Cocoa-Spiced Pork Spare Ribs
Pork spare ribs coated with a cocoa spice rub. My husband claims that they're best thing he's ever eaten, and I think they're okay - I prefer barbecued ribs. Funny thing is, my husband hates the chocolate/meat combo but has never tried it (like my dark chocolate bacon cupcakes), so I didn't tell him that cocoa powder was the main ingredient in this spice rub. We've had it twice and he still doesn't know! Hehehe!
Pictured above, top: coated ribs before baking; bottom; ribs after baking.
(1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon kosher salt for 2-3 pounds spare ribs; mix together. Put ribs in a 1-gallon ziploc bag, drizzle with olive oil and shake to coat. Pour in cocoa mixture, shake to coat. Shake off excess, lay on shallow roasting pan, sprinkle with dried parsley and dried chili flakes. Bake ribs at 350 for 1 hour or until done)