Flavorful Ribs – Different Basting Recipes

Do you cook out several times a season and want to try some various recipes for your smoked ribs?  There are a number of ways to add variety and unique flavor to your pork ribs, including changing up the type of wood chips you use and adding or removing ingredients to your rib rub.  There are recipes that add a spicy heat to your pork ribs, as well as those that add sweet, fruity flavor.  What’s your preference?  Do you want to try them all?  Here are some different ways to spice up the variety in your smoked ribs recipes.


Chipotle – Chipotle seasoning is basically created from roasted jalapenos that have been ground into a powdered spice form.  By roasting the peppers, a different sort of spicy flavor is extracted from them, one that almost adds the same woodsy flavor that the wood chips themselves do.  If you want to try a southwest style, spicy type of baste for smoking ribs, be sure to add a little chipotle to the mix.  Try a cup of chili powder, two tablespoons cayenne, two tablespoons of chipotle powder, two tablespoons of ground black pepper, four tablespoons of garlic powder, and salt to taste.  Blended together and rubbed into your baby back ribs after first basting with yellow mustard, this concoction is sure to make your nose run and your forehead sweat just a little, even if it’s not triple digit heat outside.


If you are less inclined to enjoy a spicy meal, you can try something a little more standard for your spare ribs.  Sticking with more herbs and fewer hot spices can build a different type of flavor base for your recipe.  Things like oregano and cilantro can give your ribs almost a fancy, designer taste.  Try three tablespoons of ground black pepper, two tablespoons dried oregano, one tablespoon of dried cilantro leaves, one bay leaf, one teaspoon cumin, one teaspoon onion powder, and one teaspoon of ground orange peel.  Grind all these ingredients together in a blender or, if you have one, a spice mill, until it is a fine powder.  Again, use only after coating your pork ribs with yellow mustard, which will help to enhance the flavor of the spices.

Maybe you like a sweeter flavor to your spare ribs than is offered by either of these options.  In that case, start with oak wood chips rather than mesquite or hickory, which will add a deep, smoky richness to your ribs.  Oak is more mellow and won’t overwhelm the original sweetness of the meat.  Also add something like pecan or applewood to the mix, which will enhance the fruity sweetness of your recipe.  Then, use a rub that contains brown sugar.  For example, combine ½ cup brown sugar, four tablespoons paprika, one tablespoon black pepper, one tablespoon salt, one tablespoon of mild chili powder, one tablespoon of garlic powder, and one tablespoon of onion powder.  Try blending this all into the yellow mustard, then basting your meat with it.  You’ll find the ribs come out tender, juicy, and sweet.


For a spicy sweet blend, try adding both paprika and cayenne to your rub.  Four teaspoons of paprika, two teaspoons of salt, two teaspoons of onion powder, two teaspoons ground black pepper, and one teaspoon cayenne can go a long way in making a unique sweet but spicy set of smoked ribs.  Whatever recipe you choose, you can always make a change to it and make it your own, adjusting and experimenting to find exactly what you like while also keeping your diners on their toes!