01.25.2023
Staff Pick: World’s Fair Barbecue Rub
Savory, sweet, spicy rub with Grains of Paradise and Hawaiian Black Lava Salt. Great on meats, vegetables, kale chips, and homemade sauces.
- Coarse texture delivers crunch and concentrated bursts of flavor that hold up to high heat.
- Very versatile - use on grilled meats, roasted vegetables, tofu, kale chips, and in sauces.
- Key flavors come from Grains of Paradise, Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, Tellicherry pepper, garlic and shallots.
Back when video rental stores were a thing, the staff movie picks section was always a joy to browse. We’re sharing our own staff picks starting with World’s Fair Barbecue Rub. This savory, sweet, and spicy rub features a coarse texture and a few special ingredients, such as Grains of Paradise and Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt. This blend is an obvious choice for any grilled meat, but you’ll soon find yourself using it for grilled or roasted vegetables, hearty stews, sautéed tofu, turkey burgers, and even kale chips. If you have a favorite way to use our World’s Fair Barbecue Rub, leave us a comment below!
Bursts of BBQ Flavor
Alex Wilkens, Director of Product and Sourcing
Texture is an important consideration when choosing a BBQ rub and all of my favorites have plenty of coarse chucky bits. Not only do these larger pieces stand up to high heat better than fine powders but they also provide bursts of flavor when you crunch into them. World’s Fair Barbecue Rub is one of those blends–full of coarse Tellicherry pepper, Hawaiian Black Lava Salt, minced garlic and sweet freeze dried shallots. This rub is all-purpose but works especially well on grilled or pan-roasted vegetables like cauliflower steaks, halved zucchini, or slabs of eggplant.
Garlic and Shallots Galore
Angelena Riedijk, Retail Manager
I love how versatile and balanced World’s Fair Barbecue Rub is. I’m a sucker for anything that has garlic, and along with the minced shallots and mild heat that World’s Fair has, it is a staple in my kitchen. I love it on vegetables like roasted cauliflower, green beans or potatoes, but it’s also amazing on ribs, pork chops, chicken, or fish!
Chicken Wing Treasure
Lonnie Romero, Culinary Specialist
When the outside temp gets up past 80 degrees, I–like all good Americans–love to get my grill on. Simple, smoke-perfumed meat is amazing and generally hits the spot. But, even salt-and-pepper cooks like myself occasionally want to spice things up. In walks World’s Fair Barbecue Rub. This delicious BBQ blend is useful on all types of proteins and vegetables. The combination of unique spices like Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, Indian Peppercorns, West African Grains of Paradise come together to create a savory BBQ bomb that I love sprinkling on my chicken wings before hitting the grill.
Triple Treat: Savory, Spicy, and Sweet
Geoff Marshall, Digital Content Manager
I crave savory, sweet, and spicy flavors combos, so this rub was an instant favorite for me. It has a sweet hit of coriander, peppery punch of chiles, and a touch of sugar to round it all out. I recall hand-mixing this blend when I first joined The Spice House at our shop in Evanston, Illinois. The recipe calls for grinding the Grains of Paradise fresh in a vitamix blender. The spice’s aroma was foreign and intoxicating–with notes of toasted hazelnut, citrus, and pepper. I took a jar of the rub home and immediately grilled some simple bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. (Heavily seasoned, of course.) It was easily some of the tastiest chicken with the crispiest skin I’d ever cooked. I still play around with this blend, using it on homemade potato chips, grilled asparagus, and even my homemade barbecue sauce recipe–perfect for basting those chicken thighs!
Top Recipes for World's Fair Barbecue Rub
Barbecue Kale Chips
These kale chips are an easy-to-make snack with a healthy crunch.
Pan-Fried Cauliflower Steaks
This rub is popular for beef steaks, and tuna steaks, but it is just as delicious on a vegan cauliflower steak.
World's Fair Barbecue Sauce
Tangy and slightly sweet, this barbecue sauce recipe is perfect for smoked pork shoulder or grilled chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is World’s Fair Barbecue Rub?
It is a savory, sweet, and mildly spicy spice blend with a coarse texture. Key ingredients include Tellicherry pepper, Grains of Paradise, Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, minced garlic, and freeze-dried shallots. The coarse pieces give crunchy flavor bursts and stand up to high heat.
What foods work best with this rub?
The rub is all-purpose. It shines on grilled or roasted meats like chicken, ribs, pork chops, and steak. It also works great on tuna, roasted or grilled vegetables such as cauliflower, zucchini, and eggplant, plus tofu, turkey burgers, potato or kale chips, and even mixed into barbecue sauce.
How do I apply it as a dry rub?
Pat protein or vegetables dry, lightly brush with oil to help the rub stick, then sprinkle the rub evenly. Use about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons per pound of meat as a starting point and adjust to taste. Let it sit 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate up to a few hours for deeper flavor before cooking.
Any tips for using it on vegetables and kale chips?
For vegetables: toss pieces with a little oil, coat with the rub, and roast or grill until charred and tender. For kale chips: massage leaves with oil, sprinkle a light dusting of rub, and bake at low heat until crisp. The coarse bits add crunch and savory hits.
How should I grind the Grains of Paradise if I want a fresher flavor?
Grind Grains of Paradise just before mixing for the best aroma. Use a spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Grind to a coarse texture to match the rub’s character.
Can I use this rub to make barbecue sauce?
Yes. Stir the rub into your favorite base sauce—tomato, vinegar, or mustard based—to taste. Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of sauce, simmer briefly to marry the flavors, then adjust seasoning.
How should I store the rub and how long does it keep?
Keep it in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture. Stored properly, flavor is best within 6 to 12 months. It remains usable beyond that for up to about 2 years but aroma and potency will decline.
Does the rub contain allergens or common sensitizers?
The blend includes garlic and shallot and contains pepper and sea salt. If you have allergies or strict dietary needs, check the product label or contact the vendor for full ingredient and cross-contact information before use.
What is World’s Fair Barbecue Rub?
It is a savory, sweet, and mildly spicy spice blend with a coarse texture. Key ingredients include Tellicherry pepper, Grains of Paradise, Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, minced garlic, and freeze-dried shallots. The coarse pieces give crunchy flavor bursts and stand up to high heat.
What foods work best with this rub?
The rub is all-purpose. It shines on grilled or roasted meats like chicken, ribs, pork chops, and steak. It also works great on tuna, roasted or grilled vegetables such as cauliflower, zucchini, and eggplant, plus tofu, turkey burgers, potato or kale chips, and even mixed into barbecue sauce.
How do I apply it as a dry rub?
Pat protein or vegetables dry, lightly brush with oil to help the rub stick, then sprinkle the rub evenly. Use about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons per pound of meat as a starting point and adjust to taste. Let it sit 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate up to a few hours for deeper flavor before cooking.
Any tips for using it on vegetables and kale chips?
For vegetables: toss pieces with a little oil, coat with the rub, and roast or grill until charred and tender. For kale chips: massage leaves with oil, sprinkle a light dusting of rub, and bake at low heat until crisp. The coarse bits add crunch and savory hits.
How should I grind the Grains of Paradise if I want a fresher flavor?
Grind Grains of Paradise just before mixing for the best aroma. Use a spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Grind to a coarse texture to match the rub’s character.
Can I use this rub to make barbecue sauce?
Yes. Stir the rub into your favorite base sauce—tomato, vinegar, or mustard based—to taste. Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of sauce, simmer briefly to marry the flavors, then adjust seasoning.
How should I store the rub and how long does it keep?
Keep it in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture. Stored properly, flavor is best within 6 to 12 months. It remains usable beyond that for up to about 2 years but aroma and potency will decline.
Does the rub contain allergens or common sensitizers?
The blend includes garlic and shallot and contains pepper and sea salt. If you have allergies or strict dietary needs, check the product label or contact the vendor for full ingredient and cross-contact information before use.
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