Source: Melissa Cookston

PREP TIME

25 mins

COOK TIME

270 mins

SERVING SIZE

4

What You’ll Need

2 slabs Prairie Fresh® St. Louis style spareribs


Marinade:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup rice wine/sake
1/4 cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar
2 medium pears, peeled and cored
5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Gochujang Barbecue Sauce:
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 knob ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
1/3 cup gochujang paste
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions

For the marinade:
Place all the marinade ingredients, except cilantro, in a blender and puree.

In a large nonreactive pan, pour about 1/4 cup of the marinade, then lay the two slabs of ribs meat-side down. With a sharp knife, lightly score the membrane on the ribs. Pour in remaining marinade, cover and refrigerate. Marinating overnight will be best, but marinate for at least 2 hours. Reserve marinade.

For the gochujang barbecue sauce:
In a sauce pan over medium heat, add oil and onions. Cook onions until they are nearly translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes, then add remaining ingredients. Whisk to incorporate and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.

To cook the ribs:
Prepare a smoker to run at 250 F with your choice of wood (I prefer apple). Place ribs on grill meat-side up and cook for 2 hours.

While ribs are cooking, place marinade in a sauce pan, bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.

At the 2-hour mark, prepare 2 large sheets of heavy-duty foil. If you don't have heavy duty, use 2 sheets for each rib. Place the ribs meat-side down on the foil, and pour approximately 3/4 cup of marinade on and around each rib. Carefully fold the foil to form and envelope the ribs, and return ribs to smoker.

Cook for another 1.5 to 2.5 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes. To determine doneness, gently put pressure on two bones in the opposite direction and check how much the bones can move. When you have reached a proper tenderness, remove the ribs from the foil and place meat-side up on the grill. Glaze with gochujang barbecue sauce and allow ribs to cook for 5 more minutes to allow the glaze to "set." Remove from grill and serve with extra sauce on the side.

Chef's note: Marinade and sauce can be made a few days ahead. Store in refrigerator. In addition to being great on pork ribs, try them on pork chops as well.