Makes approx. 1 cup

Another Thai flavoring staple, Tamarind Concentrate is a necessity for a wellstocked Thai kitchen. Although homemade is always best, tamarind concentrate (or paste) is available in Asian specialty markets.

Thai Grilling Rub

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon dried lime peel

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  1. Combine all the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container.
  2. To use, rinse the meat of your choice under cool water and pat dry; sprinkle the meat with the spice mixture (to taste) and rub it in along with some olive oil, then grill or broil to your liking.

illustration Spice Rubs

There is a virtually infinite number of spice rub combos and variations. One helpful hint for creating your own spice rub: Check out some of the seasonings used in your favorite sauces, then mix together roughly equal parts of these ingredients to use as a rub for the meat, poultry, fish, or vegetable that was also involved in that recipe. You should also feel free to experiment!