Coffee Ribs (good to the last drop!)
Last Friday, I tried my hand at semi-spontaneous barbecue sauce for chicken thighs. Sad, but true - my Friday night excitement has become this: Hanging out in the kitchen concocting barbecue sauce. Recently, I've also noticed an odd urge to watch the Weather Channel. Perhaps I'm a fuddy-duddy. Perhaps I'm a BBQ-sauce makin fool...
Sunday, I wanted "weird" barbecue sauce for baby back ribs. I found a few recipes calling for espresso. Of course, I had to experiment. I created (sort of) the soon-to-be famous coffee ribs (good to the last drop!). Actually, I modified this recipe. And the results were mighty tasty.
Chili Rubbed Baby Back Ribs With Dark Roast Coffee Barbecue Sauce
(makes enough spice rub & sauce for 3-4 lbs ribs)
For the rub:
1 T Cayenne pepper powder
1 T Chipotle powder
1 T smoked paprika
1 T ground cumin
1.5 t salt
1 t ground black pepper
Whisk rub ingredients together in small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over ribs.
12 oz dark beer (e.g. Guinness)
Gently boil beer in medium saucepan
until reduced to about 1 cup. Place ribs in roasting pan or thick foil
for grill. Pour beer around ribs. Cover ribs with foil and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400F or preheat gas grill to approximately 350-400F. Once heated roast ribs for about 1.5 hours. If using outdoor gas grill try adding some alder or cherry wood chips (if not for anything other than a neighbor jealousy-inducing aroma).
For the BBQ sauce:
14-18 oz prepared hickory barbecue sauce
1/2 cup water
2 T golden brown sugar
1 T ketchup
1 T honey
1
T finely ground dark roast coffee (or espresso) - the original recipe
calls for instant espresso. For kicks, I experimented with ground
coffee
Combine ingredients in medium saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Brush ribs with sauce. Grill ribs over medium heat, about 5 minutes per side. Save some sauce for slathering and dipping.
Serve with polenta.
An inky, high octane California Zinfandel or Petite Sirah are good choices for this smoky, spicy, sweet, earthy concoction. Two wines to try: Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull Zinfandel or Concannon Petite Sirah.
Sounds interesting and awesome...and that petit sirah sounds like the perfect foil.
Posted by: Lenn | 02 August 2005 at 09:04 AM
I was a little worried when the beer started boiling (not a good smell). But when the sauce warmed up, I got pretty hungry (a very good smell).
Posted by: beau | 02 August 2005 at 09:35 AM
5:02 AM really? These ribs are spectacular! when are we having more?
Posted by: Che | 02 August 2005 at 09:47 AM
My favorite ribs pairing: a good zinfandel, and a good screening of the 1988 asinine-yet-hilarious classic "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka", featuring a young Chris Rock as the Rib Joint customer. How much fo' da ribs?
Posted by: WineGoddess | 02 August 2005 at 11:09 AM
Haven't seen that flick. But I'll make a rack and rent it.
Do you have a Zin that you can recommend?
Posted by: beau | 02 August 2005 at 11:49 AM
The second-best Zin I've had (in my limited experience) is 7 Deadly Zins. I'm also partial to Mystic's 2002.
The best was 2002 Troon, but that one is a bit pricy.
Posted by: Mithrandir | 02 August 2005 at 12:05 PM
Mithrandir,
Thanks for the Zin picks! I'll try to find one of them and give it a sip.
Posted by: beau | 03 August 2005 at 09:02 AM