As a BBQ enthusiast and an experienced chef, with many years of smoking, grilling, and saucing under my belt, I’ve tried just about every BBQ recipe out there, from Kansas City-style brisket to Carolina pulled pork. But today, we’re switching things up and taking a trip to the exotic land of Piri-Piri Pork Ribs.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Piri-Piri? Isn’t that a type of hot sauce?” And you would be correct, my friends.
But let me tell you, this recipe is so much more than just a spicy sauce. It’s a symphony of flavors that will have your taste buds dancing the samba.
But before we dive into the recipe, let me share a little story with you. A few years back, I was on vacation in Portugal and had the pleasure of trying Piri-Piri chicken for the first time.
I was blown away by the balance of heat and flavor, and I knew I had to bring that taste back home with me.
Fast forward a few months, and I was experimenting with different cuts of meat and decided to try the sauce on pork ribs. And let me tell you, it was a match made in heaven.
The sweet, smoky pork paired perfectly with the tangy, spicy sauce. I knew I had to share this recipe with the world, and now, here we are.
Ingredients
- Two racks baby back pork ribs (roughly 600 – 700g each)
- Three red chillies
- Six garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 100ml red wine vinegar
- Two tablespoon honey
- 200g ketchup
- One tbsp light brown soft sugar
- One tablespoon smoked paprika
- Two tablespoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the marinade. In a blender, add the red chillies, garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, ketchup, light brown soft sugar, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Blend until smooth.
- Place the pork ribs in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the ribs, making sure they are well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Remove the ribs from the marinade and discard the remaining marinade.
- Grill the ribs for about 20-25 minutes per side, or until the meat is cooked through and the ribs are slightly charred.
- Once the ribs are cooked, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before cutting them into individual ribs.
- Serve the ribs with a side of your choice, and enjoy the unique and flavorful twist on traditional pork ribs.
Unique Twist: To add a unique twist to the recipe, you can add a touch of pineapple juice to the marinade for a subtle sweetness and fruity flavor. Also, you can add some sesame oil and soy sauce to the marinade for the extra umami flavor, which will elevate the overall taste of the dish.
Note: The grilling time may vary depending on the thickness of the ribs and the heat of your grill. Keep an eye on the ribs and check for doneness by cutting into one of the ribs to ensure that the meat is cooked through.
I can assure you that these Piri-Piri Pork Ribs will be a recipe that will be passed down for generations to come. The smell of these ribs cooking on the grill is enough to make your mouth water and bring family and friends together.
The combination of the smoky and tender pork ribs, with the perfect balance of heat and flavor from the piri-piri marinade, is truly a match made in heaven. The secret to the perfect ribs is not just in the marinade but also in the cooking method, low and slow is the way to go for fall-off-the-bone tenderness.
But let’s not forget about the sides, the tangy and refreshing slaw paired with the spicy ribs is the perfect balance that will leave you wanting more.