BABY BACK RIBS WITH ESPRESSO BARBECUE SAUCE

Recipe courtesy of Michael Chiarello from his cookbook Casual Cooking


For the Ribs
3 racks of baby back ribs
Gray salt and freshly ground black pepper


For the Sauce
1 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup espresso
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
or 2 cups Tuscan Bar-B-Que Sauce


Method

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut each rack of ribs in half. Season with salt and pepper. Stack the ribs on a foil-covered baking sheet, in two piles of 3 pieces. Bake in the oven about 2-1/2 hours, or until tender, rotating the ribs every 30 minutes.


Remove the ribs from the oven and cover them with foil to keep them moist and tender.


For the Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, and espresso.


Place the olive oil and garlic in a small sauté pan. Cook over low heat for about 1 minute, or until it turns a golden brown. Remove from heat. Add to the honey mixture.

Place the honey mixture in a saucepan and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes to blend the flavors.


To Complete the Ribs
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, or preheat a grill. Brush the BBQ sauce on both sides of the ribs, and arrange them in a single layer.


Turn and baste the ribs as they cook. Remove when the ribs are glazed and carmelized, about 15 minutes.