Papa's BBQ Sauce

Okay, my recipe for my BBQ ribs is getting torn and warn so much that I can hardly read it.  So, it is time to write it down.  I found the BBQ rib rub and BBQ sauce recipe in a Harley Davidson magazine in 2008.  I worked for a year tweaking the recipe to my liking.  In my opinion, the recipe is almost perfect.  Enjoy.

Ingredients for the Dry Rub

• 1-1/2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar 
• 1/2 Cup Chili Powder
• 1/2 Cup Paprika
• 1 TB Garlic Powder
• 1 TB Dry Mustard
• 1 TB Onion Powder
• 1 TB Cracked Black Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Ingredients for the BBQ Sauce

• 1 medium Spanish or Red onion, finely diced (optional)
• 1-1/2 Cup Olive Oil to Saute onions (optional)
• 4 Cups of Ketchup
• 1 Cup Chicken or Beef Broth
• 4 TB Dark Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 3 TB Worcestershire Sauce
• 3/4 Cup Molasses
• 1 TB Dry Mustard
• 2 TB Chili Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Roasted Curry Powder
• 1 TB Kosher Salt
• 1/4 Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
• 3 TB Tomato Paste
• 1 Teaspoon roasted Garlic

Ingredients for Cooking Ribs

• Apple Juice

Procedure for the Dry Rub

• Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.  The brown sugar can lump so process until entire mixture does not have lumps.

Procedure for the BBQ Sauce

• Saute onions in the olive oil until translucent. (optional)
• Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and cover and simmer over a low heat for 3/4 to 1 hour to infuse the flavors.  The heat should be very low (use the simmer settings if you have them).  Check every 5 minutes and stir the mixture with a whisk.  Set aside to cool.  Store in glass jars.

Procedure for cooking the Ribs

• I purchase ribs from Costco.  You can get a package of 3 ribs.
• The day before you want to cook the ribs, lay out the ribs on a large cooking tray and apply the dry rub to both sides.  Refrigerate overnight covered with plastic wrap.
• The next day, cut the ribs into two halves.
• I put 3 halves in an aluminum lined 3/4 inch deep pan.
• Pour apple juice around the ribs to leave about ¼ inch liquid.  Cover the pan with foil. 
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Cook the ribs for 1-1/2 hours.  Rotate the pans in the oven every 30 minutes to insure even cooking. 
• Once cooked, uncover the ribs, drain the liquid and let the ribs rest for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Next, preheat the grill.
• Reheat the ribs on the grill on medium-high heat.  Apply the BBQ sauce to each side.  I start with the bone side down.  Continue to grill the ribs and apply the BBQ sauce until the ribs are caramelized with sauce and heated through.  
• Serve immediately.  Generally, each person gets 4 ribs.  Each pack is about 12 ribs and should serve 4 people.