Barbecued Ribs, South American Style

Ingredients

• 3 medium-size yellow onions, coarsely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 15 mL (1 tbsp) sugar
• 300 mL (1 1/4 cups) water
• 1.4 kg (3 lbs) pork spareribs or beef short ribs, cut into 2-rib widths
• 550 mL (2 1/4 cups) canned crushed tomatoes
• 45 mL (3 tbsp) red wine vinegar
• 30 mL (2 tbsp) molasses
• 1 large banana, peeled and sliced 1 cm (1/2 in) thick
• 50 mL (1/4 cup) raisins
• 10 mL (2 tsp) ground ginger
• 3 mL (3/4 tsp) dried oregano, crumbled
• 1 mL (1/4 tsp) hot red pepper sauce
• 250 g (8 oz) green beans, trimmed and cut into 2.5 cm (1 in) lengths
• 250 mL (1 cup) long-grain white or brown rice