Chinese Barbecued Ribs

6 pounds spareribs

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup lemon or lime juice

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 cloves minced garlic

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 cup honey

Place ribs in large pot and cover with water. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour or just until tender; drain. Arrange ribs in shallow pan.

Mix together remaining ingredients, except honey, stirring until cornstarch-is dissolved. Pour over ribs; allow to marinate for at least 2 hours.

Remove ribs from marinade and place on barbecue grill about 6 inches above hot coals. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning once and brushing often with marinade. Add honey to remaining marinade and brush over ribs; continue cooking for about 10 minutes longer, turning once and brushing often with honey mixture until richly glazed. Remove ribs from grill; cut into pieces of one or two ribs each.

To cook indoors: Broil marinated ribs about 6 inches below broiler in oven, turning and basting as on barbecue. If preferred, marinated ribs may be baked instead of broiled: arrange in shallow roasting pan and brush liberally with marinade. Bake in 350 oven for about 15 minutes; brush with honey mixture and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer or until richly glazed.

Serves 6