Barbecued Pork Ribs with Spicy-Sweet Rub

                    Pork back ribs have a sweet flavor that goes well with the smoke of a live fire and the spicy-sweet seasonings traditionally used in barbecue.

Makes 4 servings

• 2 whole racks pork ribs, 3 to 4 pounds total weight (Membrane remove by the butcher or click here to learn how to remove the membrane from pork back ribs)

For the spicy-sweet rub

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon mild paprika\
• 1 tablespoon hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne (more or less to taste)
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt

1. Mix together all the ingredients for the spicy-sweet rub except the salt in a small bowl.
2. Rub te seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each rack, pressing it firmly into the meat ; cover loosely with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature, otherwise, tightly wrap each rack of ribs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
3. One hour before grilling, remove the racks from the refrigerator, unwrap them, sprinkle evenly with salt, and leave them loosely covered at room temperature.
4. Build a fire in an outdoor grill for indirect-heat cooking ; carefully place a metal drip pan half-filled with water in the part of the fire bed away from the coals under the part of the cooking grid where the ribs will cook.
5. Set the cooking grid about 6 inches above the heat ; grease the bars of the cooking grid with paper towels or a clean cloth with some cooking oil where you'll be placing the ribs.
6. Place the ribs on the cooking grid above the drip pan and close the grill's cover ; cook the ribs until they are so tender that a bone wiggles easily when twisted, 1¼ to 1½ hours, turning the rib racks over every 20 to 30 minutes and adding a dozen new lumps of coal to the fire every 30 minutes.
7. Transfer the ribs from the grill to a cutting board ; with a sharp knife, cut each rack either into 2 equal portions or into individual ribs between the bones.
8. Serve hot.

Note : You can also bake these ribs in a 350F (180C) oven. Put them in an oiled baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 1 to 1½ hours.

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