Guava-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

For more recipes, be sure to check out our Flavors of The Southern Coast Cookbook.

Serves 6-8

Ribs

2 racks baby back ribs, about 3 lbs.(1.4kg) each
3 tbsp. light brown sugar
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. granulated onion
1 tsp. granulated garlic
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 large handfuls guava, apple, or cherry wood chips, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and drained

Instructions:

• Slip a small, sharp knife underneath the membrane at one corner of a rack of ribs. Grab the loosened membrane with a paper towel and pull to strip it off the rack; repeat as needed until the membrane is removed. Repeat with the second rack. Cut each rack into 2 or 3 slabs.
• Mix the brown sugar, salt, ginger, granulated onion and garlic, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together with your fingertips in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the ribs. Let stand at room temperature while preparing the grill.
• Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect cooking with low heat. For a charcoal grill, scatter half of the chips over the coals. For a gas grill, preheat the grill on high. Turn one burner off and adjust the heat on the other burner to 350°F (180°C). Place half of the chips in the grill smoker box or on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil placed directly on the heat source (you may have to remove the grill grate). Let the wood burn until it smokes.
• Brush the grill grate clean. Place the ribs on the cool side of the grill. Cook the ribs, with the lid closed, for 1 hour. Add the remaining chips to the grill. Cook, with the lid closed, until the meat has shrunk at least 1/4" (6mm) from the bone ends and the meat is so tender that it tears easily when a rack is bent in half, for about 3 hours. (For a charcoal grill, add 12 briquettes to the coals about every 45 minutes to maintain the heat. You may need to leave the lid ajar for a few minutes to allow enough oxygen into the grill for the briquettes to ignite and turn gray around the edges.)
• Brush the tops of the ribs with some of the glaze. Cook, with the lid closed, until the glaze sets, for about 5 minutes. Turn the ribs and repeat.
• Transfer the ribs to a chopping board and let stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Cut between the bones and serve hot with any remaining glaze.