Cocoa Rub Recipes

COCOA PORK

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, add the cocoa, sugar, orange zest, black pepper, and clove. Combine well to form a rub. Coat the pork with oil and sprinkle with the salt. Smear the cocoa rub all over the pork shoulder. Add the onion quarters and pork to a large dish and pour orange juice and red wine vinegar over the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours to marinate.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Let pork sit a room temperature while oven heats up, at least 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove pork from marinade and dry well. Put the pork in a clean, dry roasting pan, and roast until the skin is browned, about 30 minutes. Reduce the oven to 325 degrees F, scatter onions from the marinade around the pork and roast until the internal temperature registers 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 to 2 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Allow the roast to rest for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.
• Slice between the meat and cracklings and lift the crackling off in 1 piece. Cut the crackling into pieces, so they're easier to eat. Carve meat downward and against the grain and arrange on a platter. Spoon pan juices and onions over the meat and serve.

COCOA RUB

Steps:

• Stir the salt, cocoa powder, white sugar, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper in a small bowl until combined. Store in an airtight container.
• To use, rub 2 to 3 teaspoons of the spice mixture onto a serving of meat, and let stand at least 10 minutes before cooking.

COCOA RUB

Steps:

• 1. stir all ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. store in an airtight container.
• 2. TO USE: rub 2-3 teaspoons of the spice mixture onto a serving of meat, let stand 10 minutes before cooking.

DOLLY PARTON'S COCOA RUB

Steps:

• Mix together and use prior to grilling chicken and steaks.
• Store the spice mixture in an airtight container; can be stored for up to 1 month.
• Also is good stirred into chili and thick soups!

CHICKEN WITH COCOA RUB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Place a heavy-bottom, ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Combine rub ingredients, brown sugar through olive oil, in a food processor until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Spray chicken with cooking spray and place in skillet (with the side that has the skin removed facing down). Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and flip chicken and coat the browned side with cocoa mixture. Place skillet in oven and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15-20 more minutes.

SEARED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH COCOA SPICE RUB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, toast white peppercorns and coriander seeds until they begin to pop. Remove from heat and grind to fine powder in a spice mill or coffee grinder. Mix the ground pepper and coriander with remaining spices, cocoa and salt.
• Trim the pork tenderloins of fat and silver skin. Rub with a generous amount of the cocoa spice rub. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Sear each tenderloin on all sides until a rich brown color, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove tenderloins from heat and finish in the oven for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.
• Let the tenderloins rest out of the oven for at least 10 minutes before carving.
• Extra cocoa spice rub will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 months.