Thai-style grilled pork country ribs

Prep: 20 minutes

Marinate: 1 to 24 hours

Cook: 30 minutes

Makes: 6 servings

Look for prepared lemongrass and ginger purees in grocery store refrigerated cases.

8 bone-in or boneless country-style pork loin ribs, each about 1-inch thick OR bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, 2 ¾ to 3 pounds total

½ small white onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 tablespoon lemongrass puree or 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lemongrass

1 tablespoon ginger puree or grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon fish sauce (or 2 teaspoons soy sauce)

½ small serrano chile, seeded (or 1 teaspoon hot sauce)

½ teaspoon each: salt, black pepper, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric

Chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges, bottled peanut satay sauce

1. Put country ribs into a large bowl or baking dish. Put ¼ cup water, onion, garlic, purees, fish sauce, chile, salt, pepper, coriander, cumin and turmeric into a blender. Process until smooth.

2. Pour the marinade over the ribs; turn to be sure meat is coated well on all sides. Refrigerate covered at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

3. Heat a gas grill to medium-hot or prepare a charcoal grill and let coals burn until covered with gray ash. Turn off burners or arrange coals at sides of grill for indirect cooking.

4. Put the chops, with marinade that clings, directly over the heat or coals. Cook, without turning, until nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Flip chops to the cooler portion (not directly over the heat) of the grill. Cook without turning, until meat is almost firm when pressed with the tip of a knife (150 degrees on an instant read thermometer), about 20 minutes.

5. Transfer to a serving platter; tent with foil and let stand about 10 minutes. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro and lime wedges for squeezing over meat. Pass the peanut satay sauce if you wish.

Nutrition information per serving: 380 calories, 32 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 110 mg cholesterol, 0 g carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 22 g protein, 313 mg sodium, 0 g fiber Variation — Thai-style grilled

sirloin steak: Marinate 2 to 2 ½ pounds boneless top sirloin beef steak (about 1-inch thick) as directed. Grill the steaks directly over the heat the entire time as follows: 6 minutes on the first side and 4 to 6 minutes on the second side for medium-rare.