3 simple, yet tantalizing BBQ rubs

Experts agree the ideal BBQ rub recipe for ribs uses a basic formula of eight, three, one, one. Although they all start with a base of brown sugar and salt, the two variables of "one" are the ingredients that bring out each of their unique flavours. To find your favourite flavour combo, here are three rub recipes to experiment with.

This basic rub recipe makes the classic, crystallized sugar coating on top of ribs slow-roasted over an open fire or in the oven.

Ingredients

• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Brown sugar
• Pepper
• Vinegar
• Honey

To make the rub

1. Mix the ingredients together in the following ratio: 500 ml of brown sugar, 180 ml of salt, 60 ml of chilli powder, 30 ml of garlic powder and 30 ml of pepper.
2. Rub the spices into the meat, along with some vinegar and honey to encourage the flavour to permeate.
3. Refrigerate for several hours before cooking for maximum flavour.

This rub recipe has an extra touch of bitterness that is the hallmark of Memphis-style ribs.

Ingredients

• Pepper
• Paprika
• Dry mustard
• Brown sugar
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Cumin
• Celery salt

To make this rub

1. Put in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, garlic powder, cumin, celery salt and paprika to create 60 ml.
2. When you have that spice mix, use the same ratio of 500 ml of sugar, 180 ml of salt, 60 ml of spices, 30 ml of mustard and 30 ml of pepper.
3. Follow the same directions as with the Sugar spice rub recipe above to rub the mixture into the ribs before cooking.

This version of a rib rub uses less sugar than the above recipes.

Ingredients

• Paprika
• Sugar
• Pepper
• Salt
• Mustard
• Cayenne
• White pepper

To make this rub

1. For this recipe, mix mustard, white pepper, cayenne and paprika to create 60 ml.
2. Mix the ingredients together with 250 ml of sugar, 80 ml of salt, 60 ml of pepper and the rest of the spices.
3. With this recipe, as with all of them, let the rub sit on the ribs before you barbecue them to let the flavours really soak in.

Letting the ribs sit in this rub will result in dryer, less-sweet, but still moist ribs that pack a powerful flavour punch.

With these recipes for rib rubs, you can enjoy ribs all year long without ever getting tired of them because you'll always have a new version (or variations) to try.

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