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Lemon-Herb Rub

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 12 teaspoons

Ingredients

1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
4 dried bay leaves, crumbled
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
3 teaspoons olive oil

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small bowl, mix all ingredients. This zesty rub is ideal for leaner foods such as turkey or chicken breasts and flaky white fish (such as halibut, cod, or snapper).

  2. making rubs

    Step 2

    Almost any herbs or spices that are frequently combined, such as those in Italian seasonings or curry mixtures, can be made into a rub. Just add some salt (and sometimes sugar) to heighten the flavor.

  3. how to use

    Step 3

    Rubs should coat foods lightly. Use your fingers to rub the mixture on the meat, using about one teaspoon for every three quarters of a pound. Unlike most marinades, which often require soaking overnight, rubs can be applied just before cooking or up to several hours ahead.

  4. the right rub

    Step 4

    Which rub to use depends on the food you’re preparing. The heartier the food, the stronger the rub should be. A piquant rub made with paprika and other spices is a good match for rich-tasting salmon. Chicken breasts, on the other hand, go better with a milder herb mix.

  5. How to store

    Step 5

    A jar with a tight-fitting lid is good for mixing and storing. Dry rubs will keep for up to six months in a cool, dark place, so you can double or triple the recipes if you like. Wet rubs, such as Lemon-Herb Rub, should be refrigerated and will keep up to a week. Make sure to label and date the containers.

Reprinted with permission from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2007 by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Martha Stewart Living magazine was first published in 1990. Over the years, more than two dozen books have been published by the magazine's editors. Martha Stewart is the author of dozens of best-selling books on cooking, entertaining, gardening, weddings, and decorating. She is the host of The Martha Stewart Show, the successful daily syndicated television show.
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