My mom is a good cook, but she is also a very basic cook. When I was young and we would eat steak, she would simply put salt and pepper on it and throw it on the grill. In my opinion, she was missing out on one of the best parts of steak – steak seasoning!

A good steak seasoning can really improve the taste of your meal. If you choose to make a moist steak marinade, it can also improve the texture. In my opinion, it is always best to make your own steak seasonings and marinades because fresh garlic and spices really have a way of imparting flavor and when you make your own you can tailor it to your specific tastes. But, if this is a little more that you are prepared to do in the kitchen don’t forget that there are many great commercially prepared seasonings and marinades that you can try. Higher end butcher’s and places like Whole Foods even have premium blends that are actually quite good.

If you want to make your own steak seasoning, here are some very basic ones to try.

In a small bowl, combine 1 T olive oil, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1/8 tsp dried chipotle chili powder and fresh ground pepper. Rub over all sides of the steak. Allow the steak to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or you can return it to the refrigerator until 30 minutes before you are planning on cooking. This seasoning works great on any cut of steak, and can even be used if you are planning on making steak tacos. It works for a pound of meat, so you can adjust the quantity depending on how much steak you are planning on making. Read the rest of this entry »