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Recipe

Dry Seasoning Rub

Making your own BBQ sauce can be frustrating. Finding a delicious balance between sweet, tangy, rich, and most often a burnt red color can be nearly impossible - especially sans tomato ... so, I say, "Let the meat speak!" Dry seasoning rubs allow you to use a little or a lot, and the natural juices that ultimately come from any meat being cooked serve as the sauce. I like this recipe quite a bit, and so do my kids!

Dry Seasoning Rub

Versatility is important - feel free to adjust the level of sweet, heat, and ingredients.

Mild Spice Rub (for 1-1/2 pounds meat/protein of choice)

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 teaspoons paprika of choice (I split it between smoked and sweet)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (not finely ground)
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder of choice
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Method

  1. Combine all in small container with a lid; shake vigorously to combine.
  2. Sprinkle evenly over meat surface and rub. Roast coated meat in closed container, such as oil-sprayed foil or covered roasting pan in middle of preheated grill or oven. If using low-moisture meat (such as a tenderloin or fish), add up to 1/4 cup liquid of choice (such as broth, wine or water) to pan prior to roasting.

Allow meat to rest, wrapped, at least 10 minutes prior to cutting or serving.

Variations

Sweeter: increase dark brown sugar to 1 tablespoon.

Spicier: Increase paprika to 1 tablespoon, chili powder to 1/2 teaspoon, and add 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander to dry mix.

Tomato: add one of the following:

Ingredients

  • 6-ounce tomato paste (shake with 2 tablespoons liquid of choice then pour into roasting container then add spice-rubbed meat, seal container and roast)
  • 2 tablespoons dried tomatoes - grind to paste or small crumbs then combine with 2 tablespoons liquid of choice then pour into roasting container then add spice-rubbed meat, seal container and roast)
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup of choice - stir into 2 tablespoons liquid of choice then pour into roasting container then add spice-rubbed meat, seal container and roast.