North Carolina House Ribs

Recipe courtesy Sunny Anderson, 2009

Show: Cooking for RealEpisode: Slow N Low

Rated: 3 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (25)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(25)

Cook Time:
3 hr 0 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: 4 hr 0 min
Cook: 3 hr 0 min
Total:: 7 hr 20 min

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Ingredients

1/2 cup kosher salt
8 cups water
3 pounds baby back pork ribs
2 cups cider vinegar 1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon hot sauce (recommended: Frank's Red Hot)
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup beer, room temperature

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine salt and water and stir to combine and dissolve salt. Remove brine from heat and let cool to room temperature. Cut 1/2-inch slits between bones on underside of rib racks. Place ribs in a large resealable bag set in a baking dish. Pour in the salt brine, seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 5 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. In a small saucepan, add the vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Whisk until well combined, then remove from heat. Reserve 1 cup of mixture as dipping sauce and hold, covered, in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Reserve remaining mixture to baste the ribs as they cook.

Remove ribs from the refrigerator and discard brine. Pat ribs dry and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Combine beer with 1 tablespoon liquid smoke in a small bowl and pour into the bottom of the baking sheet. Brush pork with marinade on both sides. Bake in the preheated oven, brushing every 20 minutes or so. Cook for about 3 hours or until the meat is knife-tender. Remove from the oven to a serving platter and serve with reserved dipping sauce.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe North Carolina House Ribs
ben lubbock, TX 01-06-2010
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Just plain awful
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

If you like something that taste like salty ham soaked in vinegar you'll like this. this recipe is a waste of time and money.... Boy, do I feel sorry for those people in North Carolina.if this is what they think ribs should taste like.The ribs did't brown at all , they looked raw. I should have known better just looking at the recipe, but i gave it a try. Three bites and the rest went to the dumpsterRead more
recipe North Carolina House Ribs
jo mesquite, TX 11-28-2009
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Fall off the bone tender
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

They are different from what I my family is use to but we won't be going back. This is the only way to cook a nice rack of... baby backs. Superb!Read more
recipe North Carolina House Ribs
Naomi Brooklyn, NY 11-21-2009
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Great ribs!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

First time ever eating ribs with a vinegar based sauce and I loved it! I've never liked sticky sweet ribs, and I love hot... food so this was perfect for me. I've made these with spare ribs and baby backs, both on the grill for 2-3 hours and everyone loved them. I still haven't been able to find liquid smoke, but I'm sure they'd be even better when I do.Read more
recipe North Carolina House Ribs
Melinda Alexandria, AL 11-05-2009
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Best Ribs I've had without Barbecue Sauce!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I live in Alabama, we are used to ribs smothered in sauce. I made these never having had ribs from North Carolina. Even... though it took time, I didn't find it difficult and it was most certainly a crowd pleaser! I'm already getting requests to make it again! Thanks Sunny.Read more
recipe North Carolina House Ribs
tomiko spokane, WA 10-20-2009
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Not what I expected
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I wasted a lot of money, my precious time, and my taste buds. These ribs sounded promising and after wasting three hours... cooking them they were horrible. No one in there right mind would think these were at all palatable. Oh and if you have children be prepared to drive them out of the house with the overpowering smell!Read more
recipe North Carolina House Ribs
Amy Godley, TX 10-13-2009
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Too salty
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

This method of cooking ribs worked really well. Ribs were very tender & juicy. However, this rib recipe is too salty with a... salty, watery dipping sauce. I much prefer a sweet rib with a thick BBQ sauce.Read more