Raichlen’s Four-by-Four BBQ Rub

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Homemade BBQ spice rub for meat.

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Number of Servings:

Makes 1 cup

Recipe Source:

The Brisket Chronicles by Steven Raichlen ($19.95, Workman, 2019)

Ingredients

¹⁄₄ cup salt (coarse, fine, kosher, sea, smoked, etc.)
¹⁄₄ cup pepper (cracked, coarse, fine, black, white, green, rainbow, etc.)
¹⁄₄ cup paprika (sweet, hot, or pimentón)
¹⁄₄ cup sugar (dark brown, light brown, maple, granulated, or Sucanat)

Optional Flavorings

1 Tbsp granulated garlic
1 Tbsp granulated onion
1 tsp celery seed

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix, breaking up any lumps in the sugar with your fingers.
Raichlen’s Rub will keep, in a sealed jar away from heat or light, for several weeks.

Notes

One cup of rub is enough for 16 to 20 pounds of meat.
A four-by-four rub requires only 4 basic ingredients in equal proportions:
- salt
- pepper
- paprika
- sugar

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Building Flavor with Rubs and Marinades

a man sprinkling dry rub on a strip steak

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