Grilled Pork Ribs: Costillas de Cerdo a la Parilla

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/8/21
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 3 hrs 30 mins
Marinate: 12 hrs
Total: 15 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Pork ribs are a popular addition to the South American grill. They are prepared many different ways in South America, unlike beef ribs (which are normally seasoned with salt only and grilled in the traditional Argentinian style—directly on a hot grill or on a spit over an open fire). Pork ribs benefit from longer, slower cooking, with marinades and glazes. Citrus and chile peppers are commonly used for seasoning pork.

You can cook these ribs entirely on the grill, using indirect heat, if you have time to hang out near the grill for several hours, maintaining the temperature and checking on the ribs. (Add some wood chips for extra flavor). Or you can roast them at a low temperature in the oven ahead of time, then finish them on the grill to get that essential smoky flavor. Marinate the ribs overnight if possible.

Grilled pork ribs - costillas de cerdo a la parilla
Marian Blazes

"Pork ribs are soaked overnight in a full-flavored marinade. Peruvian jarred aji pance chile pepper paste with its tangy, fruity, mild heat makes the marinade delicious yet won't overwhelm the ribs with too much heat." —Diana Andrews

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 (1/2- to 2-pound) rack of pork ribs

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Mango glaze, optional

For the Marinade:

  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic

  • 4 scallions

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil, more for the grill

  • 1/4 cup orange juice

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, or molasses

  • 1 tablespoon aji panca chile pepper paste

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, or 2 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Prepare the ribs: Remove the membrane from the bony side of the rack of ribs: Slide a dull knife under the membrane and use the knife to loosen the membrane from the ribs, then peel away the membrane. Rinse the ribs and pat dry. Rub all over with salt and freshly ground pepper.

  2. Prepare the marinade: Peel the garlic and coarsely chop. Chop white and green parts of the scallions. Place all of the marinade ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth and well blended.

  3. Place the ribs in a shallow dish and cover with the marinade, rubbing the marinade into both sides of the ribs with your fingers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.

  4. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 250 F. Place the ribs on a large piece of aluminum foil. Add the marinade and wrap tightly with more foil, making sure foil is well sealed around the ribs. Place foil packet on a rimmed baking sheet and roast in the oven for 3 hours. Remove ribs from oven and let cool.

  5. Heat the grill to medium-high, 400 F to 475 F. Remove the foil from the ribs and discard. Oil the grill, place the ribs on the grill and cook until warmed through and charred to your liking, 6 to 9 minutes per side, brushing with some of the mango glaze, if using. Remove from heat and serve warm.

  6. To cook ribs on the grill only: Prepare the grill: Light the charcoal then move charcoal to one side of the grill, creating an area with lower temperature—around 225 F to 250 F for the ribs. Sear the ribs on each side directly over the coals, then place over indirect heat (temperature should not exceed 250 F). Cook ribs, basting occasionally with marinade, for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until ribs are very tender.

Tips

There's plenty to do ahead of time so that the grilling is quick and easy on the day you plan to serve the ribs:

  • The marinade can be made two to three days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • The ribs can be oven-cooked the day before grilling and refrigerated overnight. Bring the ribs to room temperature for about 1 hour before grilling.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1010 Calories
84g Fat
17g Carbs
49g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1010
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 84g 108%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Cholesterol 238mg 79%
Sodium 1500mg 65%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 49g
Vitamin C 12mg 62%
Calcium 102mg 8%
Iron 5mg 28%
Potassium 904mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)