Dutch and Sandy's Dutch oven ribs

[GrillinBWCA]

This technique for cooking perfect ribs was taught to me by some friends from Texas.  Dutch usually baked a big loaf of his homemade bread in another DO to serve along with the ribs.  Add a veggie side like coleslaw and a dessert like lemon squares and dinner is served.

For those interested in Dutch oven cooking who don't know where to start, click here.  I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, too.

Dutch and Sandy's Dutch Oven Ribs

1-2 racks pork ribs, cut into individual ribs
Dry rub, recipe below
Water
1-2 bottles barbecue sauce
Place roasting rack in #12 DO, then pour in water to cover the bottom of the DO and a bit more, but keep it below the rack.  Cut ribs and drop each rib into a plastic bag containing a liberal amount of the dry rub.  Shake to coat well.  Place ribs in flat layer on rack, making as many layers as required to get all the ribs in.  Fire up the charcoal and steam the ribs 90 minutes using one ring of coals under the pot and a ring and a half on top.  Don't skimp on this time!  Using a glass or metal-tipped turkey baster, remove most of the liquid from under the rack in the DO.  Liberally coat each rib with barbecue sauce either by dunking them in the sauce or slathering on with a mop or brush.  Don't be stingy with the sauce, either.  Using a fresh batch of coals, continue cooking the ribs with one ring of coals under the pot and a ring and a half on the lid.  Do not let the pot go dry.  At the end of the cooking time, serve.  For sandwiches, hold bread slice in left hand, place rib on bread, gently close bread around rib, and with right hand, twist bone gently.  The meat will fall right off the rib.


Excellent Dry Rub

1 T. black pepper
1 T. salt
1 T. onion powder
1 T. garlic powder
1 T. coriander
1 T. cumin
1 T. cayenne
2 T. paprika
3 T. chili powder
Mix all together and store in container with tight lid.

[hikerman]

Sounds excellent Grillin! Will have to try on my next camping trip. 

[GrillinBWCA]

I haven't made these for a while myself, and they're a favorite.  Looks like I need to pick up some ribs!

[sparky]

am i reading this right?  you steam the ribs for 1 1/2 hours?  i would have never thought of doing that to a rib.  it's cool learning the new ways.  i'm a kinda of a old school.  throw them on the bbq for 4 or 5 hours type of guy.  that's the time i replenish my fluids.  my wife and daughter would like your way.  they are tired of my ways of cooking ribs.     

[teesquare]

Wow!

Now that at I see your recipe - and the the cooking method explained - I am go to try this. It looks like it can be adapted to other cuts of meats as well....Very nice! Thanks for sharing

[squirtthecat]

Nice!

That rub sounds dangerously close to the one we use at our BBQ shop............     

[GrillinBWCA]

Yup, that's the correct time.  Basically you're steaming them for 90 minutes, and that's what makes them fall-off-the-bone tender.  Then the additional hour after you dunk them in the sauce bakes that flavor in. 

You can do these the same way in the house oven at 300, but it's not quite the same, not as much fun, and you don't get to play with fire. 

You can use any rub you want, any sauce you want.  It's not a recipe as much as a method.  We sometimes use boneless ribs, and we've done both beef and pork bone-in ribs too.  Use what you want for meat.  No doubt it'll turn out great. 

[spuds]

OMG!!! Sounds AWESOME!!!!!!!

thanks so much,we will be doing this,another great camping food.

Got this and your site bookmarked,cant wait to get thru it.

Made my day,I too LOVE everything about the Dutch Oven.

 

[GrillinBWCA]

Just to clarify, the site with the DO instructions is a cookbooklet that our friends, Dutch and Sandy, wrote for beginner DO cooks.  It's part of the Lone Star DO Society in Texas.  We've had the privilege of camping and cooking with Sandy and Dutch several times.  They're great people!  I don't want any confusion giving me credit for their work! 

I've taught some DO classes at a local state park though, so I know a little bit.  I haven't done much DO cooking the past couple years.  We tend to do vacations these days with long driving days and lots of overnight stops, so dragging out all the DO gear usually sounds like more work than it's worth when we've been sitting in the truck all day and we're tired.  We haven't been anywhere for several years where we just park the camper and stay in one place very long.  I should do more DO cooking at home to make up for it, I guess.

[TentHunteR]

I used to do ribs using an almost identical method in our dutch oven while camping.  The only difference was I'd transfer them directly over charcoals to sauce them so they could pick up a smoky flavor.  They were always really nice and tender doing them this way.

[Smokin Don]

Need some pics of those ribs!!! I like to try different methods of cooking ribs or any pork rather than the standard BBQ most use, keeps it interesting. Don

[HighOnSmoke]

That sounds real good! Bookmarked!

[Las Vegan Cajun]

Sounds like a great recipe for DO, will have to try it. 

[drholly]

This sounds fantastic. Crying out for some pictures or better yet a video!