These Korean ribs are tender and meaty with a slight tug. For simplicity, par-cook the meat in the oven and finish on the grill. You'll love the Korean BBQ sauce that gives them a tangy, spicy kick.
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup gochujang, ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ¼ cup rice wine vinegar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1 ½ tablespoon finely grated ginger, 1 tablespoon lime zest, ¼ cup lime juice, and ¼ cup orange juice. Whisk until smooth.
Peel the silver skin from 2 racks pork spareribs and discard. Transfer the ribs to a storage container or food storage bag (you may need to cut the racks in half to fit).
Pour half of the marinade over the ribs to coat. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Transfer the remainder of the marinade to a storage container and refrigerate until you're ready to cook.
TO COOK THE RIBS:
Preheat the oven to 250°.
Remove the ribs from the marinade and pat to dry. Add just enough water to the bottom of a broiler pan to cover by about ¼". Fit the rack insert onto the pan and rest the ribs on the rack. Cover them tightly with aluminum foil, so that no steam will escape.
Transfer the ribs to the oven and cook until the ribs are tender, about 2 hrs 15 min.
Divide the reserved Korean BBQ sauce in half. One half is for basting the ribs on the grill, and the other is for dipping when served.
TO FINISH KOREAN RIBS ON THE GRILL:
To get a crusty exterior and laquer the ribs with the sauce, heat up a charcoal or gas grill to a medium high temperature (about 400°-425°).
Transfer the ribs to the grill and brush with extra sauce. Cook on each side for about 4-5 minutes to get color and grill marks and to glaze the ribs.
TO FINISH KOREAN RIBS IN THE BROILER:
Adjust the oven rack so the ribs will sit 4-5 inches under the heating element. Heat the broiler element on high. Brush the meat with BBQ sauce and set it under the heated broiler element. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce starts to brown and the edges get crusty. Flip the ribs and continue to broil for 3-4 more minutes.
GARNISH:
Transfer to a cutting board and separate the ribs into 2-3 bone servings. Serve with extra reserved marinade, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro and green onion and lime wedges.
Notes
Wrap leftovers in foil and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Reheat the ribs wrapped in foil in a 300° oven for 15 minutes.Note: the nutrition label includes all of the BBQ sauce ingredients, even though most of the sauce is discarded before you eat the final dish. Foods soaked in marinades are friends to the weight-conscious, adding flavor without racking up calories. Because only a small amount of the marinade is actually absorbed (most of it remains in the container) marinating is a very smart way to make a healthy dinner.