All-purpose rub that balances sweet, smoky and spicy for vegetables and meat.
For those who might be new to my blog, I'm doing a series of Gifts From the Kitchen as we all ramp up for the holidays. These are gifts you can use for a gift exchange with family or friends, or bring to a dinner party for an easy and useful hostess gift.
Truthfully, all these gifts are great ANY time of year, not just just for the holidays - for example this spice rub is a great gift during the summer BBQ season! As we all know, a nicely balanced rub can elevate a very simple dish of ribs to something very special.
Feel free to create your own rub for the level of spiciness you prefer, but my husband and I both like spicy food, so this rub is one I use a lot year-round for both steak and veggies. In fact, it's the same spice mix I used on my recipe for Broiled Spicy Steak with Garlic Chips on a Gorgonzola Crostini that I entered into a recipe development contest a couple years ago on FOOD52 that made runner-up status against a lot of other great-tasting contenders.
Chipotle Spice Rub
Ingredients...
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon oregano (Mexican oregano in particular is a great choice here)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika (Pimenton de la Vera is by far my favorite)
Making It...
- Combine all spices in the bowl of a mortar and pestle and lightly mash them together.
- Pour into a nice gift container.
- Tie a cord or ribbon around it, strung through a small card with the recipe for the spice mix.
Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients...
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons (or to taste) Chipotle Spice Mix
- 1 tablespoon shelled pumpkin seeds
Making It...
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Peel the potatoes and cut into medium-sized cubes. Toss in olive oil.
- Sprinkle the potatoes with the Chipotle Spice Mix, toss again, place on a baking sheet, and roast for 30 minutes, or until tender.
- Serve warm with a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds.
lizthechef
And you deserved to have won that food52 contest...Again, love the gift theme.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Ah well, all water under the bridge now. It's still my husband's favorite way for me to make him a steak dinner. Sometimes I sneak a bite - just to make sure the steak is done enough, you know. A sacrifice I make for his dinner 🙂
Ashley Pierson (@AshleyAnPierson)
This is so great Susan! I love all the ideas! Thanks for sharing as always
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Ashley! This has been a fun series to put together, and so useful. Are you signed up for the Food52 gift exchange? Liz - that question is for you too! It's such a great idea!
TasteFood
This rub sounds gorgeous - right up my alley.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Lynda! Yes, this definitely reminds me of your great sweet potato fries. I had them in a kale salad yesterday and they were a great contrast with apples and a vinaigrette.
Sylvia Certo
Ciao Susan
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables combined with your chipotle spice mixture
sounds scrumptious.
Iam loving your blog!!!
Felice giorno del ringraziamento,
Sylvia
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Ciao Sylvia, and mille grazie! Sono molto contenta che ti piace. Anche, felice giorno del ringraziamento a te e la tua famiglia.
Hannah
Your Gifts from the Kitchen series is terrific! I am signed up for the Food52 gift exchange and you're definitely giving me some ideas.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks!! I signed up too - I really love the idea of the gift exchange!
Eric Herot
I found your spice rub when looking for something to go on some green beans with a sweet potato pasta dish. I added a bunch of nutmeg to it and sauteed the green beans in it (in olive oil and bacon fat--shhhhh!) and it was awesomely delicious.
Thanks for posting it!