Want to get more bang for your buck with your grilled pork? Try this easy BBQ Pork Rub recipe for a nice, deep flavor.
We all know how important it is to grill or smoke meat to perfection , but the secret to great flavor often lies in the preparation, and I find the best way to do that is with a good dry BBQ marinade. If you don’t rub, you won’t lose any flavor.
Maybe it’s because I’m a die-hard spice fanatic, but dry marinades are my favorite way to cook on the grill. Sure, marinades are great, but nothing else comes close to getting that perfect combination of herbs and spices.
The best thing about barbecue mixes is that they are so easy to prepare and keep. No fancy equipment required, just mix the spices and seasonings together, rub over the meat and allow to sit before cooking.
This BBQ Pork Dry Dressing contains cumin, paprika and chili powder at the core to create a nice smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with your meat. Actually, it works with chicken, but I think this mixture goes perfectly with pork, and besides… I actually already have a recipe for smoked chicken .
I wish I could write a complete method for this dry massage, but the truth is that it’s so ridiculously simple I’d be stupid to do it.
I’ve used it on smoked pork tenderloin , pork shoulder, and even baby back ribs . It has always gone well.
What I do want to say, though, is that while the dressing itself only takes a minute to mix, after you apply the dressing to the pork, let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours before cooking. Some people tend to leave it alone for 15-30 minutes, but it’s really a case that longer is better, so I personally try to do it for at least 2 hours, sometimes overnight if I really have the time!
When applying the massage to the meat, try to be as thorough as possible. Rub it directly with your hands, making sure to cover all sides of the meat.
Get as creative as you can while doing this. If you’re not sure about any of the ingredients in this recipe, give it a try! In my experience, some of the other best herb and spice combinations with pork are cayenne pepper, thyme, cilantro, and sage. Try them and let you know what you think(so I can steal your ideas… I mean try them)!
If you like this, be sure to check out my Pork Chop Seasoning Recipe !
Why a dry massage?
Adding a dry rub seems to add an unnecessary extra step that just gets between you and your delicious food. Crucially, however, the pork is packed with flavor. The dry marinade improves the flavor of the meat and is less messy than a liquid marinade. It also creates a flavorful crust on the outside of the pork while it’s being grilled and adds a delicious crispiness to the texture of the meat.
How long can pork be dried?
Any good BBQ seasoning will take a little time to build up its potency, and that goes for pork just as much as it does beef or chicken. The dry dressing should sit on the pork anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours. However, there is no real limit and you can even leave the massage overnight if you wish to prepare in advance. If you leave it massaged for more than 30 minutes, make sure it rests in the fridge at a safe temperature.
Which spices are suitable for pork?
The expected seasoning ingredients for pork are paprika powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. You can also add other ingredients like cumin, chili powder, and brown sugar for a little extra flavor.
Should I season the pork overnight?
The purpose of a dry rub is to add extra flavor to meat. It makes sense that the longer the meat sits, the tastier it WILL BE. Leaving the pork in the dry marinade overnight will make it taster.
There are a few things you can do to make a nighttime rub dry work. Make sure the dressing sticks to the meat by brushing the skin with mustard first and wrapping it in plastic wrap to keep the dressing in place. However, if the dry rub contains tenderizing ingredients like citrus, don’t leave it overnight as this will ruin the texture of the meat.