Big Bad Beef Rub

Beef brisket and barbecued beef ribs can handle, and benefit from, a more potent mix than Dalmatian Rub. This rub creates a rich, flavorful, crunchy crust, called bark.

Beef rub is different than pork rub. Pork loves sweetness, but beef does not, so the small amount of sugar in this rub is there only to help with bark formation. Black pepper, on the other hand, works great with beef. This rub brings complexity with different flavors and different levels of heat. If you can find dried ancho chile, go with it. It has a nice raisin-y character. Either chipotle or cayenne can give you a kiss of heat, but chipotle has better flavor.

Makes about ½ cup

Takes about 10 minutes

• 3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons chili powder or ground ancho chile (see headnote)
• 1 teaspoon ground chipotle or cayenne chiles

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl.