Slow Cooker

Baby Back Ribs with Pomegranate Molasses

August 18, 2010
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4 to 6
Author Notes

I was so looking forward to the moment I pulled these tender ribs from the broiler and took the money shot: a whole rack of ribs, glistening and shiny, caramelized from the bbq sauce. I couldn’t wait to post it. Unfortunately for the photos (but not the deliciousness…), the ribs were literally so tender they fell apart! I ended up with a mouth-watering, caramelized, heap of ribs that required only a fork (but mostly my fingers). Pomegranate molasses is one of those essential ingredients in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. It’s really just pomegranates that have been cooked down in sugar, water, and maybe a bit of lemon juice to form a syrupy concentrate. It’s absolutely delicious in both sweet and savoury applications. Mixed with a bit of sparkling water, it’s a refreshing drink. It can be used in cakes, cookies, mousses, anything. And, also, makes a lovely ingredient for sauces – would go incredibly well with duck and made a really killer bbq sauce here.

It sounds a bit scary, but I wrapped these guys up in plastic wrap and then covered them with foil, cooking them in the oven for about 4 hours at 250? F. A bit of at-home-not-so-sous-vide (http://en.wikipedia.org...). But that’s what made them the most tender ribs I’ve ever made. Who needs a grill in a NYC apartment! The pomegranate molasses adds a tart and fruity kick to a really easy bbq sauce and tastes delicious with the dry-rubbed, juicy, falling-off-the-bone ribs. Enjoy!
aliyaleekong

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Dry Rub:
  • 2 whole racks baby back ribs (approximately, 5 lbs)
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme
  • 2 tsps ground coriander
  • 1 ½ tbsps garlic powder
  • 1 ½ tbsps onion powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsps Spanish paprika (pimentón)
  • 2 tsps hot Hungarian paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 ½ tbsps packed light brown sugar
  • BBQ Sauce:
  • 3 tbsps butter
  • 2 shallots, fine dice
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 ½ cups ketchup
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsps light brown sugar
  • 4 ½ tbsps pomegranate molasses
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • ¾ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ tsp cayenne
  • 1 ½ tsps Dijon mustard
Directions
  1. In a bowl, combine all of the dry rub ingredients and mix well.
  2. Tear two pieces of foil large enough to wrap around each rack of ribs, and place shiny side down on a surface. Tear equal-sized pieces of plastic wrap, and place on top of the foil sheets. Pat dry the ribs, and place each rack on the plastic wrap. Sprinkle both sides of the ribs generously with the dry rub, and pat the dry rub into the meat. Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap, followed by the foil. Refrigerate the ribs for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 1 day in advance.
  3. Preheat the oven to 250? F. Let the ribs come up to room temperature (very important!). Place the foil and plastic-wrapped ribs on baking sheets on the middle rack in the oven, and cook for 4 hours. Remove, and let cool briefly.
  4. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and sauté for a few minutes until the shallots are translucent. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook stirring frequently for about 20 minutes.
  5. Turn the oven temperature up to broil. Carefully remove the ribs from the foil and plastic wrap and pour off any accumulated juices. Place back on the backing sheet, baste with the bbq sauce, and broil for 5 to 7 minutes until caramelized.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • TheWimpyVegetarian
    TheWimpyVegetarian
  • pauljoseph
    pauljoseph
  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames
  • dymnyno
    dymnyno
  • aliyaleekong
    aliyaleekong
Chef, Author - Exotic Table: Flavors, Inspiration & Recipes from Around the World to Your Kitchen, Mom to a chickadee ?

11 Reviews

bmbohn October 12, 2013
the plastic wrap doesn't melt?
 
TheWimpyVegetarian September 7, 2010
I made part of this recipe over the weekend! I got some great little baby back ribs, got all the stuff for the rub, but couldn't find the pomegranate molasses. We're up at Lake Tahoe for the Labor Day Weekend, and the stores here are more limited in what they carry than back home. So the bbq sauce will be for when we get home. But I made the ribs with your rub and it was fantastic! It had just the right balance to it. Thanks!!
 
aliyaleekong September 7, 2010
Great! Don't you just love the cinnamon in there? I'm sure pomegranate molasses isn't the easiest thing to find - though it is just concentrated pomegranate juice. So theoretically, you could just reduce down (pure) juice to get it. :) Anyway, I look forward to hearing when you get to try all of it together!
 
pauljoseph August 26, 2010
very good recipe
 
aliyaleekong August 26, 2010
thanks, pauljoseph!
 
TheWimpyVegetarian August 18, 2010
This sounds amazing! And I love the photo - so inviting I want to just reach out and eat them! I too am always on the lookout for ways to use pomegranate molasses and this looks like a perfect way to use it.
 
aliyaleekong August 19, 2010
Thanks! I actually mix a little pomegranate molasses with super-fresh ricotta and some cracked black pepper for a delicious crostini...just another thought for you.
 
AntoniaJames August 18, 2010
Deadly delicious! I'm with dymnyno on the pomegranate molasses, which I bet does a nice job of keeping the sauce from being too sweet (my usual problem with most BBQ sauces). Definitely saving this and trying it soon. ;o)
 
aliyaleekong August 18, 2010
Thanks, AntoniaJames! Let me know if/when you do. It definitely isn't too sweet, and you can single out the fruitiness from the pomegranate and the cinnamon in the dry rub, which makes it really special.
 
dymnyno August 18, 2010
Sounds great...always looking for a great rub and sauce...and I love pomegranate molasses!
 
aliyaleekong August 18, 2010
oh, good! glad you've tried it before - probably makes it easier to imagine how this sauce comes out...tangy, slightly fruity, and delicious.