It has been cold and rainy here in New Orleans. I wanted ribs but I didn’t want to have to actually go outside to deal with the grill. Therefore, I’m going to cook them in the oven.
I needed a rub that has a lot of smoked flavor, so I started with some chipolte powder and paprika. I also wanted some depth so I used a trick from steakhouses to add a dry aged flavor by using instant espresso, cocoa powder, salt and pepper. A little brown sugar to counteract any bitterness from the espresso and cocoa and I had an awesome rub.
Cocoa Espresso Rub for Ribs
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
1/2 teaspoon chipolte powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
Put all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix with your fingers to break up any lumps. Store any extra in an airtight container.
