All-Purpose Red Rub

All-Purpose Red Rub

½ cup paprika

½ cup kosher salt

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup granulated garlic

6 tablespoons granulated onion

¼ cup chili powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Dump all the ingredients into a bowl and rub them together with your hands. Store in a plastic or glass container until ready to use.

Rubbin’ spices into the meat is the essential first step to great barbecue. This is a good starter rub, but feel free to personalize it. Add some of your favorite herbs or pulverized dried smoked chiles. Just make sure you keep the sweet, savory and spicy flavors in balance.

Contributor: National Barbecue News, September 2001