Sylvias World Famous Talked About Spareribs Recipes

SYLVIA'S FAMOUS SPARERIBS

Steps:

• To make the ribs easier to handle, cut each slab between the middle bones into 2 equal pieces.
• Rub the salt, black pepper, and red pepper into both sides of the ribs.
• Place the ribs in a deep baking dish, cover them, and refrigerate overnight. Preheat the oven to 450F.
• Pour the vinegar over the ribs and bake 1 1/2 hours.
• Rotate the ribs two or three times during baking and spoon some of the pan juices over them.
• Remove the ribs from the baking dish and place in a single layer on baking sheets.
• (Line the baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.) Bake at 450 F for 1 hour.
• The ribs should be tender and well browned.
• This much can be done up to a day in advance. Cool the ribs, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature for about 1 hour before continuing.
• To finish the ribs, preheat the oven to 400 F.
• Cut the slabs between the bones into individual ribs.
• Place the ribs in a baking dish large enough to hold them comfortably.
• Spoon enough of the barbecue sauce over them to coat lightly.
• Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.
• BARBECUE SAUCE Ruth developed this recipe because she found most barbecue sauces too vinegary or bitter, and it's the secret to our popular ribs.
• Simple to prepare and absolutely delicious, once made and strained it keeps for quite a while, at least a month.
• Combine all the ingredients in a heavy pot and heat just till hot. Don't bring to a boil or the sauce will turn dark and become thin.
• Cool the sauce to room temperature, strain it, and store it in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator.

SYLVIA'S SPARERIBS

Steps:

• To make the ribs easier to handle, cut each slab between the middle bones into equal pieces. Rub salt, black pepper, and red pepper into both sides of the ribs. Place the ribs in a deep baking dish, cover them, and refrigerate overnight. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Pour the vinegar over the ribs and bake 1 1/2 hours. Rotate the ribs two or three times during baking and spoon some of the pan juices over them. Remove the ribs from the baking dish and place in a single layer on baking sheets. (Line the baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy cleanup) Bake at 450 for 1 hour. The ribs should be tender and well browned. This much can be done up to a day in advance. Cool the ribs, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature for about 1 hour. To finish the ribs, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the slabs between the bones into individual ribs. Place the ribs in a baking dish large enough to hold them comfortably. Spoon enough of the original sauce over them to coat lightly. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve w;

BRAISED SWEET AND SOUR SPARERIBS

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from the spareribs. Rinse in cold water and pat dry with paper towels until almost dry to the touch. Place spareribs in a 3 quart saucepan. Sprinkle them with sugar and toss to combine. Marinate 30 minutes. Pour off excess liquid. To the same pan, add thin and black soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, rice wine, and 1/2 cup cold water, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat. Covered. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally to make sure the sauce does not dry up (add a little water if necessary), for 1 hour, or until the spareribs are tender when pierced with a knife and the sauce is thick enough to lightly coat a spoon. Transfer to a plate and skim excess fat from sauce. Pour sauce over the spareribs. Serve immediately.

ALMOST-FAMOUS BARBECUE SPARERIBS

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Whisk the brown sugar, vinegar, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl. Put the ribs meat-side down on a cutting board. Starting at one end, slip a paring knife under the membrane that covers the back of the rack. Loosen the membrane with the knife, then pull it off. Coat the ribs on both sides with the marinade; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Make the rub: Mix the brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, celery seeds, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl.
• Soak 2 cups hickory wood chips in water, 30 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a grill to medium low (275 degrees F) and prepare for indirect grilling: For a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side; for a gas grill, turn off the burners on one side. Cover the grate on the cooler side of the grill with foil.
• Drain the wood chips. For a charcoal grill, scatter the chips over the hot coals; for a gas grill, put the chips in a smoker box and place over direct heat. Close the lid and allow smoke to build up, about 10 minutes. Rinse the marinade off the ribs and pat dry with paper towels. Work the spice rub into both sides of each rack with your hands.
• Place the ribs, meat-side up, on the foil over indirect heat. Close the lid and cook, undisturbed, until the meat shrinks back slightly to expose a bit of the bone, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Rotate the ribs (keep them meat-side up and over indirect heat), then close the lid and continue cooking, 2 hours to 2 hours, 30 minutes. (For a charcoal grill, add more hot coals as needed to maintain the temperature.)
• Meanwhile, make the barbecue sauce: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and chili powder until incorporated, about 1 minute. Whisk in the vinegar, 1/4 cup water, the molasses, Worcestershire sauce, honey, mustard powder, espresso powder, 3/4 teaspoon black pepper and the cayenne. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes. Whisk in the ketchup and pineapple preserves. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes. Whisk in the liquid smoke. Let the sauce cool to room temperature, then remove the garlic. (The sauce will keep, refrigerated, up to 2 weeks.)
• Baste the ribs generously with the prepared barbecue sauce. Close the lid and continue cooking until glazed, about 20 more minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest a few minutes before cutting into individual ribs. Serve with more sauce on the side.

SYLVIA'S RIBS

Steps:

• Place the ribs in a large stock pot with enough water to cover. Bring the water to a boil and cook over medium-high heat for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In medium saucepan, combine ketchup, barbeque sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, steak sauce and garlic; blend well. Cook the sauce over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes. (Please note that the above ingredients are all to taste. Use more or less of anything you like. I never make the ribs the same way twice!)
• Cut the ribs between the bones and place in a baking pan. Pour sauce over ribs, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.