How to Make Cider-Mopped Spareribs - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the smell of spareribs cooking on the grill, especially when they're being basted with a delicious cider-mop sauce. These juicy and tender ribs are perfect for a summer barbecue, or any time you're craving some finger-licking good comfort food. The combination of sweet and tangy flavors from the cider-mop sauce makes these ribs a real crowd pleaser.

What makes this recipe stand out is the brining process. The spareribs are brined in a mixture of apple cider,...

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 5 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
  • 5 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 racks Smithfield® Pork Spareribs, membrane removed
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 cup Handful hickory or apple wood chips for smoking, soaked in water and drained
  • ¾ cup barbecue sauce (use your favorite)

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 6 hrs
  • Additional Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 7 hrs 15 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • About one hour before smoking, make the dry rub. Combine chili powder, salt, garlic powder and pepper in small bowl. Set aside 2 tablespoons of dry rub. Pat ribs dry with paper towels; sprinkle both sides of each rack with the remaining rub. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • For the mop, whisk together vinegar, water and reserved 2 tablespoons chili rub in a bowl. Set aside.
  • Heat charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking at 250 to 300 degrees F. Add drained wood chips, if using.
  • Place the ribs, meaty side down, over a drip pan and cook for 1 hour. Add about 12 coals to a charcoal grill every 45 minutes or so to maintain the heat.
  • Continue cooking 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours more over indirect heat, until very tender. Brush both sides of ribs with mop mixture every 45 minutes. Add more coals as needed to maintain temperature for a charcoal grill.
  • Brush ribs with barbecue sauce. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, until the sauce is set. Turn ribs and repeat with more sauce.
  • Cut the racks into 3- or 4-rib sections and serve.
  • Nutrition

    1784 cal.

    • Total Fat: 144g
    • Saturated Fat: 53g
    • Cholesterol: 491mg
    • Sodium: 2767mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 17g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 9g
    • Protein: 99g
    • Vitamin C: 5mg
    • Calcium: 220mg
    • Iron: 7mg
    • Potassium: 1615mg