Five easy BBQ rubs for summer

Add plenty of flavour to meat, fish or vegetables before barbecuing with these easy dry rubs. Combining just a few herbs and spices can transform your barbecue - choose between spicy, herby or citrus flavour combinations. With all these rubs, all you need to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl, rub into your chosen meat, fish or veg then grill until cooked through. Each recipe makes enough to marinate food for four people.

Smoky

Try a pinch of sea salt, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dark soft brown sugar and ½ tsp mustard powder for a smoky result. This rub is particularly good with pork or meaty aubergine.

Tangy

Mix together the finely grated zest of ½ a lemon, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves and a pinch of sea salt for a tangy citrus rub that works particularly well with chicken, fish and lamb.

Piri piri

Combine ¼ tsp ground cumin, the finely grated zest of ½ a lemon, a pinch of sea salt, 1 tsp crushed chillies, 1 tsp dried oregano and ½ tsp crushed garlic for a spicy Portuguese-inspired result. For a classic dish, try with chicken or rubbing over corn on the cob before grilling.

Aniseed

In a dry frying pan, toast 1 tsp fennel seeds and 1 tsp coriander seeds until fragrant then lightly crush. Stir together along with ½ tsp crushed chillies and ½ tsp celery salt for a unique aniseed-scented rub. This is a great choice for vegetable or prawn skewers.

Spiced peppercorn

As with the aniseed rub, toast and lightly crush 1 tsp rainbow peppercorns and ½ tsp Szechuan peppercorns. Combine with ½ tsp Chinese five spice for a colourful spiced rub that is robust enough to work with strong flavours such as beef kebabs or steaks.

Five easy BBQ rubs for summer

Smoky

Tangy

Piri piri

Aniseed

Spiced peppercorn

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