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Star Anise and Coffee Bean Spice Rub

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

5 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1/3 cup

Star Anise and Coffee Bean Spice Rub

Ingredients

6 star anise (pods)2 tablespoons whole coffee beans 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 2 teaspoons table salt 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Grind all ingredients in dedicated spice grinder until no whole peppercorns remain.
Star Anise and Coffee Bean Spice Rub

Star Anise and Coffee Bean Spice Rub

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

5 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1/3 cup

Ingredients

6 star anise (pods)
2 tablespoons whole coffee beans
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Ingredients

6 star anise (pods)
2 tablespoons whole coffee beans
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Ingredients

6 star anise (pods)
2 tablespoons whole coffee beans
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Why This Recipe Works

As we set out to find a simple spice rub recipe to dress up steaks, we wondered how many spices we’d need for the best rub. We found that because relatively few spices taste better when heated, a five-ingredient spice rub recipe (made with carefully chosen ingredients) is preferable to a pantry-emptying rub. Many proponents of spice rubs profess the benefits of toasting whole versions of all spices and grinding them fresh. To our great surprise, the flavor of steaks rubbed with freshly toasted and ground spices was indistinguishable from that of steaks rubbed with preground, untoasted spices.

Instructions

  1. Grind all ingredients in dedicated spice grinder until no whole peppercorns remain.

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