Recipe for Oven Baked Riblets

Riblets are half as long as standard ribs.

For a chef on a budget, riblets make a tender, satisfying alternative to full-sized ribs. Riblets are ribs that have been cut in half, so they are only 2 to 4 inches long. Because they come from the same cut of meat as traditional ribs, all the same flavorings and cooking techniques apply. Marinate your riblets overnight before cooking them to give them a melting tenderness, and brown them when they are nearly done to top them with a sweet or smoky glaze. Does this Spark an idea?

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Riblets
Marinade
Casserole dish with rack
Additional seasonings
Instant-read thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  
  Marinate the riblets overnight in the sauce of your choice. For a smoky, barbecue flavor, use Worcester sauce, chili powder, sea salt, cayenne pepper, molasses and onion powder. For a sweeter, holiday-style glaze, use olive oil, honey, cocoa powder, coffee, cinnamon and ground cloves.
- 2
  
  Heat an oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Put a rack inside a casserole dish, and pour water into the dish until it comes to just below the level of the rack.
- 3
  
  Remove the riblets from the marinade and lightly scrape off the excess sauce. Put the riblets onto the casserole rack, and cover the dish. Bake the riblets for 2 hours.
- 4
  
  Remove the lid from the casserole dish. Brush a thick layer of the marinade over the riblets. Add extra flavorings to the glaze if desired. For example, pour 2 or 3 tablespoons of orange juice or apple juice over the top; spread on a layer of mint or currant jelly; or cover the riblets with caramelized onions and slices of fig.
- 5
  
  Bake the riblets, uncovered, for another 30 minutes or until the glaze has set. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. When it reads 140 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the riblets from the oven.
- 6
  
  Cover the casserole dish partially with its lid, and allow the riblets to sit for three to five minutes. Serve with sauteed vegetables, brown rice or mashed potatoes and a fruity wine.