Summer is all about grilling. The best grill recipes are carefully seasoned and this homemade seasoning is amazing - and unique.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Totally different from other steak rubs
- Quick and easy to put together - no weird ingredients
- Compliments beef, game, turkey, pork, and even chicken.
Y'all, this cocoa and cardamom steak rub recipe is a little spicy with a flavor that everyone loves. No one has figured out it's the unusual combination of cocoa and cardamom that does it!
📖 Variations
Don't vary this homemade seasoning the first time you make it. Once you know how it tastes and what you might like better you can try some variations.
- Use maple sugar instead of the brown sugar.
- If you can find roasted cinnamon try that for an even smokier flavor.
- Use chipotle powder in place of cayenne.
🥫 How to store steak rub
Store homemade steak rub in a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid. This way it won't pick up weird odors.
It also is less likely to get damp and clump together.
Always give the jar a good shake before using. It mixes the ingredients and also helps break up any clumps that may have formed.
Keep this in a cool dark place, like a pantry, for up to 6 months.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Bring meat to room temperature before grilling. it will cook more quickly and evenly.
- Pat meat dry with paper towels before adding seasoning.
- Pat the steak rub thickly on the steak and let it sit for at least an hour before putting on the grill.
- After you've added the steak rub you can cover the meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
- Top with a tablespoon of butter after the steak comes off the grill. This intensifies the flavors.
👩🍳 FAQs
It's a mixture of herbs, spices, and seasonings that's patted or rubbed onto all the surface of a steak before cooking. It adds flavor and enhances the taste of the meat.
Technically you can. The thing is that the sugar not only adds flavor but it helps the steak develop a beautiful crust on the outside.
Cardamom tastes a little spicy, a little citrusy, a little pungent, and a lot delicious!
📚 Related recipes
- If you're grilling chicken give this copycat Popeye's seasoned salt a try. It's also really good on vegetables.
- I love spicy food and this copycat Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning is SO good!
- This retro hibachi sauce is my dad's recipe. It's SO good!
🍽️ Serve with...
Cocoa cardamom steak rub is delicious on steaks but it's also good on pork chops, and venison, too! I've even added it to grilled chicken.
📞 The last word
Summer is the season for grilling! A few good homemade seasonings and dry rubs are a delicious way to make your grilled recipes unique.
This recipe was featured in Huffington Post.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cocoa Cardamom Steak Rub
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ⅓ cup dark cocoa powder, I use Hershey's Extra Dark
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, light or dark
- 1 ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Mix all together
- Use 1 tablespoon mixture per pound of meat.
- Rub on steak
- Allow to stand at room temperature for 20 minutes or refrigerate up to 24 hours.
- Grill to desired doneness
- Store tightly covered in a cool dark place.
Notes
- Pat meat dry with paper towels before adding seasoning.
- Pat the steak rub thickly on the steak and let it sit for at least an hour before putting on the grill.
- After you've added the steak rub you can cover the meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
- Top with a tablespoon of butter after the steak comes off the grill. This intensifies the flavors.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published in August 2011. Last updated June 25, 2023 for more information and editorial improvements.
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