Different spice combinations add depth and flavor to cooking.
When you don't know your way around a kitchen, cooking can be intimidating, and seasoning is probably not even on your radar. Even if you're an experienced cook, many techniques are time-consuming and labor-intensive. No matter what your cooking experience, the ingredients in blackened rub can help you create a quick and easy dish to serve your family and friends.
Origin
The combination of ingredients in blackened rub is generally used in Cajun cooking. "Blackened" originally indicated the method used to cook the spiced meats, but now can refer to either the method or the spice rub used on blackened meats.
Herbs and Spices
The range of ingredients in blackened rub is wide, but most include salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic and/or onion powder and cayenne. Other ingredients might include sugar, cumin, mustard and rosemary. As with any recipe, the proportions and elements depend largely on personal tastes and can be fine-tuned.
Uses
Blackened rubs are most commonly used as seasonings to enhance the flavor of different types of meats, fish and poultry. Though the ingredients in blackened rub are usually applied to meats before cooking, these spices are very versatile, and can be added to any dish that you want to have a Cajun flair, from popcorn to soup.
Cooking Methods
While the Cajun spices in blackened rub can be used in many different types of dishes and in a variety of ways, truly blackened meats require a specific cooking technique that forms a blackened crust around the outside of the protein. To achieve a blackened crust, cooks traditionally heat butter or oil in a cast iron skillet until the pan is extremely hot, then blacken the meat in the pan. More recently, blackened rubs are commonly used on grilled, roasted or broiled meats as well.
Tags: ingredients blackened, blackened crust, blackened meats, commonly used, different types