Ribs and Cinnamon?

Jeepster47

The hurricane that hit the south end of the Baja Peninsula, last September, wiped out a lot of the resort where we've gone for a number of years with a kite flying group. The resort spent three months rebuilding and they were interested in what our group thought about the changes, so invited us to a dinner where the chef cooked the meal as we watched.  Just had to ask the chef if he was familiar with the BGE.  Yes, my friends and wife rolled their eyes and sighed loudly ... hmmm wonder what that is about. 

Turns out that, for home use, he has a small horizontal smoker.  So, I asked what he liked to BBQ and how he cooked it.  Between his English and my Spanish, a few voids showed up.  Pork ribs were high on his list of "likes".  He got a great big smile on his face (yes, like a true chef, there was a lot of weight behind that smile) and said his secret ingredient for great ribs was cinnamon in the rub. 

A quick search through the forum didn't connect ribs and cinnamon, thus the question ... has anyone tried this?  How much/little?  As an addition to what other ingredients?  Anybody have an opinion?

beteez

There is a recipe in Smoke & Spice for ribs that incorporates cinnamon 

dldawes1

Very interesting.  Hope to hear more about this combo !!

konablue50

I've seen this in the stores...

https://myrecipesyouvegottotastethis.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/mccormickrub.jpg?w=300&h=300

pescadorzih

I have cinnamon in my pork rub.
I also grill pork chops with S&P and cinnamon.

Jeepster47

@pescadorzih ... is your pork rub a recipe or store bought?  Also, heavy or lite on the cinnamon for pork chops?

Wolfie51sb

konablue50 said:

I've seen this in the stores...

https://myrecipesyouvegottotastethis.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/mccormickrub.jpg?w=300&h=300

I've used this on ribs and liked it. Didn't knock my socks off, but it was good enough that I've toyed with the idea of adding cinnamon in my rubs.

Legume

Cinnamon and ground ginger in a rib rub is good.

Phatchris

The historic Lynchburg cinnamon chipolte rub is very nice... Got mine in the exchange from @theyolksonyou

nth78

I use it.  Very small amount though. It will overpower 

LKNEgg

Cinnamon is good on pork!  Pre-egg we used to boil ribs in water,beer, and cinnamon then move to the gas grill to brown and finish.

Haven't done anything like that in a while, but will have to bring it back to the BGE.

Jeepster47

Well duh ... our favorite for pork ribs is Oakridge's Dominator Sweet Rib Rub.  Fourth on the list of ingredients is a mix of chilies that includes chipolte ... several of you recommended a blend of chipolte and cinnamon.  Ninth on the list is Vietnamise cinnamon. 

Looks like I'll add a pinch more cinnamon to the Dominator rub and see what that does to the taste profile.

Thanks for your input guys ... appreciated.

theyolksonyou

Well, I was going to chime in on the Lynchburg, but Chris beat me to it. That said, I have a home made  rub that has cinnamon in it that I use on butts. About a half part if memory serves. For a bit of a Cuban flare, throw in some cocoa powder....

Focker

For the highly modified APL 4 seasons spice blend/my AP sugarless house rub I,
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/four-seasons-blend-51103210

Use kosher salt
Omit the flavorless cayenne, add guajilo, ancho, aleppo 
Swap one T each of toasted gran onion, gran garlic for the garlic salt
Swap white pepper for black
Microplane some good lump like OO or WG
And add a tsp of Makara aka Korintje cinnamon (comes from Mt. Korintje in Sumatra, Indonesia) 
Pulse in the mini FP until uniform, sand-like consistency 

jabam

A good friend of mine gave me some of his (homemade) rib rub. I tried it and didn't even realize there was cinamin in it until I took a bite. It was eggcelent! 

pescadorzih

Jeepster47 said:

@pescadorzih ... is your pork rub a recipe or store bought?  Also, heavy or lite on the cinnamon for pork chops?

Pretty much even amounts of seasonings on the chops.
The rub is based on a recipe for a rib rub I found online.  I then changed some ingredient amounts and added some others including the cinnamon. 

AD18

If I remember correctly at the recent Toronto Eggfest one of the cooks I talked too had cinnamon in the brine he did his pork loin in.  It was a really nice change to the normal flavours you associate with pork.  Must give it a try

CtTOPGUN

 I have used Pineapplehead from DP on ribs. Quite good. Nice change from the norm.

   Jim

tarheelmatt

I was looking for some ribs and a exotic dancer for some reason..... Or a exotic dancer showing her ribs?   I dunno...