These Grilled Country Style Ribs are first dry rubbed with a blend of ground cumin, oregano, black pepper and other warm spices before grilling. The exterior gets crusty and the tender interior is juicy. No typical BBQ sauce on these for an alternative, but feel free. Plus, no rib bones to deal with, just seasoned meat!
Rub the ribs with the spice blend with your hands, pressing to adhere. Cover ribs with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for minimum 1 hour, best overnight.
In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice and honey. Set aside.
For Low and Slow Grilling
Preheat grill to 225°F. using indirect heat.
Place the ribs on clean and oiled grill with the larger, flatter side down.
Cover the grill and cook until browned and crusty about 90 minutes (brush with the lemon honey sauce every 30 minutes). Flip ribs, cover, and cook until browned and crusty on the other side, about 90 minutes more (basting every 30 minutes if using a BBQ sauce).
Thermometer should register 195°F when inserted into the thickest part of rib. Transfer to serving platter, tent with foil, and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Gas Grill
Take ribs from refrigerator, allow to come to room temperature at least 1 hour.
Preheat grill to 350-400°F using indirect heat.
Place the ribs on clean and oiled grill with the larger, flatter side down.
Cover the grill, and cook until browned and crusty about 6-7 minutes. Flip ribs, cover, and cook until browned and crusty on the other side, about 6-7 minutes more.
Rotate the ribs so that they're resting on the thinner side, brush with half the lemon honey sauce, cover, and cook until browned and crusty, about 5-6 minutes. Flip to the other thinner side, brush again with lemon honey sauce, cover, and cook until browned and crusty, another 5-6 minutes.
Thermometer should register 195°F when inserted into the thickest part of rib. Transfer to serving platter, tent with foil, and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Charcoal Grill
Same as Gas Grill Instructions, over indirect heat, meaning coals on one side and meat grilled on top on other side of grill.
Baked in Oven
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Place ribs on a wire rack in a baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours. Turn ribs and baste with BBQ sauce (if using, no mop sauce needed for Baked version), continue to bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
Notes
I use my Turkish Spice Blend for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite.
For pork, the accepted finished temperature is 145°F. However, the collagen inside your ribs hasn't had time to become gelatin for that perfect bite, which happens when the internal temperatures reach 165°F. It's recommended to continue cooking ribs until they reach an internal temperature of 195°F to 200°F for that fall off the bone goodness.