Recipes

Chrong Chomnei Jrok Oeng (Cambodian-Style Ginger Lemongrass Baby Backs)

  • Serves

    serves 4-6

TODD COLEMAN

These Asian ribs are marinated in a pungent paste. This recipe first appeared in our June/July 2013 issue with Steven Raichlen's article Secrets of the Grill: Ribs.

Ingredients

  • 2 racks (3 lb.) baby back ribs
  • 13 cup packed brown sugar
  • 13 cup fish sauce
  • 14 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp. canola oil
  • 14 cloves garlic, peeled (10 whole, 4 minced)
  • 4 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 2 shallots, sliced
  • 1 (4″-piece) ginger, peeled and sliced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 14 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. lime juice
  • 3 fresh red Thai chiles, sliced
  • 12 carrot, julienned

Instructions

Step 1

Place ribs in a roasting pan. Purée brown sugar and 3 tbsp. fish sauce, plus soy sauce, oil, whole garlic cloves, lemongrass, shallots, ginger, salt, and pepper in a food processor until smooth; rub paste over ribs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Step 2

Bring minced garlic and remaining fish sauce, plus granulated sugar, lime juice, and 1 cup water to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan. Remove sauce from heat and stir in chiles and carrots; let cool. Heat a charcoal grill or set a gas grill to high; bank coals or turn off burner on one side (see "Grilling 101"). Grill ribs until slightly charred and tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. If the outside starts to burn before the ribs are fully cooked, move them to the cooler section of the grill and continue to cook until tender. Rest ribs 20 minutes; slice into individual ribs. Serve with sauce.

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