sweet and spicy spareribs with korean barbecue sauce

Sweet-and-Spicy Spareribs with Korean Barbecue Sauce

Top Chef winner Mei Lin slow-roasts these ribs in the oven until they’re super tender; then she glazes them on the grill with a sweet, spicy sauce spiked with gochujang (Korean chile paste). She also stirs the sauce into pulled pork, serves it with french fries instead of ketchup, and mixes it with melted butter to toss with fried chicken.

How to Make It

Preheat the oven to 325°. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except the ribs and salt. Layer 2 long sheets of heavy-duty foil on a work surface and set 1 rack of ribs in the center, meaty side up. Brush with 3/4 cup of the sauce and wrap tightly in the foil. Repeat with the remaining 2 racks of ribs. Transfer the foil packets to 2 large rimmed baking sheets and bake the ribs until tender, about 2 hours.
Unwrap the racks and transfer them to a work surface. Cut them into 3- or 4-rib sections.
Light a grill. Season the ribs with salt and grill over high heat, brushing with the remaining sauce and turning occasionally, until glazed and lightly charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Cut into individual ribs if desired. Transfer to a platter and serve.