Pork Rib Rub
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This rib rub recipe uses a blend of brown sugar and spices for the most delicious bbq ribs, whether you’re grilling or smoking them.
Plan ahead, this needs to sit with rub on overnight or up to 24 hours. This is a smoky dry rub, but I have another one and great tips for prepping your ribs here in this post, too.
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Pork Rib Rub
This rib rub recipe uses a blend of brown sugar and spices for the most delicious bbq ribs, whether you're grilling or smoking them.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork baby back or loin ribs
Dry Rub for Pork Ribs
- 2 tbsp fennel seeds (See Note 1)
- 2 tsp cumin seeds (See Note 1)
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds (See Note 1)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp ground cayenne
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dry mustard
Mop Sauce
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (See Note 2)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Toast the fennel, coriander and cumin seeds in a sauté pan until fragrant and oils have been released. Grind in a spice grinder until in powder form. Feel free to use ground spices if you prefer, but use a 1/2 tsp LESS of each.
- Remove the thin, papery membrane from the back of each rack by inserting a knife under it. The best place to start is on one of the middle bones. Using a paper towel, or pliers to secure a grip and peel off the membrane.
- In a small bowl whisk together the toasted/ground spices and all the remaining dry rub ingredients and rub all over ribs. Wrap the ribs back up in the butcher’s paper (it has a great wax interior side to keep juices from dripping out), and seal with aluminum foil. Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Set up the grill and preheat to medium (325° to 350°F).
- Unwrap the ribs and place on a rack inside a large roasting pan or aluminum foil to catch drips and avoid flare ups.
- Place the ribs, bone side down, in the center of the grate, cover the grill and cook the ribs for 45 minutes.
- In a small bowl add the melted butter, apple cider vinegar or apple juice and soy sauce. Mix together and set aside.
- Mop the ribs on both sides with the mop sauce. Re-cover the grill and continue cooking the ribs until well browned, cooked through, and tender enough to pull apart with your fingers, 45 minutes to 1 hour longer. Baste often with Mop Sauce.
Notes
- If you are not using whole spices, use a 1/2 tsp LESS of each ground spice.
- For a sweeter mop sauce substitute apple juice for the apple cider vinegar.
Nutrition
Calories: 747kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 60g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 239mg | Sodium: 1158mg | Potassium: 1220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1760IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 4.9mg
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Have You Made This Recipe? Let Me Know on InstagramTag @keviniscooking or tag me #keviniscooking!
Kevin, This is Gary from Soledad, I just am doing another batch of St Louis ribs for a get together. I have tried again and I appear to fail miserably at getting the small fat cap skin on the inside of the ribs to peel without mangling the meat underneath. Do you have good methods to do that without chewing up the bone side of the rack? Have you posted any instructional type video someone like me who wants to do it cleanly and correctly everytime? Thanks in advance and I’ll grateful for all of your great recipes and ideas.
Hey there Gar, good to hear from you. This link is a great one to show you exactly how its done.. Hope this helps! .
Kevin, I’ve been using your rub for all of my smoked pork. I even use some in a brine for a pork butt. Even without the mop sauce my smoked ribs are fabulous. Wish I could take all the credit for how great these turned out but the credit goes to your fantastic spice blend.
Thanks,
Stee
So happy to read this Steve, thanks so much! 🙂