Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seed
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 4 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 6 pounds pork back ribs
  • 3/4 cup barbeque sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar

Method

  • Grind salt and fennel seed together in a blender or coffee grinder. Stir fennel-salt mixture, sugar, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder together in a bowl.
  • Cut each pork slab into 3 pieces, about 5 ribs each. Pat ribs dry with a paper towel and rub spice mixture over each piece. Place ribs on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
  • Allow ribs to sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Preheat grill between 270 degrees F (132 degrees C) and 300 degrees F (149 degrees C) for indirect grilling and lightly oil the grate.
  • Grill ribs on the preheated grill with the cover down, turning once, until no longer pink in the center, about 1 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
  • Combine barbeque sauce, honey, and cider vinegar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is thickened and smooth, about 10 minutes. Brush sauce onto ribs.
  • Cook ribs for 15 minutes; flip, baste the other side, and cook until ribs are glazed and tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes more. Let ribs stand for 10 minutes before serving.