Yesterday I had the misfortune of watching the Chicago Bears lose their first game to the Buffalo Bills. I’m not the biggest football fan out there—by any means—but I’ll happily root for my home team during any event. Along with the first Sunday kickoff also comes the beginning of fall. For those without much invested in the tossing around of the old pig skin, there are technically still a few weeks left of summer. Whether you’re holding on to the last few drops of the summer rays, or have succumb to the impending cooler temperatures and sweater weather (my favorite!), we’re still in the perfect season for ribs.
It may initially sound like a strange pairing to mix cocoa with meat, but cast your doubts aside my dear friends. Have you ever heard of mole? Chocolate is a common ingredient in a number of recipes for this sauce. In this recipe I use a mix of cocoa powder, chili powder, and cumin to form a paste to coat the ribs. Place the pork in the oven for a couple of hours and then they’re as soft as butter. As a delicious side I tossed freshly boiled potatoes with some left over chimichurri from a previous recipe. (Side note: this potato dish probably deserves its own post because it is actually one of the most delicious things I’ve made recently—and that’s saying a lot!) I hope you enjoy making this recipe at home next Sunday whether you’re watching football with family and friends, or enjoying a leisurely day at home by yourself.
Ingredients:
- 1 rack of baby back ribs
- 4 Tbsps. (1/4 cup) salt
- 3 Tbsps. cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp. black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. cumin
- 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
- vegetable oil
Procedure:
- Preheat oven to 260˚F (that’s as low as my oven goes).
- Remove the membrane that covers the boney side of the ribs. You can do this by running your knife along the bones and then pulling the membrane away.
- Mix all of the seasonings and spices with a little bit of oil to make a paste.
- Place the rack on a couple layers of aluminum foil and coat with the cocoa paste.
- Seal the meat in foil and place in the oven for 2 1/2 hours.
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