Barbecue Dry Rub Recipes: A Collection

Dry rub recipes for barbecue and grilling add so much to a meat. Stronger rubs work well for beef and pork, while others might taste better with chicken or fish. The purpose of a rub is to combine spices and herbs with the food and to create an outer coating of flavor.

You can also give foods an ethnic flair with specialized rub recipes that utilize ingredients from the local specialty market.

Once you have developed a handful of favorite dry rub recipes, you will be able to build pastes and marinades that are tasty and diverse.

When you experiment with rubs, pastes, and marinades, remember that sweet sauces, or any recipe that contains sugar, tend to burn at high temperatures, which can result in a bitter taste. Slow-smoking will eliminate the problem or you can wait until the last half hour of cooking to brush on the liquid.

Good rub recipes can be simple or complex, depending on which herbs and spices you have on hand. Even a sprinkling of ground black pepper will add a little zest to meats.

Dry Rub Recipe #1
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 Tablespoon ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon thyme

This recipe is easily doubled or tripled and will keep in a cool, dry place for about 3 months. It contains no salts or sugars.

Dry Rub Recipe #2
1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 Tablespoons paprika
1 Tablespoon cumin
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ Tablespoons garlic powder
1 ½ teaspoons oregano
1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne

Combine ingredients. Eliminate cayenne for a milder rub. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
For a rub with Asian flair - and one that will make a tasty addition to fish and scallops - add the following to Rub #1:

1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon powdered ginger

While the cooking method is most important, rubs, pastes, and marinades add flavorful depth to just about any food. Once you start searching for different types of recipes, you will find it easy to mix and match to obtain the perfect balance that suits your palate.