With Celebrity Chef Rob Rainford’s recent visit to Windsor still fresh in our minds, here is an enjoyable recipe for your BBQ. This recipe is for Rob’s very own “Drunken” Spare Ribs, plucked off the Food TV website.

All hail Chef Rainford, Lord of the Grill!

“Drunken” Spare Ribs

  • 2 racks Pork Side Ribs
  • 9 cups cherry wood chips (2 litres)
  • 1 cup green tea leaves (250ml)

Marinade

  • 1 cup rice wine vinegar (250ml)
  • 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger (60ml)
  • 6 x scallions, sliced thin
  • 2 tbsp chopped garlic (30ml)
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil (30ml)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (30ml)
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil (125ml)

Hunan BBQ Sauce

  • The juice of 2 Clementines
  • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (15ml)
  • 1 tsp chopped garlic (5ml)
  • 2 tbsp dry sherry (30ml)
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (15ml)
  • 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce (125ml)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil (5ml)

Directions:

“Drunken” Spare Ribs

  1. Spread back ribs in a non reactive dish.
  2. Place 6 cups (1500ml) of cherry wood chips into water to soak for 1 hour.
  3. Lay out three sheets of foil and squeeze out excess water from the wet wood chips. Place 2 cups of wet chips on each of the 3 sheets of foil. Combine green tea leaves to the dry wood chips and mix 1 cup of dry wood chips into each package. Close the foil around the wood chips sealing the package. Using a fork, poke holes in both sides of the package.
  4. Remove one side of barbeque grill. Insert the smoke pouch. Turn the heat under the smoke pouch to 400°F/204°C or high heat and leave the other side of the barbeque off. Close lid. Wait for smoke.
  5. Once the cavity of the barbeque if filled with smoke, reduce heat to 220°F/93°C or low temperature.
  6. Place the ribs on the cool side of the barbeque, opposite the smoke pouch. Allow ribs to smoke for 3 hours, basting with reserved marinade each hour. Change smoke pouch when smoke dissipates.
  7. Remove ribs from grill and tent loosely with foil. Allow ribs to rest for 10 minutes and serve with Hunan BBQ Sauce.

Marinade

  1. Combine marinade ingredients in a medium size bowl. Reserve ½ cup (125ml) of marinade for basting later. Pour remaining marinade over back ribs and cover with plastic wrap. Place ribs in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.

Hunan BBQ Sauce

  1. To prepare Hunan BBQ sauce, mix all Hunan BBQ sauce ingredients in a medium size bowl. Serve with Pork Side Ribs.