Giant Red-Eye Ribs

These Flintstones-style beef ribs are the biggest, meatiest ribs you ever did see. Sold in hefty 3- or 5-bone slabs, dino ribs are also called beef plate short ribs. They might not always be at the meat counter in your local grocery store, so source them online (Porter Road and Snake River Farms are my favorites) for a sure bet. A long-cooking approach, such as slow-roasting or smoking, melts the network of fat and collagen running through these ribs into lush, succulent shreds. The pastrami-inspired rub of toasty, fragrant spices bolstered by the bitter edge of coffee forms a dark crust around the meat—a cheaty invocation of the ebony-hued bark revered by pitmasters everywhere. To make it even easier, use our Burlap & Barrel Spicy & Smoky Grilling Rub instead: Mix two full bottles with a packed 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, 1/3 cup Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and 1/4 cup ground, unflavored coffee and proceed with recipe.