Fennel-Brown Sugar Pork Ribs

Fennel-Brown Sugar Pork Ribs 

Ingredients:

Kosher Salt  

Ground Black Pepper

2 tablespoons packed lt. brown sugar

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

4 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced

2 2-3 pound racks St. Louis ribs

Directions:

Heat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the middle position. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, the sugar, ground fennel, pepper flakes, granulated garlic and 4 teaspoons of rosemary. Rub the mixture between your fingertips until well combined and the rosemary is fragrant. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over both sides of the racks of ribs, then rub it in.

Place the ribs meaty side up on the prepared baking sheet. Transfer to the oven, then pour 3 cups water into the baking sheet. Bake until a skewer inserted into the meat between the bones meets no resistance, 2½ to 3 hours. Transfer the rib racks to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes. Cut the ribs between the bones and transfer to a platter.

Tip: Don't substitute baby back ribs for the St. Louis spareribs. Baby backs are smaller and leaner and will end up overdone. St. Louis–style ribs are spareribs that are trimmed of excess meat and cartilage, so the racks have a neat rectangular shape. Try to choose racks that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate.

1. 01
   Heat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the middle position. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, the sugar, ground fennel, pepper flakes, granulated garlic and 4 teaspoons of rosemary. Rub the mixture between your fingertips until well combined and the rosemary is fragrant. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over both sides of the racks of ribs, then rub it in.
2. 02
   Place the ribs meaty side up on the prepared baking sheet. Transfer to the oven, then pour 3 cups water into the baking sheet. Bake until a skewer inserted into the meat between the bones meets no resistance, 2½ to 3 hours. Transfer the rib racks to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes. Cut the ribs between the bones and transfer to a platter.

Tip: Don't substitute baby back ribs for the St. Louis spareribs. Baby backs are smaller and leaner and will end up overdone. St. Louis–style ribs are spareribs that are trimmed of excess meat and cartilage, so the racks have a neat rectangular shape. Try to choose racks that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate.