Enhance the flavour of your raw meat by a good dry rub. For those of you are new to this term, well, dry rubs are mixed powders and seasonings, that are made into a mix and applied over the meat before you can barbecue or fry it.
Using a dry rub over your meat will help give it a light crusty layer on the meat, packing it with flavour, while the inside stays succulent and juicy.
Here are 5 easy to make dry rub recipes you can try at home:
1. Simple Dry Rub – good for everything but best for pork
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
2. Spicy Dry Rub for almost anything
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper powder
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1½ tsp paprika powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp pepper powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
3. Lemon Rosemary Dry Rub
Ingredients:
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp pepper powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried rosemary leaves
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp dried lemon zest
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
4. Garlic Pepper Dry Rub good for everything but best for chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. First rub some olive oil over the chicken to help the rub stick to the meat better. For the most flavor, let the rub marinate on the meat for 1 hour (and up to 12 hours) in the refrigerator before cooking.
5. Sweet and Spicy Dry Rub – good for everything but best for ribs
Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp pepper powder
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. You’ll want the dry rub to sit on the ribs for at least 15 minutes to 48 hours to tenderize the meat and draw out the moisture.
6. Coffee dry rub good for everything but best for steak
Ingredients:
- 4 tbsp finely ground dark roasst coffee
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 1 tbsp of cayenne pepper ( optional, you want it spicy)
Method:
Into a bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a good mix. Thereafter, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Using the dry rub:
What’s the right way to use a dry rub?
Basically, the longer you leave the dry rub over your meat, the better of course (similar to a marinade). I’d recommend that you keep the dry rub over your meat for at least 2 hours before you barbecue, fry or cook it for the best flavour. Nevertheless, a minimum of 15 minutes is a must.
Can you use dry rubs as a seasoning?
Yes, a dry rub can definitely be used even as a seasoning. It can add extra flavour to any meat dish.
Can you use dry rub for a marinade before cooking the meat?
Yes, you can season the meat with the dry rub as a marinade before cooking the meat. It will make the meat more flavourful.
Note:
- In case your dry rub already contains salt, then be mindful of the salt you add into your barbecued or cooked meat.
- If your homemade dry rub is stored in a good airtight container, then you can even store it for up to 6 months in a cool and dry place. Make sure to keep it away from heat or direct sunlight.
