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smoked party ribs

Sweet Habanero Smoked Party Ribs

ndividual St. Louis ribs smoked low and slow with homemade sweet habanero BBQ sauce for the perfect sweet heat balance
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs:
  • - 1 rack St. Louis-style spare ribs cut individually
  • - 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce Valentina or El Yucateco
  • - 3-4 tablespoons sweet BBQ rub
  • - ½ cup sweet habanero BBQ sauce
For the Sweet Habanero BBQ Sauce:
  • - 1 cup ketchup
  • - ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • - ½ cup brown sugar
  • - ¼ cup honey
  • - 2-3 fresh habanero peppers minced
  • - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • - ½ teaspoon salt
  • - ½ teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

  1. Make sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in saucepan. Simmer 15-20 minutes until thickened. Cool slightly.
  2. Cut ribs into individual bones. Coat with hot sauce binder, then season generously with BBQ rub.
  3. Preheat smoker to 250°F. Smoke ribs directly on grates for 2 hours until good bark develops.
  4. Transfer ribs to foil pan, pour ½ cup sauce over ribs, and cover tightly with foil.
  5. Increase smoker to 350°F and cook covered ribs for 1½ hours until tender.
  6. Rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Notes

- Adjust habanero peppers to taste - start with 2 for moderate heat
- Individual cut ribs cook faster than whole racks
- Sauce can be made up to 1 week ahead and refrigerated
- Internal temperature should reach 195-203°F for optimal tenderness

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