Sticky Orange Brown Sugar Ribs

These are sticky, slightly spicy and sweet. I cook them on the rotisserie of my outdoor grill for most of the way and then finished them in the oven to create a nice sticky lacquer of goodness on the top. If you like ribs you will love these.

You will need:

• 2 racks of baby back ribs - silver skin on the back removed
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 1/2 a jalapeno pepper chopped fine (you can add the whole thing if you want it hotter)
• 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 1/2 tsp course salt - like pink Hawaiian Alaea
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 whole star anise
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• cracked pepper and salt 1/2 tsp of each

Step 1: I always wash and dry the ribs to make sure there are no bits of bone on them and then I remove the silver skin on the back of the ribs. This is a membrane that I simply poke a knife under  then rip the membrane off. If it is too slippery then use a paper towel to grip it. Gross I know!

Step 2: with a knife or a mini processor. Finely mince garlic, a half to a whole fresh jalapeno pepper (depending on how hot you like it) add granulated garlic, ground ginger, chili flakes and salt (I used a course Hawaiian Alaea salt but, you can use whatever you have.)

Step 3: rub the paste over the ribs. Add a sprinkle of your favourite bar-b-q spice rub and let it sit overnight or at least an hour.

Step 4: put on the rotisserie on low for 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  They will baste themselves. 

Step 5: place orange juice, star anise, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, olive oil, salt and pepper in a small pan and cook on low heat until it is reduced and thicker and stickier. This may take 30 minutes.

Remove ribs from rotisserie and slice in one or two rib sections. Brush with glaze every 20 minutes and bake at 325 degrees F for another 1 to 1 1/2 hours until sticky and well cooked. Save a bit of glaze for serving.

serve with additional sticky glaze. You will love them and you will need a bath after!