Tag: country-style ribs

Smoked Country Style Ribs

These smoked country style ribs were another one of those “where have I been?” things for me. Country style ribs come from near the pork shoulder on a pig, and although they don’t contain ribs, they do contain part of the shoulder bone and are cut like ribs. Now, normally I’d probably approach these as I would pork shoulder or ribs, but this time I used an idea that I had come across on a Facebook smoker fan group.

Smoked Country Style Ribs

Everyone Into The Pool

The ribs are smoked long enough to get great flavor deep inside. Then they are transferred to a pan full of a wonderful mixture of soda, BBQ sauce, butter and brown sugar. The end result is completely fall-apart tender and packed with flavor. Nice and different from the things I usually smoke.

A Great Smoked Meat

Next time I smoke country style ribs I’m going to throw a few extra on the smoker. That’s so that I have leftovers. Chopped, it’s great stuff in a stew or on nachos. And the added bonus is that I can often find country style ribs on sale much cheaper than I can buy baby back or spare ribs or pork shoulder.

Weber Pecan Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.
Weber Pecan Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.
Weber Apple Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.
Weber Apple Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.
Weber Cherry Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.
Weber Cherry Wood Chunks, for Grilling and Smoking, 4 lb.

Also try my spicy sweet-and sour grilled country-style ribs.

Smoked Country Style Ribs
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Country Style Ribs

The ribs are smoked long enough to get great flavor then transferred to a pan full of a wonderful mixture of soda, BBQ sauce, butter and brown sugar. The end result is completely fall-apart tender and packed with flavor. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword country-style ribs, smoked
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 872kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the ribs

For the simmering sauce

Instructions

  • Fire up your smoker for smoking at 225 F. Use any wood you prefer.
  • Rub the ribs with the yellow mustard. Sprinkle with the rub.
  • Place directly onto the smoker and smoke for 1 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature of the ribs reaches 150 F.
  • Meanwhile, combine Mountain Dew, butter, butter, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce in a medium saucepan and warm thoroughly until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved.
  • Transfer ribs to a large aluminum pan with high sides.
  • Add the warmed sauce.
  • Cover with foil and return to the smoker for another hour or until the internal temperature of the ribs hits 195-200 F.
  • You can serve the ribs directly from the pan, or remove them from the pan and return them to the smoker grates and brush with more BBQ sauce. Let smoke another 10 minutes to set the sauce then serve.

Notes

I made the sauce on-the-fly, to taste. I started with about 1 liter of Mountain Dew, a stick of butter, 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce. After those were combined I added more BBQ sauce and a little more brown sugar. Start with a little of each ingredient (other than the Mountain Dew go ahead and start with a liter), taste, and add more as you desire.

Nutrition

Calories: 872kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 1004mg | Sugar: 82g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12'' Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill - Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush
Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12” Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill – Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush

Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Country-Style Ribs

Country-style ribs aren’t something I think of cooking that often. When I do, they usually end up on a bed of sauerkraut. That’s why I was excited to see this idea for spicy sweet-and-sour grilled country-style ribs in a recent edition of Chile Pepper magazine. I knew that the ribs would be great because everything I’ve made from the magazine has been. And I knew that they’d have some kick. And they do.

Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Country-Style Ribs

Oh, The Sauce!

The sauce on the ribs is the star of the show. I definitely plan on using the sauce on other dishes. It’d be perfect on grilled pork tenderloin, burgers, and pork spare ribs. The ribs are tasty, and really good grilled for a nice char then cooked low-and-slow to perfect tenderness.

I wouldn’t hesitate to make these spicy sweet-and-sour grilled country-style ribs again, and I’ll definitely be using both the Asian rub and fantastic sauce on other cuts of meat.

Don’t use wimpy tools when it comes time to making these ribs. Or anything else on a grill or smoker. You want something sturdy, something quality. I have used Weber’s line of grill tools for decades. I wouldn’t use anything else. Ever.

Weber 3 Piece Stainless Steel Premium Tool Set, Black
Weber 3 Piece Stainless Steel Premium Tool Set, Black

Also try my slow cooker Vietnamese ribs and my sous vide country style ribs.

Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Country-Style Ribs
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Country-Style Ribs

The sauce on the ribs is the star of the show. I definitely plan on using the sauce on other dishes. It’d be perfect on grilled pork tenderloin, burgers, and pork spare ribs. The ribs are tasty, and really good grilled for a nice char then cooked low-and-slow to perfect tenderness.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword country-style ribs, sour, spicy, sweet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 508kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Chile Pepper Magazine

Ingredients

For the Asian rub (makes 1 cup, you’ll need 1/2 cup or so for the ribs)

For the ribs

  • 3 pounds country-style ribs
  • ½ cup Asian rub from above

For the sauce

Instructions

For the Asian rub

  • Combine all ingredients.
  • Store leftover rub in an air-right container.

For the ribs

  • Sprinkle the ribs with the rub and rub into the meat. Don’t be shy with the rub and make sure to get all sides or the ribs.
  • Let ribs rest at room temperature while you preheat the oven to 275 F and fire up your grill for direct cooking.
  • Grill ribs 10-12 minutes over direct heat, turning once, to get lightly charred. You’re just looking for color here, the ribs will finish cooking in the oven. Over-grilling them will result in tough ribs.
  • Transfer ribs to a baking sheet and place in the oven.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until done.
  • Serve drizzled with sauce.

For the sauce

  • Place all ingredients into a blender and puree.
  • Transfer to a saucepan over medium heat and warm through.

Notes

The rub is also good sprinkled on pork burgers.

Nutrition

Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 1057mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush
Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

BBQ Sous Vide Country Style Ribs

These BBQ sous vide country style ribs have been on my radar for a while now. I love country style ribs. I usually sear them on the stovetop then finish them in the oven, served over sauerkraut. Yum. This time I went the sous vide route, finishing the ribs on a hot gas grill. A little hickory BBQ sauce gives the impression that the ribs were cooked low and slow on a smoker. Or close enough, at least. The result was tender, very juicy, very flavor ribs.

BBQ Sous Vide Country Style Ribs

Tender as you want it to be

You get to decide how tender you want your BBQ sous vide country style ribs to be. The first time I made them I went 4 hours. At that point the ribs have a good chew but aren’t tough. If you like a good tug to your ribs, 4 hours will get you where you want to be. But for more tender ribs you really might want to go 6 if not 8 hours. The full 8 hours is a bit much for me only because I do want a little ‘bite’ to my meat. I’d settle on 6. You can squeeze the ribs in the bag after 4 hours, and every hour or so after that, to see if the ribs are getting to where you want them. Just note your favorite cook time for the next time you make them. Because there will be a next time.

I use an Anova sous vide cooker. It’s my immersion circulator workhorse!
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0

Also try my sous vide snow crab legs.

BBQ Sous Vide Country Style Ribs
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5 from 1 vote

BBQ Sous Vide Country Style Ribs

Cook the full 8 hours for fall-apart ribs.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword country-style ribs, sous vide
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 1360kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat your sous vide water to 145 F.
  • Rub the seasoning all over the ribs. Get it on all sides. No need to be shy with it either. More is better.
  • Transfer the ribs to a vacuum bag and seal tightly.
  • Place bag into the sous vide water and cook 4 hours (for quite a bit of tug) to 8 hours (completely fall-apart tender).
  • Remove the bag from the water. Open and remove the ribs to a plate. Pat dry with a paper towel then brush with the BBQ sauce.
  • Heat a grill or broiler to high.
  • Place ribs onto the grill or under the broiler for a few minutes per side until lightly charred and the sauce is lightly caramelized.
  • Serve with additional BBQ sauce if desired.

Notes

These meaty ribs give baby backs a run for their money.

Nutrition

Calories: 1360kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 115g | Fat: 71g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 436mg | Sodium: 1844mg | Potassium: 2207mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0

Country-Style Ribs using Sous Vide

I’m very new to using sous vide as a cooking technique. It’s been a learning, but rewarding experience. My goal was to get the basics down well, then start to re-create my favorite recipes using my new-found knowledge (and learn more, of course!). These country-style ribs are my first attempt at converting a childhood favorite recipe of mine, made often by my mom, from cooking solely in the oven to using a combination of sous vide and the oven.

Country-Style Ribs using Sous Vide

Fantastic Over Kraut

These country-style ribs have the same great flavor as my mom’s classic. Seared seasoned ribs cooked over a bed of kraut, with a little carrot for crunch. Instead of cooking the ribs in the oven I sous vide them for a long time, until the pork is so completely fall apart you can barely pick it up. I then season it heavily with paprika and sear it beneath the broiler. The end result was absolutely delicious and by far the best I’ve ever had (sorry mom!).

I’m always learning when I cook, be it using sous vide, a grill, or any other tool or technique. If you’re into sous vide too, feel free to drop me a comment in the section below to offer up suggestions on how I might make my country-style ribs even better.

I use an Anova sous vide cooker. It’s my immersion circulator workhorse!
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0

Also try my grilled sweet-and-sour country style ribs.

Country-Style Ribs using Sous Vide
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Country-Style Ribs using Sous Vide

These country-style ribs are my first attempt at converting a childhood favorite recipe of mine, made often by my mom, from cooking solely in the oven to using a combination of sous vide and the oven.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword ribs, sous vide
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 341kcal

Ingredients

For the sous vide

For the final dish

Instructions

For the sous vide

  • Bring a sous vide bath to 165 F.
  • Season the ribs on all sides. Don't be shy with the salt and pepper. Transfer to a vacuum bag (or two) and seal. Submerge and sous vide for 8 hours.
  • Remove the bags from the water. Open the bags, drain, and pat the ribs dry.

For the final dish

  • Place carrots in a small microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup of water. Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until just starting to soften. Carefully remove from the microwave and drain.
  • Place drained and rinsed kraut in a 9" x 13" deep baking dish (you can use a 9" x 9" but it might be a bit crowded).
  • Stir in the caraway seed.
  • Add the carrots.
  • Turn on your oven's broiler.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil.
  • Sprinkle the ribs liberally on all sides with the paprika. Do not be shy with it.
  • Place in the oven under the broiler and broil, turning every few minutes, until lightly seared.
  • Remove ribs from oven. Set oven temperature to 350 F.
  • Transfer ribs to the baking dish, on top of the kraut and carrot mixture.
  • Add 1/4 cup of water to the pan, cover in foil, and place in the oven for 30 minutes or until the kraut is warmed through and the carrots are completely tender.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Instead of placing the ribs under the broiler, you can sear them in a hot skillet with a small amount of oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1148mg | Potassium: 986mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 13627IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0