There are many methods of American barbecue, and the Memphis BBQ recipe makes a distinct mark. It uses the traditional pork-centered recipe with dry-rubbed or marinated with a special sauce before, during, and after the smoking procedure. The results are irresistibly delicious in every bite you take.
Do you know what makes Memphis BBQ special? You guessed it right. It’s the table sauce. It contains flavors like paprika, garlic, and various herbs, such as oregano and thyme, grilled by mostly outdoor grilling equipment. Sweet ketchup thickens the sauce, and the touch of vinegar gives the sauce a good choice with your Memphis BBQ.
Cooking Memphis BBQ is best with indirect heating. You may place the ribs away from the heat source or control the fire on one side of the grill, cooking the ribs slowly on the opposite side.
Must-Try Memphis BBQ Recipe
Some Memphis BBQ restaurants offer sauces, which customers can choose as a special order or on the side. The sauce compliments the complexity of the Memphis BBQ, whether you like wet ribs or dry ribs. The flavor is a combination of herbs and spices, making it one of the best in the world. Thanks to KayB of Food 52 for inspiring this recipe!
Ingredients
The Memphis BBQ is like other BBQ recipes that rely on brown sugar, cayenne, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and garlic. These ingredients are almost everyone’s recipe special, but most BBQ lovers use dry mustard, celery seed or celery salt, rosemary or dried oregano, ginger, allspice, cumin, and white pepper.
Many pit masters have years of experience perfecting the exact formula of spices and their personal cooking styles. Their secret to a perfect Memphis BBQ is the sauce.
Here are the ingredients you need for a Memphis BBQ:
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ tablespoons celery seed
- 1 ½ tablespoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- ½ cup neutral vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste or ketchup
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons black pepper
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 3 tablespoons coriander
- 1 tablespoon allspice
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- 5-6 pounds half pork shoulder or Boston butt roast
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Hot sauce, to taste
Slow cooking gives the best results for your Memphis BBQ, especially if you can patiently do it for 12 hours.
Instructions: Prepping the Meat and Sauce
Cooking Memphis BBQ ribs is easy. Here’s what you should do.
- Mix the spices. Set aside a basting sauce. The rest you can use for marinating the meat.
- Once the meat is fully coated, let it sit overnight in the freezer.
- On the next day, allow the meat to defrost while prepping the fire. Use hardwood fire to add more flavor. If it’s not available, you may also use a gas or charcoal grill. It’s best not to use an oven for your Memphis BBQ.
- If you can, cover the meat in foil surrounded by the sauce so the meat absorbs the flavor.
Tips for Grilling a Memphis BBQ
- Cooking Memphis BBQ is best with indirect heating. You may place the ribs away from the heat source or control the fire on one side of the grill, cooking the ribs slowly on the opposite side.
- Slow cooking gives the best results for your Memphis BBQ, especially if you can patiently do it for 12 hours. Getting Memphis food right is cooking it with tons of flavor, and slow cooking is the best way to bring out this quality.
- Make sure that you baste your Memphis BBQ ribs with the sauce you made. The ribs will continue absorbing the sauce while cooking, which will make it tastier once done. After some time, observe the bones to see if they are wiggly, which means you can pull the meat freely. Remove from the grill and let it sit for 20 minutes with a foil tent.
- Prepare some baked beans, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. Some would also prefer ribs with bread while drinking a can of beer.
Some Memphis BBQ restaurants offer sauces, which customers can choose as a special order or on the side. The sauce compliments the complexity of the Memphis BBQ, whether you like wet ribs or dry ribs.
Key Takeaways
Cooking Memphis BBQ is a tasty treat for the whole family. Everyone loves BBQ, and this flavor is a standout from other flavors around the world. The ingredients are easy to find, and the preparation is as easy as pie.
- Mix your basting sauce.
- Use hardwood for grilling.
