Description

If you can dump the contents of a bag into a pan, you can make these drool-inducing Baked Maple Ribs. Like a slow cooker recipe, these cook for a little while, but it is primarily passive cooking. There’s very little you have to do beyond simply sticking a pan in the oven… and grabbing a few napkins. After all, ribs are the ultimate finger food.

Ingredients

Scale

1 c apple juice
1/3 c real maple syrup
1 Tb extra virgin olive oil
2 Tb soy sauce
2 star anise pods
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
4–8 whole garlic cloves
2 11/2 lb slab of pork spareribs

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Instructions

To begin, in a bowl or large measuring cup, combine the apple juice, real maple syrup, soy sauce, star anise pods, and the cinnamon stick.
Crush the whole cloves of garlic. No need to peel them, just crush them with the side of your knife or give them a whack with the bottom of a glass.
Place the slab of pork spare ribs into a large (2 gallon) zipper storage bag. Pour in the marinade and toss in the garlic. Press as much air as you can out of the bag and give it a good shake. Place the bag in a pan (just in case of leaks) and set it in your refrigerator.
Whenever you remember, give the bag a shake, and turn it over. Normally I will do this first thing in the morning and let it chill all day, but you could do it the day before if you like. It won’t hurt a thing.
When it starts getting closer to supper time, dump the contents of the bag into a large baking pan. Put this into a 400 degree oven and bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes.
When they are done baking, let them rest a few minutes and then cut them into portions.
Enjoy!

Notes

I love garlic so I went with the larger amount, but if you want a little less…use a little less.