ITALIAN COOKS ARE masters at creating deeply flavorful food from simple, often humble, ingredients—and that includes ribs. This easy, straightforward recipe for oven-roasted ribs uses seasonings common to Italian pork recipes: garlic, rosemary, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes. In the spirit of the best Italian cooking practices, these ingredients are artfully employed to enhance, and not cover up, the natural pork flavor of the ribs—it’s a lighter (and, dare I say, more elegant) approach than smoky, saucy barbecued ribs. And it’s easier and faster, too.
Begin by making a super flavorful, superconcentrated paste by buzzing fresh rosemary leaves in the food processor with olive oil, garlic, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper: This fragrant mixture is your powerhouse marinade. Slather the paste onto two racks of St.…