Apple Butter BBQ Ribs

APPLE BUTTER BBQ RIBS!

I was born and raised in Texas, we eat BBQ all year round! Any kind of meat and we’re barbecuing it!

So today I thought I’d share one of my favorite recipes….my Apple Butter BBQ Ribs recipe. First, of course, you’ll need to buy a rack of ribs from your grocery store. I opted to get pork loin ribs, because they were cheaper.

The first thing is to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs (optional). Some people do it, others don’t. I prefer to remove the membrane which is located on the bone side of the ribs. The thick latex-like membrane is part of the pulmonary pleura, a layer that encloses the lung cavity in both hogs and humans. Contrary to myth, it is highly porous and smoke can easily pass through it. Ditto for rubs.

I usually take a paper towel and remove it that way it’s easier for me to grip.

I also trim the fat off the meat side of the ribs as well. Then I start my spice rub. I always make my own, however some people like to buy an already made spice rub mix from their grocery store. I also make a quick one and it also varies here and there but I mainly put: brown sugar, smoke paprika, garlic powder, Herbs de Provence, salt, liquid smoke (hickory) etc.

You can let this marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. I usually let it marinate in the fridge for a bit while I make the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce. Apple Butter is basically applesauce that’s been slowly cooked or baked for a few hours. I never heard of it until a few years ago when my mom stated she would eat it all the time as a child. Now I eat it on toast and I incorporated into my home BBQ sauce recipe and it tastes AMAZING!

Everyone makes it different but CLICK HERE to find varies Apple Butter recipes.

APPLE BUTTER BBQ SAUCE

1 1/2 to 2 cups ketchup
1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup raw clover honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup of Apple Butter
2-3 teaspoons of smoked sea salt
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon of ground mustard
2 teaspoons of liquid smoke

**Combine all in a small sauce pan on medium high heat until starts to bubble a bit then lower the heat. Cook on low for about 30-40 minutes or until thickened.

Now it’s time to cook the ribs! I cooked mines in the oven. You need to preheat your oven to 300F. I added some rosemary to my ribs to add a bit of flavor.

I used an aliminum pan and placed the ribs meat side down and cooked for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I than slathered on the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce and let it cook for another 30-40 minutes.