Use a spice rub for a tasty pork roast.
A pork roast is a delicious cut of meat that can be prepared with several types of spice rubs. Spice rubs are a mixture of spices and herbs that are rubbed directly into the meat. You should always rub spices fully into the entire roast, even in cracks and crevices. Spice rubs are a perfect way to heavily spice meat, rather than a light sprinkle of seasonings. They are also easier than basting a roast, since you add the seasonings only once.
Basic Spice Rub
Start off by knowing a basic spice rub. Mix equal amounts of cumin, thyme, sage, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and double the amount of paprika for a basic spice rub. The flavors all complement each other without any one being distinctive. Once you have a simple rub that you can return to any time, you can begin experimenting with various spices to create your perfect pork roast. Vegetables such as caramelized onions or mushrooms are delicious with a basic spice rub as neither flavor overpowers the other.
Sweet Spice Rub
Use a sweeter spice rub recipe on a pork roast that will be paired with fruits. Apples and grapes, for example, pair very nicely with pork roast and are complemented by a spice rub that has a sweet taste as opposed to overly spicy. Root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots also taste excellent with a sweet spice rub. Use brown sugar and white sugar as your base (about 1/3 cup each) for a sweet spice rub. You'll want a tablespoon of salt, pepper, onion salt, dry mustard and garlic powder, while using about one teaspoon each of ground ginger, cumin, paprika and thyme.
Hot Spice Rub
A hot spice rub is, as it sounds, a spicier rub. The seasonings pack a substantial amount of heat into the pork roast. Add peppers and roasted corn to a pork roast with a hot spice rub to enhance the flavor. Mix paprika, onion salt, oregano, garlic powder, thyme, chili powder and white pepper to create a hot spice rub. You should use about 1/8 cup of paprika and teaspoons of the other spices. The herbs get about two teaspoons and use the peppers more sparingly as a little goes a long way.
Cajun Spice Rub
For a variation on a hot spice rub, try a Cajun spice blend with cayenne pepper, black and white pepper, mustard, oregano, salt, and thyme. The key with this Cajun recipe is to cook the spices in a couple tablespoons of butter for one minute before rubbing into the meat. The butter creates a crisp skin over the pork roast.
Sweet & Spicy Spice Rub
Combine the best of both worlds by mixing brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and a dash of cayenne pepper together and rubbing it into the pork roast. The sugar base keeps it sweet, the cayenne adds heat and the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg add a savory flavor.
Tags: pork roast, garlic powder, basic spice, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, into meat, into pork
