Cooking Pork Ribs:
Oven Barbecued Spareribs

If I'd known how easy cooking pork ribs is, I would have started cooking them years ago! But I just learned to cook them recently - and they are now one of my family's favorite meals.

pork ribs



Allow yourself lots of time to make these delicious oven baked ribs. Although the prep work is very simple, you'll need to allow an hour for the ribs to boil before you can put them into the oven.

You can use any variety of pork ribs in this recipe: baby back ribs, spare ribs, or whatever is available at your butcher or grocery.



Check that you have these staples at home

  • in the cupboard

    • cider vinegar
    • honey
    • salt
    • garlic

  • in the fridge or freezer

    • onion
    • barbecue sauce
    • Worcestershire sauce

Buy these ingredients

  • pork ribs (about 4 lbs/2 kg)

Get out your equipment

  • Essential

    • a large pot
    • a bowl
    • a large baking dish
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • a cutting board and sharp knife

  • Nice to have but not necessary

    • kitchen shears for cutting the pork into pieces
    • a garlic press (if not, mince the garlic with a sharp knife)




    The recipe

    about 4 lbs/2 kg pork ribs

    1 small onion, quartered

    1/2 cup/125 mL barbecue sauce

    1/3 cup/80 mL water

    2 Tbsp/30 mL Worcestershire sauce

    3 Tbsp/45 mL cider vinegar

    2 Tbsp/30 mL honey

    1/2 tsp/2 mL salt

    1 clove garlic, pressed

    Cut the pork into 3- or 4- rib pieces.
    Place them, and the onion, in a large pot.
    Bring to a boil.
    Reduce heat and boil gently for one hour.

    Meanwhile, put the barbecue sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, honey, salt and garlic into a small bowl.
    Mix well.
    Let this sauce stand while the ribs continue to boil.

    Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.

    Put the ribs into a large baking dish.
    Pour the sauce over them, and put them into the oven.
    Bake for 30 minutes, turning once.



    Substitutions

    • Use any vinegar in place of the cider vinegar.

    Ideas for making this recipe your own

    • Make your own homemade barbecue sauce.

    • Experiment with different sweeteners. How about brown sugar, or maple syrup, or molasses?

    • For spicy ribs, add a dash or so of hot pepper sauce.

    Tips

    • Provide each person with a moist cloth for wiping fingers. You'll want to use your hands to eat, and they will get messy!




    Menu suggestion

    Serve this dish with












Thanks a lot for these recipes! Since my mom started working full time, I have taken over cooking dinner. It’s a real help to have these on hand! The directions are straightforward for an amateur like me, and the cooking doesn’t cut into my homework time. Thanks again!

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Wisconsin USA


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New York, USA


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Maryland, USA


I just wanted to pass on how amazing your meal planning ideas are. I used to sit for at least an hour a week trying to come up with new and interesting ideas for meals for my family. Now that I'm using your meals, the stress is gone and I can spend my time doing all of the other things that are required of a very busy mom. My kids and my husband are actually enjoying the meals...you can't get it any better than that! Thank you so much!

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British Columbia, Canada