We bought a few racks of beef back ribs (not short ribs) and I smoked them for a late dinner. They were ready just in time for The Ultimate Fighter - Live! (Smoked ribs - broken ribs...what's the difference?) This isn't a recipe post, just about how I made my ribs last night.
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Beef ribs = Steak on a stick |
I set up my Big Green Egg for indirect heat (plate setter in, legs up, drip pan, cooking grate) at 250f using coal and 3 chunks of cherry wood.
I removed the membrane from the back of each rack. For me, beef ribs are a little harder to remove the membrane than pork ribs but here are a few tips. Use a blunt knife and separate the membrane at the 3rd rib from the short end. Work a finger underneath and through to the other side.
Work your way to the end, grab that and pull backwards.
It will go easily until the last 2-3 bones where you'll hit a fatty area - be careful there. Work slowly between each crease and it should come off in one piece. Then trim off the excess fat with a sharp knife.
I seasoned both sides with cracked black pepper and then liberally with a beef rub. I used a commercial rub but you can use a mix of salt/pepper/garlic powder in a 2:1:1 ratio. Smoked them bone side down for two and 1/2 hours.
Then I wrapped them in foil drizzled with butter, agave nectar, and roasted garlic hot sauce. I cooked them 1 hour that way. Next I removed them from the foil and cooked them one more hour. I glazed them with BBQ sauce and let that cook on for 15 minutes. After a 10 minute rest, we dug in!
I love the tender texture and rich taste of beef ribs, I like them as much or more than pork! (Blasphemy?)
Giveaway - Steven Raichlen's Best Ribs Ever
Speaking of killer ribs, America's grill master, Steven Raichlen, is releasing his new book Best Ribs Ever - 100 Killer Recipes in just a few weeks on April 25, 2012. (You can pre-order at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and select online outlets.)
Best Ribs Ever celebrates the ingredient that epitomizes barbecue and inspires passion, obsession, and almost primal lust in griller and eater alike. And there’s no one better than Steven Raichlen, America’s foremost and bestselling grilling author, to preside over the religion of the rib. Here’s a bone-by-bone guide to choosing, buying, and handling ribs. Eight essential techniques for prepping and cooking. The six great live-fire methods, beginning with direct grilling to spit-roasting. Plus rubbing, saucing, mopping, resting, serving.
Even if you don't follow BBQ media like I do, you know who Steven Raichlen is. You have probably seen his TV shows Primal Grill and BBQU on PBS and his Barbecue Bible books (James Beard awards and New York Times best sellers) are among the most popular around. I have several of his books and find them to be a great source of information, not just recipes. I turn to them often for quick references or just inspiration.
Workman Publishing and Steven Raichlen are sponsoring my April giveaway: An autographed copy of Best Ribs Ever.
How To Enter
Each person can receive up to a total of 2 entries per day as follows:
Each person can receive up to a total of 2 entries per day as follows:
- leave a comment below (NOTE: If you use the "anonymous comment" option, be sure to leave an email or your screen name in the comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Something like "EggerinFL from the Egg Forum" or "swibirun from the BBQ Brethren forum" is enough.)
- Mention the giveaway with a link to this post in Twitter and use the hashtag #RaichlensBestRibsEver
- Giveaway entry period begins today, 12:01pm April 7, 2012 and ends April 24, 2012 11:59pm. Winner will be announced on this blog on April 25, 2012.
- Comments will be numbered by order received and random.org will generate a random number for the winner.
- Limited to residents of the continental US unless you wish to pay the extra shipping charges.
- I am the final judge regarding any discrepancies, interpretations, grievances, etc about this drawing.
- Workman Publishing is sponsoring the prize. They are not responsible for the drawing or the giveaway.
- Winner must respond and claim the prize within one week of the winning announcement. If a winner does not claim the prize during the specified time, a reserve winner will be drawn from the original entries.
- Employees, Board Members, pets, indentured servants, and family of Nibble Me This are not eligible to enter.
Our third annual blogger party is coming up. We always have fun lakeside at Larry & Bev's home in Greenback, TN.
The East
Tennessee Worldwide Blogger Party
Hosted
by Katherine Aucoin, Larry Doolittle, and Chris Grove
Date:
May 27, 2012 – rain or shine
Time :
Noon – til everyone leaves, eat at 1:30
Who: Any
fellow bloggers who are willing to make the trip and significant
other, or not.
Food:
We will be serving crawfish/shrimp boil or Cajun pork BBQ Po Boys for
the non- seafood fans.
Drinks:
We’ll provide tea and soft drinks but feel free to BYOB
Donation:
We’ll be asking for a small donation ($10 or so) to help with the
food cost, but we won’t know what it will be for sure until we know
the attendance.
RSVP:
We need to know if you will be coming by May 6 so we can order the
fresh seafood. Let Larry know at grandpop1@yahoo.com.
these look really great
ReplyDeletei tweeted about the giveaway
ReplyDeleteYum. Nothing like ribs to say summertime!
ReplyDeleteaswoboda@yahoo.com, I'd love a copy of this book
ReplyDeleteWhy can't family of nibble me this win? Love, your sister
ReplyDeleteLove Steve's recipes. Your ribs looked amazing.
ReplyDelete@Rhonda: Because you told on me that time you were babysitting ;)
ReplyDeleteNot much better than ribs. Thechief96 Big Greemn Egg forum
ReplyDeleteYour ribs look delish Chris. I'm a big fan of Steve's. I have one of his original cook books from around 2001 so I'm looking to get updated. Really like your web site as well Chris. Happy Egging. Tom
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...steak on a stick! These look amazing. And now I want prime rib. Thank you. I've watched Steve on tv a couple of times and really enjoyed it (love the outtakes, actually). But I don't own any of his books. Would love a chance to cook with him! =)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great book!
ReplyDeletehttp://mtmisenplace.tumblr.com/
Pa Dutch Egger from geeneggers.com
ReplyDeletegoing to have to try beef ribs after seeing your post
Man I love beef ribs and so hard to find not all cut up as short ribs. Have to drive to downtown Detroit Eastern Market to get them.
ReplyDeletecjsore at hotmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/cjsorel/status/188757374432055297
ReplyDeletecjsorel at hotmail.com
Oh, man, those ribs look killer!
ReplyDeleteYour ribs look so yummy! As good as pork? Really?
ReplyDeleteIf the party wasn't the weekend before final exams for the boys I would have made arrangements to be there this year. I'm going to try to pull something together for an informal blogger party here in Florida during the summer. Any Florida visits scheduled for you? If so I'd be glad to try to plan around it. Oh and I would also love to win an autographed copy of the book. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter :)
What a small world. I was housesitting on a country property south of Maryville a couple of years ago. I know Greenback! I may have met some of your friends! Have fun.
ReplyDeleteSteve Raichlen is the guy that got me into going from the typical backyard grilling to full on smoky barbecue. I'd love to have a copy of his new book.
ReplyDeletethose ribs look awesome!!! FOOZER69
ReplyDeleteI love Steve R. and watch him on PBS would love to win the cookbook..Love your blog, it always makes me hungry for the beef you barbeque up..wow whe..form mary jane s. from momanddad00@clear.net..Happy Passover and Happy Easter tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKanin has discovered the joy of ribs and can't get enough of them. He wants them all of the time. These look fantastic!
ReplyDeletei am always looking for better ways to make beef ribs... those look divine! I am also in the Knox area.. I am a fan via facebook and your blog.. :)
ReplyDeleteTrista Barrett :)
I love ribs. This would be the perfect addition to my rib addiction!
ReplyDeleteYAY!! I love Steven Raichlen!! What a great giveaway price! And beef ribs are one I have not tackled yet in the smoker.. I need to do that very soon! These look fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteI own all of Steve Raichlen's cookbooks, and would love to add this one to my collection!Thanks for the opportunity to win his new book, Chris!
ReplyDeleteKim in MD
I forgot what your sister reported :-)
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
Ribs look awesome.
ReplyDeleteSteve's HTG book and the forum on his website got me started in the BBQ world. Would love to get a copy of that book.
I would love to win that book!
ReplyDeletetimbermanas@hotmail.com
Great giveaway and what's even better? Those ribs! Seriously drool worthy.
ReplyDelete2012 is going to be the Summer of the Rib, I got a new smoker and now I need that book!!
ReplyDeleteI want ribs now! These looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love Steven Raichlen's recipes and books. Great giveaway.
I think I should win the book! I love ribs.... yup... good eatin' and stuff!
ReplyDeleteVery nice looking beef ribs. What did you sauce them with? I'm always at a loss for a good beef barbecue sauce.
ReplyDeleteI love Raichlen's Barbecue Bible and I'd be real interested to try out his new rib book.
Awesome giveaway. One of my first bbq books was his Ribs, Ribs, Ribs. It made me a bbq hero. I can't wait to the new book.
ReplyDeleteThose beef ribs look fantastic! Would love to win the rib book :)
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and love reading Raichlen's stuff!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Caper from BBQ Breth.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be entered.
ReplyDeleteOMG these look and sound amazing!!!!!! Finally back in a warmer climate and starting to BBQ frequently so can't wait to try these!
ReplyDeleteI never make ribs! Yours look so perfectly browned and flavorful! I'd love to win :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the lookout for new, great rib recipes. This sounds ideal!
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/MsCarolsueA/status/193848369800687617
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net