Asian Baby Back Ribs with Panko-Crusted Mushrooms

• Recipe by Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith gives these roasted baby back ribs an Asian nudge by basting them with a sweet soy sauce-based marinade, which makes them more wine-friendly than ribs with traditional barbecue sauce. "Barbecue sauce has a strong flavor that dominates most American-style ribs," he says, "but here, the delicate flavors in the marinade allow you to still taste the pork."

Ingredients

1. Two 1 1/2-pound racks of pork baby back ribs, papery membrane removed from the underside of each rack
2. 4 garlic cloves, minced
3. 4 scallions, minced
4. 2 tablespoons soy sauce
5. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6. 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
7. 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
8. Salt and freshly ground pepper
9. Panko-Crusted Mushrooms, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Set the ribs on a large rimmed baking sheet, skinned side up. In a small bowl, combine the garlic with the scallions, soy sauce, olive oil, brown sugar and vinegar. Season the ribs lightly with salt and generously with pepper. Brush some of the sauce on the skinned side of the ribs and turn them over; brush the remaining sauce over the tops of the ribs.
2. Roast the ribs in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, until browned and tender. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes, then slice into individual ribs and serve with the Panko-Crusted Mushrooms.

Make Ahead

The baby back ribs can be marinated overnight.