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ingredients
cola braised baby back ribs
You read it right. Cola braised. Long ago in one of the restaurants I was working at they cooked the ribs in cola before they finished them off and they did this for a couple of reasons. It gives them a slight sweetness and the cola will actually break down the tough connective tissue in the ribs. I have tried a ton of different ways to cook ribs over the years and this one always seems to turn out the best every time I do them. This recipe is almost fail safe. If you have nothing to do sometime soak a tarnished penny in cola and see how it turns out. The acidity cleans it up to a shine and it is that acidity that tenderizes the ribs. This recipe has a long cooking time but you don’t have to stay by the stove and babysit it so the actual effort you have to put in is minimal. In this recipe I use store bought sauce and kick it up a bit with chipotle peppers and some Cajun spice for some kick but you can use any sauce you like. If you use the spice rub which is optional you will have to prepare the ribs the day before.
2 racks baby back ribs
1 2L Bottle Cola
1 head garlic
2 yellow onions
2 Tbsp Cajun spice
2 Tbsp Franks hot sauce or diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
1 Tbsp cumin seeds
1 Bottle of your favourite bbq sauce. I use Diana’s chicken and rib sauce and add .5 tbsp of minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (seeds removed) and 1 Tbsp Cajun spice
1/2 cup Spice rub (recipe on this blog) optional
1 2L Bottle Cola
1 head garlic
2 yellow onions
2 Tbsp Cajun spice
2 Tbsp Franks hot sauce or diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
1 Tbsp cumin seeds
1 Bottle of your favourite bbq sauce. I use Diana’s chicken and rib sauce and add .5 tbsp of minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (seeds removed) and 1 Tbsp Cajun spice
1/2 cup Spice rub (recipe on this blog) optional
1. Start by unpacking your ribs. You will need to remove the membrane on the back in order to get the tenderest results. This step is not necessary but I would recommend it. Start by turning over the ribs and trying to get a corner of the membrane. You may need to use a knife to get it started. Once you have a corner you will have to use a little elbow grease to pull it off. See photo below.
2. Once this is done cut your ribs half leaving you with 4 ½ racks.
3. This step is optional. Generously rub your racks front and back with the spice rub and wrap them in saran and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably 24 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
6. In a metal pot or roasting pan (this goes in the oven so no plastic handles) add your ribs, onions, garlic, bay leaves, Cajun spice, cracked black pepper, ½ cup of your bbq sauce and 2L bottle Cola. If the ribs are not covered add water until they are.
7. Place your roasting pan in the oven for 2 hours.
8. After two hours remove the roasting pan. The ribs most likely won’t fall off the bone yet but the next step will take care of that.
9. Get a sheet of tin foil about 1 foot X 1Foot and place 1 rack of ribs in the centre. Spoon 2 tablespoon of the braising liquid and 1 Tbsp of your bbq sauce over the top.
10. Wrap the package up and make sure there is no opening for the steam to escape and place on a baking sheet. Reduce your oven to 275 degrees F. Bake for 1 hour or so and check to see how they are coming along by opening one package and grabbing one of the bones. It should come out the meat pretty easily and the meat should come apart when you use a fork on it. If it is still tough put it back in the oven for another half an hour and test again. Repeat this step until your ribs are fall off the bone. It should only take a maximum of 1.5 hours.
10. Now that the ribs are perfectly cooked you can finish them one of two ways. 1) Remove the ribs from the foil and place back on the baking sheet. Broil for about 5 - 10 minutes on the middle rack until the top it browned and then slather with your bbq sauce. Broil for 5 minutes one side, turn and repeat this step until your ribs are nicely browned and have a nice sauce coating. or 2) Bring them out to the bbq and finish them off with grill marks and the bbq sauce. Be careful when you romove them from the tin foil as they will be so tender they will fall apart easily.
I guarantee you this recipe will leave you with juicy fall of the bone baby back ribs every time.
Enjoy!
2. Once this is done cut your ribs half leaving you with 4 ½ racks.
3. This step is optional. Generously rub your racks front and back with the spice rub and wrap them in saran and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably 24 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
6. In a metal pot or roasting pan (this goes in the oven so no plastic handles) add your ribs, onions, garlic, bay leaves, Cajun spice, cracked black pepper, ½ cup of your bbq sauce and 2L bottle Cola. If the ribs are not covered add water until they are.
7. Place your roasting pan in the oven for 2 hours.
8. After two hours remove the roasting pan. The ribs most likely won’t fall off the bone yet but the next step will take care of that.
9. Get a sheet of tin foil about 1 foot X 1Foot and place 1 rack of ribs in the centre. Spoon 2 tablespoon of the braising liquid and 1 Tbsp of your bbq sauce over the top.
10. Wrap the package up and make sure there is no opening for the steam to escape and place on a baking sheet. Reduce your oven to 275 degrees F. Bake for 1 hour or so and check to see how they are coming along by opening one package and grabbing one of the bones. It should come out the meat pretty easily and the meat should come apart when you use a fork on it. If it is still tough put it back in the oven for another half an hour and test again. Repeat this step until your ribs are fall off the bone. It should only take a maximum of 1.5 hours.
10. Now that the ribs are perfectly cooked you can finish them one of two ways. 1) Remove the ribs from the foil and place back on the baking sheet. Broil for about 5 - 10 minutes on the middle rack until the top it browned and then slather with your bbq sauce. Broil for 5 minutes one side, turn and repeat this step until your ribs are nicely browned and have a nice sauce coating. or 2) Bring them out to the bbq and finish them off with grill marks and the bbq sauce. Be careful when you romove them from the tin foil as they will be so tender they will fall apart easily.
I guarantee you this recipe will leave you with juicy fall of the bone baby back ribs every time.
Enjoy!
click on the photo for the spice rub recipe
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Suggested Drink Pairing
ice cold beer.