 1.5kg each)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 300ml BBQ sauce (shop-bought is fine, or homemade)

For the dry rub:

• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• ½ tsp cayenne

For the wrap:

• 100ml apple juice
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp butter

To serve:

• Coleslaw
• Cornbread or chips

Method

1. Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs — slide a knife under the thin silvery skin at the end of the bones, grip with kitchen paper, peel off. This is essential for tender ribs.
2. Mix all rub ingredients in a bowl. Coat ribs thoroughly with olive oil, then rub the spice mix all over. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
3. Heat oven to 140°C (or set up BBQ for indirect cooking at the same temp).
4. Place ribs on a tray bone-side down. Cook for 3 hours uncovered.
5. Make a foil wrap — place each rack on a large sheet of foil. Pour apple juice over, sprinkle brown sugar, dot with butter. Wrap tightly. Return to oven for 2 hours.
6. Unwrap carefully (lots of hot steam). Place ribs back on the tray, bone-side down.
7. Brush generously with BBQ sauce. Cook uncovered for a final 30-45 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, until the sauce is sticky and charred at the edges.
8. Rest 10 minutes before slicing between the bones.
9. Serve with extra sauce, coleslaw and cornbread.

Tips

• Remove the membrane — it’s the difference between tough and tender. Skipping this = chewy ribs.
• Low and slow — don’t crank the heat to save time. You need 5+ hours total for ribs that pull from the bone cleanly.
• The wrap is the tenderising step — apple juice + butter steams them into submission. Don’t skip.
• Baste in stages — final 30-45 minutes only. Earlier and the sauce burns.
• Rest before slicing — juices need to redistribute. 10 minutes minimum.
• Sauce can be made ahead — caramelise onions, add tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, simmer 30 minutes. Better than most shop bottles.