Unconventional Steak Rub and Marinade

Have you ever considered what you have around the house that you could use to make a new spice rub for steaks? Well, what if I told you to combine ground coffee, cocoa powder, and ground dried chipotle peppers? You would probably say I am absolutely out of my mind. Well, I highly suggest that you try it.

Steak-Rub Mix:

1/2 Cup Ground Coffee or Espresso
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
1 TBSP dried Chipotle Peppers, ground or crushed
1 TSP Celery Salt
1 TSP Garlic Powder
1 TSP Coarse-Ground Black Pepper
1 TSP Ginger
1 TSP Ground Coriander
1/2 TSP Thyme
1/2 TSP Paprika

Mix ingredients together in a bowl, then rub lightly onto your steaks before cooking. Simple as that.

Oh, you are saying this isn't enough for a post about seasoning steak? How about savory rum marinade to go with it? I can do that easily. I've used this marinade many, many times to bring a delicious flavor to the meat.

Caribbean Rum Marinade:

1 Cup Spiced Rum (Captain Morgan)
1/2 Cup Canned Crushed Pineapples
1/2 Cup Pineapple Juice (can use the stuff from the can)
1/2 Cup Tobasco Hot Sauce (I use the Jalapeno variety, but you can change this to your favorite flavor)
1 TBSP Ground Black Pepper
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1 TBSP Ginger
1 TBSP Savory
1 TSP Salt

Combine all ingredients in a deep bowl or dish, place raw steaks or pork chops into the mixture and allow to set for 6-12 hours. Flip meat once, and allow to soak another 6-12 hours. Grill and serve.

This is about using things normally one would not consider to be an ingredient in cooking meat. So I highly suggest you try, you explore, and you make your own discoveries in the kitchen. Just because something seems like it wouldn't go well, doesn't mean it shouldn't be tried.

~Bon Appétit~