Slow-Cooked Pork Ribs with Charred Chipotle Sauce

Ingredients

3/4 cup salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup dried oregano

1/4 cup garlic powder

1/4 cup onion powder

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup tomato paste

Zest of 2 limes

2 slabs pork baby back ribs

1/2 cup TABASCO^® brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce

1 head garlic

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for roasting

2 red onions, sliced into 1/4-inch rings

2 poblano peppers

6 beefsteak tomatoes, stems removed and cut in half

2 tablespoons agave syrup

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

3 tablespoons fish sauce

Lime juice, to taste

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

Preparation

Start the ribs: Combine all ingredients, except the pork ribs, in a bowl; taste and adjust for seasoning. Trim any excess fat or connective tissue from the ribs. In a shallow pan season the ribs aggressively with the rub mixture; cover and refrigerate for 36 hours.

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Brush off excess rub and grill ribs on the flesh side to get a good char; remove from heat and place in a heavy-bottomed non-reactive roasting pan.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Cover ribs with aluminum foil and seal tightly. Place in oven and roast for 2 1/2 hours. Remove and let cool.

Prepare Charred Chipotle Sauce: Preheat oven to 325°F. Place garlic head on piece of aluminum foil; douse lightly with olive oil and salt and wrap tightly in foil; roast in oven for 30 minutes until garlic is very tender. When ready you should be able to squeeze the garlic out like toothpaste.

In a large cast iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat and char the onions until tender and set aside in a small bowl. In same skillet, char the poblano peppers until tender and a little black. Place poblano peppers in bowl with charred onions and cover with plastic. Allow the onions and poblano peppers to steam; remove from bowl and peel, de-seed and reserve. In same skillet over medium-high heat, char the tomatoes cut side down and roast until black.

Place garlic, onions, poblano peppers, tomatoes, agave, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, TABASCO^® Chipotle Sauce, soy sauce, and fish sauce in a food processor and pulse for a coarse purée.

In a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over high heat and sauté the purée for 8-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to mix together. Add lime juice and cilantro and mix together. Set aside.

To finish ribs, heat grill to medium-high heat, cook the ribs flesh side up and baste with a portion of the sauce until sticky.

To serve, place ribs on platter and slather with remaining sauce.