Hickory-Smoked Baby Back Pork Ribs

Baby back ribs probably is my favorite cut of pork. I’ve often fixed them with homemade sauerkraut and at times slow-cooked them with my favorite barbecue sauce. One way I haven’t tried them is in the smoker.

I’ve smoked numerous things, including salmon, pheasant, turkey, elk and venison, and I’ve never been disappointed with the results. Now, I think it’s time to try the ribs.

I haven’t smoked anything lately because it’s been so cold. But once the temperatures moderate, I’m going to give this recipe a try. It was deemed one of the top ones for 2010 by the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen. The recipe calls for using a stove-top smoker, but I assume one such as my Masterbuilt will work, too. Test Kitchen manager Noelle Carter also found out that a heavy-duty roasting pan, a rack and a lid works.

Hickory-Smoked Baby Back Ribs
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon New Mexico chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
¼ cup brown sugar
1 rack (2 to 2½ pounds) baby back ribs
Small hardwood hickory chips
¼ cup distilled vinegar
¼ cup water
¼ cup Dijon mustard
In a medium bowl, whisk together the kosher salt, celery salt, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, New Mexico chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, sweet paprika and brown sugar. This makes about 1 cup dry rub, more than you’ll need for the ribs. Place the rub in an airtight container and store in a cool place away from direct sunlight; it will keep for about 2 months before the flavor starts to fade.
Peel the silverskin from the rib rack (the membrane on the underside of the rack). Rinse the rack under cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.
Drizzle a small handful of rub evenly over each side of the rack to give it a good coating; the surface of the ribs should be tacky, and the rub should adhere easily. Pat on the rub to make sure the ribs are entirely covered, and gently shake to remove any excess. Place the ribs on a rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, prepare the smoker: Spread about 3 tablespoons wood chips in the center of the base of the smoker, directly over the burner. Place the drip pan (if using) over the chips, and a rack on top of the drip pan. Place the ribs in the center of the rack and cover with the lid, leaving the smoker open only a couple of inches. (Halve the rack if the whole rack won’t fit, and smoke half at a time.)
Heat the smoker over medium heat just until you see smoke escaping through the opening. Close the smoker entirely and gently smoke for 1 hour. Depending on your stove, you may want to reduce the heat to medium-low so the ribs do not cook too quickly, or they will be tough.
Shortly before the ribs are done smoking, heat the oven to 250 degrees. In a measuring cup, combine the vinegar, water and Dijon mustard, along with 2 tablespoons of the rub and whisk together to form a mop.
Place the smoked ribs in a baking dish and drizzle with the mop (pour over half the mop if smoking in two batches). Cover the ribs tightly with aluminum foil and bake until the meat is tender (you will know they’re done when you bend the rack and the meat easily pulls away from the bone), about 1 hour more. For a crackly surface, uncover the baking dish and place the ribs under the broiler just until the surface crisps.
If smoking the rack in two batches: While the first half-rack bakes in the oven, smoke the second rack in the same manner as the first, using new wood chips (the first batch of wood chips should be reduced mostly to ash and can be washed down the sink; if they’re too big, cool them completely before throwing away). Bake the second rack after smoking.
Serve the ribs warm.
Yield: Serve: 4.
Note: This recipe calls for a commercial stove-top smoker; a heavy-duty roasting pan with a rack and lid can be substituted. This recipe uses small hardwood hickory chips; the chips are available at select cooking stores and are widely available online.
Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 468 calories, 28 grams protein, 11 grams carbohydrates 1 gram fiber, 34 grams fat (13 grams saturated) fat, 134 milligrams cholesterol, 5 grams sugar, 1,015 milligrams sodium.