Best Vegan Ribs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to juicy ribs? ›

Select a lean rib and cut off the visible fat. We like our ribs lean, tender, and beautiful. Cook them low and slow. Two pounds or less will take 4 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F.

Vegan BBQ Ribs are made using Seitan. It's often called “wheat meat.” Seitan is fairly bland and tasteless on its own. But, when spices like onion powder and soy sauce are added it becomes a very savory and meaty dish.

Moist, gentle heat and a wet vinegary sauce can save dry ribs.

You may, if desired, spritz or mop your ribs while smoking with a liquid of your choice. Apple juice or cider, butter, Dr. Pepper, apple cider vinegar, beer… there are plenty of options.

Dry rubs are great on their own but can be spectacular when finished with a sauce in the case of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Wet rubs are fantastic when you are cooking low and slow – again, brisket and pulled pork. This allows your food to develop a unique bark and allows the sugars to caramelize instead of burn.

The taste is meaty with a subtle smokiness and very little trace of the soy in the ingredients. Without the marinade, there isn't much flavour, but you wouldn't eat ribs without marinating them or adding a spice rub. After all, as we vegans always say – it's not the meat that tastes good, it's what you flavour it with!

Both seitan and tofu are plant-based proteins. However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.

"MorningStar Farms Riblets left shelves in 2018 and ever since then, loyal fans have petitioned, begged, and demanded to get Riblets back in their lives," said Joe Beauprez, Senior Director of Marketing, Frozen Foods.

The Ingredients and Substitutes

Vital wheat gluten: This makes up the base of the vegan meat substitute. You can't replace it. Water: For more flavor, use vegan beef broth or vegetable broth. Seasonings: You'll need onion powder, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast for a savory, umami flavor.

One possible substitute for short rib is beef chuck roast. This cut of meat has a similar marbling and tenderness that can withstand long cooking times. When cooked low and slow, beef chuck roast can develop a rich and succulent flavor that closely resembles that of short rib.

Is there a plant-based steak? ›

Beyond Steak is a revolutionary, plant-based innovation designed to deliver the juicy, tender and delicious bite of sliced steak tips. With 21 grams of protein per serving and no GMOs, Beyond Steak is convenient, flavorful and sure to satisfy meat lovers and flexitarians alike.

I usually double wrap the ribs. Set in oven for 3 hours and can be up to 5 hours. Remove foil carefully and cut ribs into a manageable length to grill them. If you try to grill the rack without making it smaller, some of the ribs will fall apart and the meat will literally fall off the bones!

You can get very juicy ribs by cooking them at 135 degrees, but making them tender takes two or three days. At 160 degrees, you get tender ribs in 10 to 12 hours. At 170 to 180 degrees, the meat is noticeably dryer, but the cooking time is a more manageable 6 to 8 hours.

Essentially, the vinegar solution "cleanses" the meat and makes the flavors shine through without any "gamey" flavor.

Lime is a natural meat tenderizer. Now you want to generously coat all sides of the ribs with our Rib Rub. Don't go sparingly on it – make sure everybody's got some of it on there.

A charcoal or wood fire will give you the best flavor, but any heat will cook the ribs. Your goal is to get good color and caramelization on the outside of the ribs, but also to cook them long enough that the tough collagen breaks down and the meat becomes tender.