Meat and a jar of seasoning on a wooden surface

Rubbed the Right Way The ultimate wild game seasoning BY JONATHAN MILES DRY RUBS ARE AS INTEGRAL TO DOWNHOME BARBECUE AS SMOKE. These potent a { mixtures of salt, pepper, spices, and oftentimes sugar cure the meat before cooking and avor it while its on the fire, mingling with the juices to form an ambrosial crust. The following rub is customdesigned for wild game, with woodsy blasts of thyme and juniper, but works equally well on beef or pork. Try coating 3 venison ank steak (sometimes called a London broil) with this, searing it quickly on the grill until medium-rare, then slicing it across the grain into very thin, spice-edged strips. You can also make a killer Carolina-style barbecue mopping sauce for game by adding it to some apple cider vinegar and a little ketchup. One thing to note: Despite the name, you dont actually want to rub this into the meat, since most of it will cling to your hands if you do. Just give it a few good pats to help it adhere. Field & Streams Ultimate Wild Game Rub Time: 10 minutes I Difficulty: Easy , A cup kosher salt 1 tablespoon granulated ' 1 tablespoon onion powder A cup ground black pepper sugar ' . 1 tablespoon juniper berries, A cup sweet paprika 2 tablespoons dried thyme crushed and minced 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. For best results, use your fingers to fully distribute the juniper oils. This makes 1% cups, enough for 8 to 10 pounds of meat. Kept away from heat and light, it will last up to six months.