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Spice Rubs And Pastes (21 Recipes, 2 Articles)
Published On: 2/18/2019 Last Modified: 6/16/2025
Dry rubs are a mix of spices and dried herbs and they are rubbed into the meat before cooking. They come in a wide range of flavors. There are barbecue rubs, chili powder (yes chili powder is a spice blend), curries, jerk seasoning, sate, Old Bay, and many more.
Pastes, wet rubs, and slathers come in two classes: Water based and oil based. Most are just dry rubs mixed with water or oil. They have the advantage of sticking better and can be layered on thick. Most herbs and spices dissolve well in water. Oil has the advantage of helping keep food from sticking to the grates.
Rubs are part art and part science. The art is creating a blend of harmonious flavors that will complement the meat or veggie. The science is knowing how they will change when subjected to heat and knowing that there should be no salt in a rub. And since most commercial rubs can be up to 50% salt, you need to make your own rubs. Better, and a heckuva lot cheaper. You can buy pre-mixed rubs, but they are easy to make yourself, and a lot cheaper since most commercial rubs are loaded with salt. Every good barbecue cook should have a few signature house rubs to brag on. Just steal our recipes.
Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub Recipe
This popular Memphis dust bbq dry rub recipe is the only seasoning blend you'll ever need for pork, chicken, fish, beef, and veggies. The rub is based on Memphis style BBQ, where ribs are served "dry," letting the seasoning and smoked shine by skipping the sauce.
Memphis Dry Rub Recipe, Rendezvous-Style
This Rendezvous Dry Rub Recipe is closer to Charlie Vergos' famous seasoning rub than they are handing out.
Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow Crust: The Perfect Beef Dry Rub Recipe
Packed with seasonings and blended with oil, this wet paste adds to the flavor of your bark and takes grilled or smoked meat over the top.
Big Bad Beef Dry Rub Recipe
This flavorful beef dry rub recipe is perfect for seasoning brisket, ribs, steak, and more. You can make this rub in advance and store it.
Simon & Garfunkel Spice Rub For Poultry Recipe
With “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,” as the song goes, this herb blend goes on everything. Try our poultry dry rub recipe on chicken, turkey, potatoes, grilled asparagus, eggs, pork, you name it.
A Pastrami Rub Recipe That Rivals New York’s Famed Katz’s Deli
After much research and trial and error, here's my approximation of Katz's pastrami rub recipe for a New York pastrami sandwich at home.
Dolly’s Rub Is The Only One You Ever Need For Lamb
Dolly's lamb rub recipe is perfect when looking to amp up the flavor for smoked and grilled lamb. Click here to get the details.
Homemade Chili Powder: Head And Shoulders Above The Rest
Here's a simple recipe for chili powder that stands head and shoulders above anything you can buy in a jar.
Get a Taste Of N’awlins With This Cajun Seasoning Rub Recipe
This spice blend features classic Louisiana flavors like cayenne and allspice, perfect for making andouille sausage, jambalaya, gumbo, and blackened fish. It is also good rubbed on barbecued meats and mixed into burgers.this item is for members only
Creole Seasoning Rub Recipe
This recipe for spicy Creole seasoning is perfect for gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish etoufee. It also works well rubbed on pork, chicken and turkey.
A Cluckin’ Great Poultry Seasoning Recipe
This is an easy all-purpose spice mix for chicken, turkey, and pork. They sell it in bottles, but you can make it and modify it easily.
Here’s The Best Italian Seasoning You’ve Ever Used
Add a taste of Italy to virtually any dish with this tested recipe for a flavorful Italian herb and spice blend.
The Only Fish Rub Recipe You’ll Ever Need
This Marietta's fish rub recipe is a delicious blend of herbs designed to make BBQ and grilled fish shine.
Chinese Five Spice Powder Recipe
This simple to make, flavorpacked recipe for five spice powder will be your go-to seasoning when you want to add an Asian accent to any dish.
This Mustard Wasabi Rub Will Open Your Nostrils
With wasabi powder, mustard powder, ginger, cayenne, and black pepper, this Japanese wasabi rub recipe will open up your nostrils. Try it with fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, pork, and vegetables.
Garam Masala Recipe: Cornerstone Rub Of India
Based on the popular Indian spice blend, this Garam Masala recipe is a complex blend of flavors including sweet, spicy hot, and savory.
Ras El Hanout Spice Mix
Ras el Hanout is a spice mix often used as a rub for meats, especially lamb and goat in North Africa and the Middle East.
Pickling Spice Recipe
This is an all-purpose spice mix for homemade pickles, from cucumbers to Colorful Pickled Eggs Recipe, corned beef, even pickled pigs feet.
Herbed Breadcrumb Crust Recipe
This delicious recipe for herbed breadcrumbs is not only simple to make, it's also an great way to add a flavorful crust to countless dishes.
The Only Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Pesto is one of the world's great and most versatile sauces, and this tested recipe is sure to become your new favorite.
Charmoula Herb Paste Will Have You Eating Like An Egyptian
Packed full of flavor, charmoula (a.k.a. chermoula) is an North African herb paste used as a marinade, sauce, relish, dip, and spread.
Bring The Heat With Fiery Harissa Hot Pepper Paste
If made properly, harissa is much more interesting than any bottled hot sauce. You can buy it, but it is easy to make with this recipe.Related articles
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- The Science Of Rubs
- Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub Recipe
- Memphis Dry Rub Recipe, Rendezvous-Style
- Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow Crust: The Perfect Beef Dry Rub Recipe
- Big Bad Beef Dry Rub Recipe
- Simon & Garfunkel Spice Rub For Poultry Recipe
- A Pastrami Rub Recipe That Rivals New York’s Famed Katz’s Deli
- Dolly’s Rub Is The Only One You Ever Need For Lamb
- Homemade Chili Powder: Head And Shoulders Above The Rest
- Get a Taste Of N’awlins With This Cajun Seasoning Rub Recipe
- Creole Seasoning Rub Recipe
- Chinese Five Spice Powder Recipe
- The Only Fish Rub Recipe You’ll Ever Need
- Here’s The Best Italian Seasoning You’ve Ever Used
- A Cluckin’ Great Poultry Seasoning Recipe
- This Mustard Wasabi Rub Will Open Your Nostrils
- Garam Masala Recipe: Cornerstone Rub Of India
- Ras El Hanout Spice Mix
- Pickling Spice Recipe
- Herbed Breadcrumb Crust Recipe
- The Only Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe You’ll Ever Need
- Charmoula Herb Paste Will Have You Eating Like An Egyptian
- Bring The Heat With Fiery Harissa Hot Pepper Paste
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