2977. BARBECUE PORK RIBS with SMOKY BACON BARBECUE SAUCE

makes 4 to 6 servings


For the ribs
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons ancho or New Mexican chile powder
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
2 slabs St. Louis–style pork spareribs (about 7 pounds total) or 2 slabs pork spareribs (about 8 pounds total)

For the barbecue sauce: 

6 ounces bacon, diced  

2 medium onions, finely chopped 

5 cloves garlic, minced  

2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves 

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves 

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

1 tablespoon ancho or New Mexican chile powder 

1 teaspoon ground cumin 

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper  

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 

1 cup brewed coffee 

2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 

2 tablespoons yellow mustard  

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 

2 tablespoons cider vinegar, plus more to taste 

1 cup ketchup 

Few dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco, plus more to taste 

3 fresh or 2 dried bay leaves 

Kosher salt 

Equipment: Large, rimmed baking sheet; flat metal cooling rack 

Prepare the rub and bake the ribs: In a small bowl, combine the garlic, salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chile powder, black pepper, sage, thyme, dry mustard, cumin, coriander, ginger, and cayenne pepper if using. Generously coat the ribs with the rub then wrap each slab in a double layer of plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours. DO AHEAD: To develop maximum flavor, place the ribs, coated in the rub, in the refrigerator and chill at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. 

 

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. If you have a flat metal cooling rack, arrange it in the baking sheet and place the ribs, bone side down, on the rack. If you don't have a rack, place the ribs, bone side down, directly on the foil-lined baking sheet. Bake the ribs until the meat is tender and starting to pull away from the bones, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. At this point, the ribs are ready to be served, but we recommend taking the time to finish them on the grill (or in the broiler), while glazing with homemade barbecue sauce. DO AHEAD: Ribs can be baked ahead of time and kept, wrapped in foil, at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours, before finishing them on the grill. 

 

While the ribs are baking, make the barbecue sauce: In a heavy, medium saucepan over moderately low heat, cook the bacon until the fat renders and the bacon starts to brown, about 10 minutes—do not let the bacon get crispy. Add the onions and continue cooking, covered and stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add the smoked paprika, chile powder, cumin, black pepper, and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the coffee, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar and stir well to combine. Raise the heat to moderate and bring the sauce to a boil, scraping the saucepan with a wooden spoon to remove any browned bits from the bottom. Add the ketchup, hot sauce, and bay leaves, then lower the heat to moderately low and simmer the sauce until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but isn't as thick as ketchup, about 30 minutes. Taste the sauce and add more vinegar or hot sauce to taste and season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard the bay leaves. DO AHEAD: BBQ sauce can be made ahead and stored, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 2 weeks. Warm the sauce gently on the stove before using. 

 

Grill the ribs: While the barbecue sauce is simmering, prepare your grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-high heat: If using a charcoal grill, open the vents on the bottom of the grill and light a large chimney starter full of charcoal (preferably hardwood). When the coals are covered with white-gray ash (about 20 to 30 minutes later), spread them out on the grill's bottom rack, leaving a space to one side that is equal to the size of the food to be grilled so that it can be moved there in the case of flare-ups. Test the heat of the charcoal by holding your hand 5 inches above the coals for about 3 seconds for medium-high heat. If the charcoal is too hot, continue to let it burn until it reaches medium-high. 

If using a gas grill, preheat all burners on high, covered, for 10 minutes, then adjust the heat to medium-high.

Depending on the size of your grill, place 1 or 2 slabs, bone side down, over the heat and brush the fat-covered side generously with barbecue sauce. Grill the ribs, covered, for 2 minutes. Flip the slab over, brush the bone side with sauce, and grill, covered, until the sauce on the fat-covered side is caramelized and lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the slab over and continue grilling, covered, until the sauce on the bone side is caramelized and lightly charred, 1 minute. Transfer the ribs to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes. If necessary, repeat the grilling and glazing process with the second slab of ribs. Cut between the ribs and serve immediately with plenty of barbecue sauce on the side.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Bruce Aidells, Epicurious, June 2013

2722. BRAISED MONTANA COFFEE-MARINATED BISON SHORT RIBS

serves 4-6


Coffee-Maple Marinade/Brine
4 cups water
3 cups chilled strong coffee
1/2 cup Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 1/4 cup table salt
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups ice cubes

4 lb. bone-in English-cut bison short ribs

Montana Coffee Sauce
1/4 cup diced bacon
2 cups chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 small jalapeno chile, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
1 cup strong coffee
1 cup homemade beef stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup chili sauce or ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar, or more to taste
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar, or more to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Marinade/Brine: Combine the water, coffee, salt, and brown sugar in a large plastic tub or stainless steel bowl and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in the maple syrup, rosemary, and Worcestershire. Chill the brine by stirring in the ice until it melts; the brine should be very cold, about 45 degrees F, before the meat is added. Add the ribs, weigh them down with a plate, and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.

Remove the ribs from the brine and pat them dry. Discard the brine. (At this point, the ribs can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Sauce: Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until browned and beginning to crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels, and set aside. Increase the heat to medium-high and, working in batches, add the ribs to the pot and lightly brown on all sides, about 7 minutes per batch. Remove to a plate and set aside.

Add the onions, shallots, garlic, and jalapeno to the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook, stirring from time to time, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in the coffee and stock and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the remaining sauce ingredients and bring to a boil.

Add the bacon and short ribs, and when the pot returns to a boil, cover and pop into the oven. Cook for 2 hours, or until the ribs are fork-tender. If not done, cover and continue cooking, checking every 30 minutes.

When the ribs are done, remove from the oven an degrease any surface fat. If the sauce is too thin, remove the ribs and boil down to a syrupy consistency. You should have 2 to 3 cups sauce. Taste the sauce and add more vinegar and brown sugar, and season with salt and pepper to suit your taste. If necessary, return the ribs to the sauce and reheat before serving.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Great Meat Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Buy and Cook Today's Meat by Bruce Aidells, with Anne-Marie Ramo. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012

2555. SPLIT PEA SOUP with BACON, HAM HOCK and SPARE RIBS

yields twelve servings


4 oz. (1/2 cup) slab bacon, finely diced
1 slab of pork spare ribs, cut into individual pieces
1 small carrot, finely diced
1 red onion, finely diced
1 celery stalk, finely diced
1 tablespoon Kosher salt, or more to taste
1 lb. split peas (1 1/3 cups)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 smoked ham hock
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
crusty bread for serving

Sauté bacon in a 6-quart Dutch oven over med-low heat until the fat has rendered and it's cooked, 5-10 mins. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon, increase the heat under the pot to medium, and add the ribs. Brown on both sides, 3 minutes per side. Remove the ribs to a plate and set aside. Add the carrot, onion, celery, and salt and sweat the vegetables for about 3 minutes. Add the split peas, garlic, bay leaf, thyme (sprigs tied together to be removed later), ham hock, cayenne pepper, black pepper, the ribs, and 2 1/2 quarts water. Simmer, skimming the foam that will rise to the surface as the water comes up to heat, until the peas and spare ribs are tender, 2-3 hours. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Remove the hock from the soup. When it's cool enough to handle, pick the meat off it and add it back to the soup (discard the bone). To serve, divide the ribs among bowls and ladle the soup over them.  Eat with abundant, crusty bread.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Michael Symons, The Chew, ABC-TV

1761. PORK STEW with BACON, HARD CIDER, PEARL ONIONS and POTATOES

yields six servings


30 1-inch-diameter pearl onions (from two 10-ounce bags)
5 slices thick-cut bacon (preferably applewood-smoked), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips
3 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt) or boneless country ribs, external fat trimmed, cut into 2-inch cubes
coarse kosher salt
1 cup chopped shallots (about 4 large)
1 cup finely chopped parsnips
6 teaspoons chopped fresh sage, divided
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Calvados (apple brandy; optional)
2 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 12-ounce bottle hard apple cider
1 1/2 pounds unpeeled baby red potatoes (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed, halved
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard

Cook onions in large saucepan of boiling salted water 2 minutes; transfer to bowl of ice water to cool. Peel onions; set aside.

Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until lightly browned. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle pork shoulder with coarse salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Working in 2 batches, add pork to same pot and cook until browned, about 7 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to large bowl. Reduce heat to medium; add shallots and parsnips. Cover pot and cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3 teaspoons sage; stir 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup Calvados, if using; cook until almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add broth, cider, reserved bacon, and pork with any accumulated juices. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits with wooden spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until pork is tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Add potatoes and pearl onions to stew; cover and cook until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add apples; cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Spoon fat from surface of juices, if necessary. Stir butter and flour in small bowl to form paste; add to pot and whisk to blend. Stir in mustard, 2 teaspoons sage, and 1 tablespoon Calvados, if using. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, stirring often, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Stew can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Simmer stew over medium heat to rewarm before serving.

Divide stew among bowls, sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon sage, and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bruce Aidells, Bon Appétit, February 2010

1565. SHORT RIBS braised in PETITE SYRAH with BACON, CARROTS and PEARL ONIONS

serves four


4 pounds bone-in short ribs
Salt and ground black pepper
3 cups petite Syrah
3 large onions, chopped medium
2 medium carrots, chopped medium
1 large celery rib, chopped medium
6 medium garlic cloves, chopped
¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 ½ tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
3 medium bay leaves
1 teaspoon tomato paste

Bacon, Pearl Onion, and Carrot Garnish
6 slices bacon, cut into ¼ inch pieces
8 oz frozen pearl onions (do not thaw)
1 small package baby carrots
¼ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
sprigs of rosemary

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange the short ribs in a single layer on a flameproof roasting pan and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the meat begins to brown, about 45 minutes; drain off all the liquid and fat with a bulb baster. Flip ribs over and continue to roast another 15 – 20 minutes until the other side is nicely brown. Reduce oven temp to 300 degrees. Transfer the ribs to a large plate and cover loosely. Drain off all the fat into a small bowl and reserve. Place the roasting pan on 2 stovetop burners set at a low to medium heat; add the wine and bring to a simmer, deglazing the pan. Set the roasting pan with the reserved wine aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved fat in a large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add the onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the flour until combined, about 45 seconds. Stir in the wine from the roasting pan, the chicken broth, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil and add the short ribs, completely submerging the meat in the liquid, return the liquid to a boil, cover the pot, place it in the oven and simmer until the ribs are tender, 2 – 2 1/2 hours. Transfer pot to a wire rack and cool, partially covered, until warm, about 2 hours.

Transfer the ribs from the pot to a large plate, removing the excess vegetables that may cling to the meat; discard any loose bones that may have fallen away from the meat. Strain the braising liquid into a medium bowl pressing out the liquid from the solids; discard the solids.

To prepare the garnish and finish the dish: cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until just crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels. Add the pearl onions, carrots, sugar, and salt to the Dutch oven; increase the heat to high and sauté stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the ribs and reserved liquid and return to a simmer. Gently stir in the bacon. Simmer an additional five minutes and serve over warm mashed potatoes. Garnish with a Rosemary sprig.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jamie Concannon, Convergence Vineyards, 14650 Highway 124 / PO Box 905, Plymouth California 95669

1317. SHORT RIB CHILI with BACON-WRAPPED TENDERLOIN TIPS

serves 6 to 8


FOR CHILI
6 pounds bone-in short rib
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
1 large carrot
1 large onion
3 celery stalks
1 head garlic, split
3 ancho chilis, seeded
1 tablespoon chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cans beef stock
8 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 cups red wine
1 tablespoon brown sugar

FOR BACON-WRAPPED TENDERLOIN
18 each, 2 oz tenderloin tips
18 each, slices of thinly cut smoked bacon
1 tablespoon blended oil
Salt and pepper to taste

FOR GARNISH
1/2 cup queso fresco or cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 bunch scallion (green and white separated)
1/2 cup cilantro

TO MAKE CHILI: Season short rib with salt, pepper and chili powder. In a braising pan heat oil, sear all sides of the short ribs, and remove. Add onion, carrots and celery to pan and roast till caramelized. Add garlic and chilies and cook an additional 5 minutes. Sprinkle all roasted vegetables with brown sugar and deglaze with red wine and beef stock. Add Worcestershire and place seared meat in the pan and cover.

Cook in 300-degree oven for 2 1/2 hours. Remove from oven--meat should be falling off the bone. With a ladle, remove any fat from the pan and ribs. Place ribs on a plate, and begin shredding into pieces once they're cool enough to handle. Strain remaining sauce from roasting pan and reduce by half in a skillet over medium-high flame. Once reduced, fold meat into sauce and season to taste.

TO MAKE BACON-WRAPPED TENDERLOIN: Wrap each tenderloin tip with a piece of bacon. Season with salt and pepper, and, in a sauté pan, cook the meat to desired wellness and until bacon is crisp.

TO ASSEMBLE: Place chili in a bowl and top with 3 tenderloin slices. Garnish each bowl with cheese, cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and scallions.


courtesy of: Todd English, Epicurious.com, January 4, 2008

413. BIG CITY RIBS with BACON

4 pounds baby back ribs
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 pound bacon, minced

Lay onions and bacon on top of ribs.


Sauce
3/4 cup catsup
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoons shoyu
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup guava puree
1/4 cup mango puree
1 tablespoon liquid smoke with 3/4 cup water

Pour sauce mixture over ribs and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Broil on hibachi until caramelized.


courtesy of: Chefs Sky Ogata and Eric Yamaguchi, Big City Diner, Honolulu, Hawaii

372. CASSOULET with BACON, ANDOUILLE and COUNTRY RIBS

serves 6 to 8


2 cups dried white beans, such as haricots blancs or Great Northerns, soaked overnight in cold water and drained
2 quarts plus 2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 pounds meaty country-style pork loin ribs, fat trimmed, meat removed from the bones and cut into 1-inch pieces, rib bones reserved
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 pound andouille sausage, thickly sliced crosswise
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely diced
6 large garlic cloves, chopped
6 large plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon chopped thyme
1 bay leaf

In a large saucepan, cover the beans with the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour. Drain the beans, reserving the stock. Return the stock to the saucepan and boil over high heat until reduced to 4 cups, about 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet. Working in 2 batches, season the rib meat with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until browned all over, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter. Add the bacon to the skillet and cook until the fat is rendered and the meat begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to the platter. Add the andouille to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the platter.

Add the reserved rib bones to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Add to the platter.

Add the onion, carrots and garlic to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, thyme and bay leaf and cook, stirring until the tomatoes release their juices, about 3 minutes. Return the rib meat, bacon and andouille to the skillet; stir until heated through.

Preheat the oven to 300°. Scrape the meat and vegetables into a large glass or ceramic baking dish. Nestle in the rib bones and top with the white beans and the reduced stock. Bake the cassoulet for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until bubbling and the beans on top are crisp. Let stand for 15 minutes. Pick out the bay leaf and serve.

MAKE AHEAD: The baked cassoulet can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Cover with aluminum foil and bring to room temperature before reheating in a 350° oven for about 40 minutes.


courtesy of: Bob Waggoner, Charleston Grill, Charleston, South Carolina

122. BRAISED SHORT RIBS with BACON and PARSNIPS

Serves 6-8


6 pounds bone-in English-style short ribs, trimmed of excess fat and silver skin, or bone-in flanken-style short ribs
table salt
ground black pepper
3 cups dry red wine (full-bodied)
3 large onions, chopped medium
2 medium carrots, chopped medium
1 large rib of celery, chopped medium
9 medium cloves of garlic, chopped (about 3 tablespoons)
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon tomato paste

6 slices of bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
8 ounces frozen pearl onions (do not thaw)
4 medium parsnips (about 10 ounces), peeled and cut diagonally into 3/4-inch pieces
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon table salt
6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley


Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450°F. Arrange short ribs bone-side down in single layer in large flameproof roasting pan; season with salt and pepper. Roast until meat begins to brown, about 45 minutes; drain off all liquid and fat with bulb baster. Return pan to oven and continue to cook until meat is well browned, 15 to 20 minutes longer. (For flanken-style short ribs, arrange ribs in single layer in large roasting pan; season with salt and pepper. Roast until meat begins to brown, about 45 minutes; drain off all liquid and fat with baster. Return pan to oven and continue to cook until browned, about 8 minutes; using tongs, flip each piece and cook until second side is browned, about 8 minutes longer). Transfer ribs to large plate; set aside. Drain off fat to small bowl and reserve. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Place roasting pan on two stovetop burners set at medium heat; add wine and bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits with wooden spoon. Set roasting pan with wine aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons reserved fat in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 12 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in flour until combined, about 45 seconds. Stir in wine from roasting pan, chicken stock, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil and add short ribs, completely submerging meat in liquid; return to boil, cover, place in oven, and simmer until ribs are tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Transfer pot to wire rack and cool, partially covered, until warm, about 2 hours.

Transfer ribs from pot to large plate, removing excess vegetables that may cling to meat; discard loose bones that have fallen away from meat. Strain braising liquid into medium bowl, pressing out liquid from solids; discard solids. Cover ribs and liquid separately with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (Can be refrigerated up to 3 days.)

To prepare garnish and finish dish: In Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until just crisp, 8 to 10 minutes; remove with slotted spoon to plate lined with paper towel. Add to Dutch oven pearl onions, parsnips, sugar, and salt; increase heat to high and sauté, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Spoon off and discard solidified fat from reserved braising liquid. Add defatted liquid and bring to simmer, stirring occasionally; adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Submerge ribs in liquid, return to simmer. Reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until ribs are heated through and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer; gently stir in bacon. Divide ribs and sauce among individual bowls, sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon parsley, and serve.


courtesy of: Megan Woo, Ripe: a recipe website, http://iheartbacon.com/recipes/