Recipes from Playing With Fire

Michael Symon's Playing With Fire Cookbook

In preparing to open his barbecue restaurant, Mabel’s BBQ, Michael Symon enthusiastically sampled smoked meat from across America. The 72 finger-licking, lip-smacking recipes here draw inspiration from his favorites, including dry ribs from Memphis, wet ribs from Nashville, brisket from Texas, pork steak from St. Louis, and burnt ends from Kansas City–to name just a few–as well as the unique and now signature Cleveland-style barbecue he developed to showcase the flavors of his hometown. Michael offers expert guidance on working with different styles of grills and smokers, choosing aromatic woods for smoking, cooking various cuts of meat, and successfully pairing proteins with rubs, sauces, and sides.

Four spice-rubbed grilled pork chops on a baking sheet with a pair of metal tongs

Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops

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These spice-rubbed grilled pork chops get their awesomeness from a mix of coriander seeds, chipotle chile powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and mustard powder. Perfection.

  • Quick Glance
  • 10 M
  • 25 M
  • 0
Two slices of smoked prime rib on a wooden cutting board with a knife lying beside them.

Smoked Prime Rib

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Infused with smoke as it cooks low and slow, this compelling centerpiece is, quite simply, the best and most unique prime rib we’ve ever tried. And worth standing at the smoker even during the dead of winter.

  • Quick Glance
  • 30 M
  • 3 H
  • 2
Cutting board with grilled skirt steak tacos, sliced jalepenos, tortillas, lime wedges, pickled onions, cilantro

Grilled Skirt Steak Tacos

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Slightly spicy with a hint of sweet. Not to mention oh so satisfying. And did we mention fast and easy?

  • (3)
  • 30 M
  • 2 H, 30 M
  • 8