Mikes Ribs Recipes

MIKE MILLS' BEEF RIBS

Steps:

• Prepping the meat: There is a skin-like membrane on the back of the ribs. The easiest way to remove it is to start in the middle of the rack and work a table knife or a screwdriver underneath the skin, going all the way across and teasing it up. Slide your forefinger in there and bring your thumb across, holding the rib down and pulling the membrane straight up. It'll peel from the middle.
• Once you start cooking the ribs, you can't leave the pit or grill unattended for any more than about 20 minutes. You'll need to continually check that the temperature remains between 250 and 275 degrees F at all times in the grill. If it gets too hot, shut the top and bottom drafts to smother the fire. If some of the coals appear to be glowing red, that will cause a hot spot. Don't cook the ribs directly over the hot spot, move them to a different, cooler, part of the grill. If the temperature dips too low, move the ribs to a hot spot for a while and add some hot coals.
• Sprinkle ribs liberally with Magic Dust, coating both sides. Put them in a shallow pan or on a cookie sheet and cover them with clear plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate them until you're ready to use them. I recommend letting them marinate for at least 1 hour. At the restaurant we dust the ribs up to a day in advance.
• Place ribs on grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. About 10 minutes before you remove the ribs from the grill, mop them with sauce. When you take them off the grill, mop again with sauce and sprinkle some more Magic Dust on them. Serve immediately. Serves 4 very hungry people or you can cut the rack in half to serve 6 to 8 people who have a regular appetite.
• Mix all ingredients and store in a tightly covered container. You'll want to keep some in a shaker next to the smoker, grill, or stove. Keeps indefinitely but won't last long.
• Combine the ketchup, rice vinegar, apple juice or cider, cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, white pepper, cayenne, and bacon bits in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the apple, onion, and bell pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until it thickens slightly. Stir it often. Allow to cool, then pour into sterilized glass bottles. A clean glass jar that used to contain mayonnaise or juice works real well. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

BBQ RIBS "SNAKE METHOD"

Steps:

• Prepare and preheat your smoker to 300 degrees F. (See Cook's Note.)
• For the glaze: In a large saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar and pickle juice. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 5 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat to cool.
• For the rub and ribs: Combine the salt, pepper, celery seed and coriander in a small bowl; set aside.
• Slide a butter knife under a corner of the thin white membrane on the bone side of the spareribs to free it from the meat. Using a dry towel for grip, peel off the entire membrane and discard it. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels and season on both sides with the rub.
• When the temperature in the smoker reaches 300 degrees F and the smoke is running clear, add the ribs bone-side down. After 1 1/2 hours, test the ribs for doneness by flipping a rack and pressing the meat between the bones. If the meat pulls away from the bones, it's done. If not, continue smoking until it does, about 30 minutes more.
• When the ribs are done, gently brush them with the glaze, being careful not to remove the beautiful bark that forms on the exterior of the meat. Cut between the bones and serve with a side of your favorite sauce .

STICKY RIBS

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill using the snake method: Stack the unlit charcoals around the perimeter of the grill, about halfway, then light the first few at one end so the snake begins to burn slowly. (This results in a controlled 325 to 350 degrees F heat; see Cook's Note.) Fill a metal loaf pan with about 1 cup water and place it next to the coals for additional moisture.
• Season the ribs liberally with salt and pepper.
• Combine the beer, sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic, a small pinch of salt and about 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium saucepan and whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer over direct heat and cook until reduced by a third, about 30 minutes.
• Place the ribs bone-side down on the grill over indirect heat. Close the grill and cook, brushing the ribs with the glaze every 30 minutes to an hour, until an instant-read thermometer registers 200 degrees F, 3 to 3.5 hours. (Make sure to keep the temperature of the grill between 275 to 350 degrees F.)
• Take the ribs off the grill, wrap in aluminum foil and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. Bring the remaining glaze back to a simmer over direct heat for several minutes. Garnish the ribs with the cilantro and serve with the remaining glaze on the side.
• (Alternatively, you can bake the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet in a 300 degrees F oven for 3 to 3.5 hours.)