How to Indirect Grill Baby Back Ribs

METHOD: Indirect grilling

ADVANCE PREPARATION: 6 to 12 hours for marinating the meat

Some of the best ribs I have ever tasted were in Vietnam, where they season the Southeast Asian version of baby backs with a fragrant paste of lemongrass, ginger, garlic, chiles, and fish sauce. Grilled until sizzling crisp, the ribs are served with chopped peanuts for a touch of nutty sweetness and crunch.

Grill jockeys in Vietnam use what I call modified direct grilling. The ribs are positioned over the coals as in conventional direct grilling, but the grate is a foot or more above the fire so the ribs cook slowly, as in indirect grilling. The easiest way to achieve this effect in your backyard is to use the indirect grilling method.