Whisky Grilled Baby Back Ribs

Slowly baking these baby back pork ribs before grilling is the secret. That, and the finely-tuned, sweet, basting sauce.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 50 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 (2 lb)  baby back rib racks
•  fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1  tablespoon  ground red chili pepper
• 2 1⁄4 tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 cup  minced onion
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄2 cup tomato paste
• 1⁄2 cup white vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons honey
• 2  tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
• 2  teaspoons  whiskey
• 2  teaspoons garlic powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1  tablespoon dark molasses
• 1⁄2 tablespoon  ground red chili pepper

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 300*F.
2. 2. Cut each full rack of ribs in half, so that you have 4 half racks. Sprinkle salt and pepper (more pepper than salt), and 1 tablespoon chile pepper over meat. Wrap each half rack in aluminum foil. Bake for 2 1/2 hours.
3. 3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onions in oil for 5 minutes. Stir in water, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, liquid smoke, whiskey, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dark molasses, and 1/2 tablespoon ground chile pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 1 1/4 hours, uncovered, or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat, and set sauce aside.
4. 4. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
5. 5. Remove the ribs from the oven, and let stand 10 minutes. Remove the racks from the foil, and place on the grill. Grill the ribs for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Brush sauce on the ribs while they're grilling, just before you serve them (adding it too early will burn it).
6. My Note: I used Jameson's Irish Whiskey. This sauce is awesome! We'll use it again and again. I followed those cooking instructions and used the dry rub from that recipe, as well. I used this sauce at the end where it calls for using your "favorite bbq sauce." Hands-down, this is our favorite sauce recipe. Can't wait to try it on my grilled whole chicken breasts! Update 2/4/05 I always double the recipe. One new tip: I use a mini food processor to mince the onions, but you still get small pieces in the sauce. It's great that way, but this time, after fully cooking the sauce, I let it cool and blended it in a regular blender. Awesome smooth texture, terrific flavor! Now we have two options.