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Thai Coconut BBQ Ribs


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4.8 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Lisa
  • Total Time: 12 hours 8 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 1x

Description

Barbecued baby back pork ribs with tantalizing Thai flavors. A great recipe for entertaining. Ribs are steamed and then marinated overnight so you can just throw them on the grill before serving. Grilling browns them and sears in the delicious flavors of the marinade.

Adapted from a recipe in Bon Appetit


Ingredients

Scale

For the Ribs:

  • 2 racks of baby back pork ribs, cut into individual ribs

For the BBQ Sauce/Marinade:

  • 1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk (shake can before opening)
  • 1/2 cup roughly-chopped cilantro, packed (stems included)
  • 1/2 cup, packed, brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup roughly-chopped shallots
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons roughly-chopped garlic (4-5 large cloves)
  • 2 tablespoons roughly-chopped ginger root
  • 2 stalks lemon grass, ends trimmed, tough outer layers peeled off, roughly chopped
  • 1 large jalapeño pepper or two small, seeds and membranes removed, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. To pre-cook the ribs using the stove-top steaming method (If you have a stovetop steamer), bring water to a boil under the steamer rack. Add ribs to steamer basket, cover and steam for 20 minutes. Uncover ribs and let them cool for 15 minutes or so.
  2. To pre-cook ribs using the oven-steaming Method, preheat oven to 325ºF and set an oven rack in the center position. Line a large glass baking pan with foil. Arrange the ribs in the pan, curved side up, with a little space between them so they steam evenly. (you may need two pans to fit them all). Pour 1 1/2 cups water into the foil-lined pan. Cover the pan tightly with another sheet of foil. Steam the ribs for 1 hour, then uncover ribs and let them cool at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
  3. While the ribs are steaming and then cooling, put the bbq sauce/marinade ingredients into a blender or food processor and process for 30 seconds to a minute, until smooth.
  4. When the ribs are cool, put them into a large plastic container or non-reactive (glass) baking pan, pour the marinade on top and toss to coat. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
  5. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Remove the ribs from the marinade and transfer the remaining marinade to a small saucepan, bring it to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes and then transfer to a serving bowl or gravy boat. Grill the ribs for 8 minutes or so, turning them a couple of times, until they're heated through and golden brown.
  6. Serve the ribs with coconut barbecue sauce on the side.
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Marinating time: Overnight
  • Cook Time: 8 mins
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: Thai