Oven-baked pork ribs

Name: Oven-baked pork ribs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Pork ribs 2.6 lbs; Mustard 4 tsp; Ketchup 1.4 tbsp; Brown sugar 3 ½ tbsp; Smoked paprika 1 spoonful; Salt 2 tsp; Black pepper 1 tsp; Garlic powder 1 tsp; Onion powder 1 tsp; Mustard seeds 1 ½ tsp; Cinnamon powder ½ tsp

Gluten Free
Lactose Free

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Serving: 4
Cost: Low
Note + marinating time (8-12 h) + resting time after cooking (10 min.)

PRESENTATION

Oven-baked pork ribs get their flavor from a spice rub that covers every surface of the meat — and what keeps that rub in place is a thin layer of mustard, used here as a binder rather than a condiment. After a long marinade that lets the spices settle deep into the meat, the ribs go into a low-temperature oven, where slow, steady heat makes them genuinely tender and succulent.

That patience is what separates this approach from faster methods: the meat has time to absorb the full range of flavors the rub offers, balancing sweetness, heat, and aromatic spice in every bite. A brush of ketchup near the end changes the texture entirely: returned to the oven, it caramelizes into a thin, slightly crisp crust — a crosticina — that plays against the soft meat underneath and pulls the sweetness, heat, and aromatic spice into a coherent finish. The result is a main course that works as well for a relaxed family dinner as it does for a table full of friends.

INGREDIENTS

For the pork ribs: Pork ribs 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg); Mustard 4 tsp (20 g); Ketchup 1.4 tbsp (20 g)

For the marinade: Brown sugar 3 ½ tbsp (40 g); Smoked paprika 1 spoonful; Salt 2 tsp; Black pepper 1 tsp; Garlic powder 1 tsp; Onion powder 1 tsp; Mustard seeds 1 ½ tsp; Cinnamon powder ½ tsp

Preparation

How to prepare Oven-baked pork ribs

To prepare the oven-baked pork ribs, first put in a mortar: brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard seeds, and cinnamon 1. Grind 2 until you obtain a fine and homogeneous powder 3. Alternatively, you can blend everything in a mixer.

Remove the excess fat from the ribs 4, then brush one side with mustard 5. At this point, spread the spice mix evenly over the entire surface 6. Thanks to the mustard, this will adhere better to the meat. Repeat the same procedure for the other side of the ribs. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. After the time has elapsed, cook in a fan oven at 250°F for 150 minutes.

Remove from the oven and brush with ketchup 7, making sure to completely cover both sides 8. Then put the ribs back in the oven for another 30 minutes using the same method as before. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest for 10 minutes. The oven-baked pork ribs are ready to be enjoyed 9!

Storage

The oven-baked pork ribs can be stored in the refrigerator, in a closed container, for 2-3 days. If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze them, whole or divided, in freezer bags.