Baby Back Pork Ribs with Bar-B-Barn Sauce (Montréal)

canadian-quebec-montrealbarbbarnribssauce Since its opening in 1967, the Bar-B Barn restaurant became a beloved city landmark in Montréal, Québec that had people lining up on the street on any given night of the week. Although it’s closed now, the memory of those delicious ribs lives on. Many still cherish its famous ribs and you can recreate that flavour at home with a copycat recipe for oven-baked ribs using the authentic Bar-B-Barn sauce. These oven-baked ribs are tender, juicy and perfect for sharing with family or friends. I love serving them with maple baked beans.

Ribs:
3-4 lbs baby back pork ribs (1.3-1.8 Kg)
2-3 bay leaves
1 large onion, quartered
1 stalk celery, cut in half
1 Tbsp. peppercorns

Bar-B-Barn Sauce:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup ketchup
⅓ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
½ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
½ tsp. ground paprika
2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced

Prepare the Ribs:
Remove the membrane by piercing the skin on the backside and using a paper towel pulling it off. Cut the ribs into sections (usually 2 bones per section) for easier handling and serving. Or if you prefer cut them into single pieces.

Place the baby back ribs in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add the bay leaves, onion, celery and peppercorns.

Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover and let the ribs simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are tender. During this time, I like to skim off the fat as it rises to the surface.

Carefully remove the ribs from the pot, drain them and place them in a baking dish.

Make the Sauce:
While the ribs are simmering, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sauce ingredients. Stir well to combine. Let the sauce cook for 20-30 minutes, whisking occasionally, until it thickens slightly and the flavours meld together.

Bake the Ribs:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4).

Brush one side of the ribs generously with the prepared sauce. Place the baking dish in the oven and cook the ribs for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, turn the ribs over and brush them with more sauce. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the ribs are well-coated and caramelized. Remove from the oven and serve hot.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Cook's Notes:

Reserve a bit of the barbecue sauce for serving.
Ribs can be messy, so be sure to have hand wipes or napkins on hand.
The sauce is sweet and sticky, but if you prefer a less sweet version, reduce the amount of brown sugar to ¾ cup.
The sauce is versatile and can enhance various dishes. Consider using it to marinate grilled chicken, glaze roasted vegetables, or drizzle over pulled pork sandwiches. It adds a delicious sweet and tangy flavour to whatever you choose to pair it with.