Slowly cooked ribs glazed with a spicy-sweet tomato-based sauce are the signature of K.C. barbecue. If you don't have a smoker, cook the ribs in a barbecue that has been converted to one. It may be necessary to cut the racks into four- to five-rib portions so that they all fit on the grill at once.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 8
Ingredients
For dry rub
Preparation
Make dry rub:
Step 1
Mix brown sugar, paprika, coarse salt, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper in small bowl for dry rub. Sprinkle 2/3 cup dry rub all over spareribs. Cover ribs with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight. Cover remaining dry rub; store at room temperature.
Step 2
Unwrap seasoned spareribs; sprinkle all over with half of remaining dry rub. Let spareribs stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
Step 3
Following manufacturer's instructions and using natural lump charcoal and 1/2 cup drained wood chips for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue (see box at right), start fire and bring temperature of smoker to 200°F. to 225°F. or barbecue to 275°F. to 300°F. Arrange ribs on rack in smoker or barbecue. Cover and cook ribs 2 hours, turning occasionally. Add more charcoal as needed to maintain temperature and more drained wood chips (1/2 cup for smoker or 1 cup for barbecue with each addition) to maintain smoke level.
Step 4
Sprinkle ribs evenly with all remaining dry rub. Cover and cook 1 hour 15 minutes. Brush ribs generously with barbecue sauce. Continue cooking until meat is very tender and brown, about 30 minutes longer. Maintain temperature by adding more lump charcoal; maintain smoke level by adding more drained hickory wood chips as needed.
Step 5
Transfer ribs to large serving platter. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut rib racks between bones into individual ribs and serve immediately.
