My Favorite Rubs

Rubs are a fairly new phenomenon in Sweden.

A few years ago, ready-made rubs started showing up in portion sachets from Santa Maria, among others.

A rub is dry spices that you massage into the meat instead of marinating it. The spices then toast during grilling and boost the flavor of the meat.

This is something I use a lot when I grill.

It’s incredibly easy to make your own rubs from your spice rack, but it can be a bit hard to know what to put in and how much.

So I’m going to give you a hand by listing my favorite blends.

Fish & Seafood Rub

This rub is excellent for fish and seafood, especially when you plank-grill them, but it works for regular grilling too.

  • ½ cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3/1 ⅔ cups ground black pepper
  • 3/1 ⅔ cups gourmet salt
  • 3 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp ground mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp dried dill
  • 1 tbsp dill seeds
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tbsp lemon pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder

North Carolina BBQ Rub

  • 2 tbsp paprika powder
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp cumin, ground
  • 2 tbsp chili, ground
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp black pepper, finely ground

Coffee Rub

A somewhat different rub that works excellently on beef.

  • 1 tbsp finely ground dark-roast coffee
  • 2 tsp gourmet salt
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp herb salt or all-purpose seasoning.

Mix and rub into room-temperature beef before grilling.

Mexican Taco Rub

If you want a bit of Mexican taco touch on your meat, try this rub. It works great on both chicken and pork, and also on ground meat when you make classic tacos.

  • 2 tbsp chili, ground
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp paprika powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin, ground
  • 1 tsp cayenne, ground
  • 1 tsp oregano, finely ground
  • ¼ tsp cayenne

Corn Rub

This rub gives your grilled corn a bit of a kick.

  • 2 tbsp cumin, ground
  • 2 tsp chili, ground
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper, finely ground
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • room-temperature butter.

Mix the lime juice and the butter well. Pull back the husks on the corn and brush with the butter and lime juice. Sprinkle the seasoning over, fold the husks back and grill with the husks on.

Kebab Seasoning

You can use this spice blend, among other things, when making gyros on the rotisserie. It really tastes like Greece.

Note: large batch

  • ¾ cup + 1½ tbsp sea salt
  • 5 tbsp paprika powder
  • 2 tsp black pepper, finely ground
  • 2 tsp oregano, finely crushed
  • 1 tsp ground thyme

Black Cajun Rub

  • 2 tbsp crushed black peppercorns
  • 4 tsp paprika powder
  • 4 tsp garlic powder or pressed garlic
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper

Authentic Texas Style Rib Rub

  • 5 tbsp paprika powder
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2½ tbsp salt
  • 2½ tbsp garlic powder
  • 2½ tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp black pepper, finely ground
  • 1 tbsp parsley, dried
  • 2 tsp cayenne
  • 2 tsp cumin, ground
  • 1 tsp coriander, ground
  • 1 tsp oregano, dried
  • 1 tsp chili, ground

Basic BBQ Rub

  • 4 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp mustard powder
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp paprika powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp ground allspice

Cajun Rub

  • 3½ tbsp paprika powder
  • 3½ tbsp salt
  • 3 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme

Greek Seasoning

  • 2 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp beef bouillon powder
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tbsp nutmeg

If you want to make a Greek marinade, use the same spices and mix in olive oil and the juice of a lemon.

Italian Rub

  • 2 tbsp dried basil
  • 2 tbsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp dried rosemary
  • 2 tbsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp dried sage
  • 2 tbsp dried marjoram
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp dried coriander

If you want a bit more heat, add 1 tbsp chili flakes.

Garam Masala

  • 2 tbsp cardamom seeds
  • 2 tbsp caraway
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 2 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp dried nutmeg
  • 1 tsp turmeric.

Grind everything together in a mortar.

New Mexican Pork Rub

  • 3 tbsp ancho chili, ground
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp New Mexico chili, ground
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon, ground
  • 2 tsp allspice, ground
  • 1 tsp salt

Spicy Beef Rub

  • 6 tbsp chili, ground
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp coriander, ground
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin, ground
  • 1 tbsp black pepper, finely ground

Homemade Cajun rub spice blend

Also see our favorite marinades

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