Good BBQ'ed steak rub or marinade?

[bigloo]

A great rub is: (all are approximate, I have made this so often I just free hand pour the spices into a bowl, but trust me, as long as you are close, you will be fine).

2 tbsp brown suger
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp corriander
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp msg (optional, but makes a big difference)

Multiply this recipe 10x, make is once use it many times. To use, brush steak with olive oil. Then generousy RUB the mixture into the steak, coat that son of a *****. Grill to rare (if you grill past rare, you will have to finish on indirect heat to prevent burning of the sugar, but then again, if you grill past rare, well, dont get me started).

Now the killer, right before taking the steak off the grill, load the steak up with fresh garlic butter (butter+fresh pressed garlic+parsley) and let it melt over the steak, no so much that is runs off the steak, just enough so that when served it is easily spread over the steak. I also sometimes add chipolte and lime to the butter mixture. I gave never served this steak without the dinner table conversation coming to a complete halt so be warned.

You want more, you got it. If you like you steak extra tender, marinade it first in a light lager mixed with papain powder (it is powder from papayas and will eat a steak apart in 24 hours so 2-4 hours is PLENTY -- it can be found at indian markets as meat tenderizer). I prefer it to US tenderizer as it has no salt added so wont bleed the steak). Rub the papain powder into the steak then drizzle with beer (if is almost a dry marinade). The, after 2-4 hours, wash the meat with remainder beer.

Anyway, probably more then anyone wanted to know. My shtick is grilling steaks, I have about 10 goto recipes that work everytime and try new stuff all the time, but this one, this is the best.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by bigloo

My shtick is grilling steaks, I have about 10 goto recipes that work everytime and try new stuff all the time, but this one, this is the best.

That recipe sounds great, how 'bout posting the rest for those of us who ARE interested

I've been trying to find a rub recipe that would work well for making jerky, little more salt and this one may do the trick. Everything I see online is all soy and worcestershire sauce, I'm tired of that recipe. Always been partial to rubs anyway.

[bigloo]

Originally Posted by Mark C

That recipe sounds great, how 'bout posting the rest for those of us who ARE interested

I've been trying to find a rub recipe that would work well for making jerky, little more salt and this one may do the trick. Everything I see online is all soy and worcestershire sauce, I'm tired of that recipe. Always been partial to rubs anyway.

Sure. One note about packaged seasonings and rubs (like Montreal). I have eaten many steaks prepped with these and they do taste good, but they are 90% salt. I love salt, but in order to get a stronger spice or herb flavor with these rubs results in over salted foods. Making your own rubs/seasonings results in a better product, but I must admit, if you like the bottled stuff, thats all that matters (and yes, my pantry has about 20 spice mixtures including 3 montreal type blends but I always tend to use them a salt substitute and add non-salt elements to them).

HEre is a great herb rub which I have been using on Flat Iron steaks for a while. For some reason this works extremely well on flat irons, will probably work well with strip steaks too. The other good thing about this is that uses dried herbs:

Recipe:

Equal Parts dried rosemary, thyme and half as much oregano.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
2 clove of garlic per 1/4 cup olive oil.

Crush the garlic into the olive oil. 1/4 cup is more then enough for an entire flat iron. Take herb mixture and RUB RUB RUB into meat. This will break up the herbs and press them into the meat. The amount of rub you want is to get a good coverage but not a crust -- this is aromatic and too much will over power. Unfortunately this is a try it thing but use good judgement. Next, crack black pepper to your taste on both sides of meat, and yes rub it in. Then drizzle both sides with garlic olive oil and let marinade at room temperature for 2 hours (dont worry, unless you house is 100 degrees you are safe). Take the steak out the oil, sprinlke with course salt to taste and grill, let rest 10 minutes and slice against grain.

One more note. You should always oil steak before grilling. Obviously it prevents sticking, but the true value is that smoke is trapped by fat, your steaks will be MUCH smokier. Spraying the grill with oil only results in non-sticking, not the flavor enhancement. Try it, I stand by this.

I have never made jerky but make Biltong, a South African dried meat (think drying an entire london broil). I use a special box to dry the meat over 2 weeks, the meat cures for 24 hours. I make 60-80 lbs at a time, I will post some pictures in a another thread soon