What Are Some Of The Best Spices For Steak?

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Many people will say that the less seasoning you use on a steak, the more enjoyable it will be. The reality is that even a good cut of meat will need some seasoning if you want to maximize your enjoyment and the nutritional benefit you get from it. You want simple seasoning so that you enhance the flavor of the meat rather than hide it. To get a truly flavorful steak, consider seasoning it with the following spices.

Table of Contents

Salt

Salt is the essential seasoning for savory dishes. For steak, you will want to use salt with larger crystals. The reason is that those crystals will dissolve less quickly, taking more time to be absorbed into the meat. You can use kosher salt or any other large crystal salt as a finishing salt to be sprinkled onto the meat after it has been cooked. You will want these salts to stick around since their purpose is as much to enhance the presentation as it is to enhance the flavor and texture.

–> Learn More: What’s The Best Salt For Steak (at Fiery Flavors)

Black pepper

Sometimes referred to as the king of spices, black pepper is one of those spices that goes well with a lot of foods, but it goes particularly well with steak. Note that for best results, the black pepper that you use should be freshly ground. Ideally, you should grind the pepper right onto the steak just before it goes on the grill or into the cast iron skillet. Like many spices, black pepper loses its flavor quickly after being ground. The mild heat of black pepper combined with its pine flavor notes is an excellent complement to the savory, umami qualities of a properly cooked steak.

For high-quality steaks, most purists recommend seasoning with salt and pepper only. Some would even say that you only need salt.

Cumin

If you decide to go beyond the basic salt and pepper combination, you should try seasoning with cumin. Cumin has an earthy, nutty flavor with a mild bitterness that makes it an excellent complement to beef and steak in particular. It also melds perfectly with pepper, salt, and most of the other traditional seasonings that you may want to use on your steak. When used alongside black pepper, cumin can help to provide the perfect crust for a grilled steak.

Garlic

Garlic’s strong aroma is the product of a chemical called allicin that is released when a clove of garlic is chopped. This flavor, with its slightly sulfuric quality, is perfect for meaty flavors. Because it is so pungent, you will want to use garlic sparingly with steak as you may overwhelm the flavor of the meat itself. The ideal form of garlic to use on a steak is garlic powder. It is milder than fresh garlic and, as a powder, will adhere evenly to the meat.

–> Learn More: Fresh Garlic Vs. Garlic Powder – How Do They Compare?

Chili Peppers

Ground chili peppers go well with beef and are a traditional addition to skirt and hanger steaks. Try using the darker, smokier dried chilies such as ancho and pasilla. They have a mild heat that will enhance beefy flavors without overwhelming you with too much spiciness.