A quintessentially Hyderabadi dessert called Khubani ka Meetha Recipe. The beautiful colour and flavours makes this dessert irresistible. The apt Urdu word is “Shahi”or Royal!
Handy Coffee Spice Rub Recipe
Make my multipurpose Coffee Spice Mix and then you are set to make a Vegan starter, side or a filling for a wrap!
Coffee Rub is one of the easiest, and most delicious spice mixes that I have made. As a vegetarian cook, I can recommend this spice rub to any of your veg ingredients, to give them a new zing. A note for meat-lovers: I gave some to my neighbour and she used it on chicken. Apparently, it tastes amazing is exactly like Trader Joe's!
Hello, and welcome to The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen, Reinventing the Foodie in you! Looking for delicious and simple and easy recipes. Today not only am I making the Coffee Rub Spice mix but also showing you how to use it. I urge you to subscribe to our newsletter so that you get all our posts. We will not spam you, promise and the subscribe link is below or on the sidebar too!
Contents:
- What are Spice Rubs?
- Ingredients for Multipurpose Coffee Spice Rub
- Substitutes and alternatives
- How to use Coffee Rub
- Some Pro-tips
- Dips and Sauces to serve with
- Recipe Card
- Pin for Later
Coffee Rub Spice and me:
I was flabbergasted when I saw that coffee could be used as a spice here! I had to try it and was pleased with it! You must try it and like me, you will be hooked to it! Even now as I write this post there is a bowl of mushrooms that is marinating in the spice mix.
The reason for me stumbling on to this yum handy, versatile and multipurpose spice mix is Shhhhh Secretly Cooking event! Seema of Mildly Indian wants us to stop fearing the Bitter! Check out her Bitter Gourd Stir-fry and you will realise how well she has integrated bitter into her food.
My partner this time around is Sasmita whose pictures leave you drooling for more. Do check her Vegetable Chop and you will love street food more than before. Sasmita gave me onions and coffee as my ingredients. While I gave her Cocoa and wheat flour just check her recipe here.
What are Spice Rubs?
Spice rubs are actually a mix of ingredients and flavours. They’re traditionally used to marinate the meat before grilling. The flavours seep into the food and kick up the flavour of even the blandest ingredients. They’re a quick and easy way of adding a little twist to your everyday preps.
I will highly recommend spice rubs for anyone who is on a strict diet. It can be an easy way to inject flavour into your food. Just make sure to get professional advice before using any ingredient.
Coffee: The spice of magic!
This coffee rub does not taste like coffee at all! The versatile mix is an ultimate rub when you want that delicious spicy kick to your vegetables, tofu or meats. The coffee deliciously brings together the entire spice powder without even taking over the taste. It’s amazing!
From now on keep a bottle of this multipurpose spice mix in your spice rack. I should think it’ll last for 15 days in our tropical climate. In case you live in a cold place you can keep it for about a month. Store it only in air-tight glass jars, please.
This spice rub uses 9 spices to give you an easy-to-use dry coffee rub. Now, this delicious spice mix is very easy to make. All you need is a bowl or plate to mix it all up. Sniff the mix! Heady isn't it? Now get your veggies out we will also make something with it!
Ingredients for Multipurpose Coffee Spice Rub:
These are the ingredients you need to make the dry coffee rub spice mix. For the individual measures please check the recipe card.
- Salt
- Instant coffee
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Pepper
- Coriander seed powder
- Onion powder
- Chilli powder
- Cayenne powder (optional)
Substitutes and alternatives:
- Use ground coffee beans in place of instant coffee. The only reason I did not use it was will it stick to my veggies? Since the amount we use will be small I was not worried about the fact that it may not be edible.
- You can use cayenne powder, but I have not used it since we tend to eat milder food.
- This spice rub is made for vegetarian recipes. If you plan on adding it to meats or need it to be spicer you will need to amp up the spices.
How to use Coffee Rub:
Using the dry coffee rub is very easy you just marinate your ingredients with the dry rub. I have used it twice now on different days and we enjoyed our food. The prep takes some time but the results are worth it. The basic steps are what I have highlighted below for exact measures please check the recipe card.
Making the Easy Coffee Rub:
The making is very simple just toss all the ingredients in a bowl or a plate and mix them up. That's right there is now roasting, heating etc involved here.
Prepping Veggies to use the Coffee Rub:
- Choose your vegetables and protein I used potatoes, mushrooms, capsicum, onions, tomatoes, drained and cubed tofu.
- Decide how you want to make your veggies. I grilled some and pan-fried others on the stovetop. You can also oven-roast them or barbeque them. The possibilities are endless!
- So cut your veggies into bite-sized pieces and put the coffee rub. I used about 3 tablespoons.
- Sprinkle some salt and toss the vegetable pieces. Set aside to marinate say for about 1 hour.
- When ready to grill: thread the veggies and tofu as you like on pre-soaked bamboo skewers. Grill them in a pre-heated oven for about 10 minutes. I used both the grill.
- To cook on the stovetop: Add some oil to a non-stick pan and add the veggies and tofu individually. Stir fry till done and the tofu has brown flecks on all sides. Set aside on a plate.
- Finally, toss all the veggies together until the aroma spreads. Serve.
How to Prep Tofu:
- The tofu needs a different treatment.
- Remove the firm tofu from the pack and place it on a colander.
- Place a plate on top and something heavy on it. This drains the tofu of all liquid. (You can also use a paneer press if you have one.)
- After about 30 minutes cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces.
- Apply about 1 tablespoon of the coffee rub to 200 grams of tofu.
- Cover and let the mixture marinate for about 1 hour.
How to use Coffee Rub with Eggplants:
- Cut up the eggplant in roundels about 0.5 centimetres in thickness.
- Rub in salt, and the coffee rub, You can also add chilli powder to the mix and marinate for about 20-30 minutes.
- Dredge in a mixture of rava and rice flour. Drizzle oil cover and cook on low flame on a non-stick skillet.
- Once it gets some golden flecks on the rava. Then flip and cook on the other side. You can add more oil if needed but generally, I sprinkle a tablespoon of water on the slices and cover immediately.
- Cook till done. Serve hot!
Some Pro-tips:
- Separate the veggies. This helps to skewer them. If you are pan-frying, some veggies need more time to cook. So this helps too.
- Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 1 hour. This causes the bamboo to absorb water and prevent them from burning.
- Keep the chopped eggplant in a bowl of water after chopping to prevent browning. Dry them before applying the spice rub.
How to Serve:
- Serve these yum veggies by themselves with yum dips with any summer coolers like iced teas or cocktails.
- Serve them in wraps with homemade greek yoghurt chilli sauce.
- As a filling for bao buns.
- As a side especially for Thanksgiving and Holiday meals as a vegan option.
- The Eggplant Roundels taste great as a side with an Indian meal of Rice, dal and vegetable.
Storage Tips:
- Leftovers? Pack the veggies in air-tight containers and store in the fridge.
- In my place we used them the next day as filling for wraps.
Dips and Sauces to serve with:
Serve your grilled or pan-fried veggies with...
Recipe Card:
Servings: 140 grams
Calories: 11kcal
Equipment
- Bowls
- Skewer
- Oven
- Non-stick tava/skillet
Ingredients
For the Coffee Rub:
- 2 tablespoon instant coffee
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 2 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne optional
Veggies for The Coffee Rub:
- 2 potatoes peeled and cubed
- 3 onions
- 3 to matoes
- 200 g mushrooms
- 200 g tofu drained and cubed
- 3 tablespoon Coffee Rub
- 3 tablespoon oil
- Salt to taste
For Eggplant Roundels:
- 3 eggplant medium sized
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder optional
- 2 tablespoon coffee rub
- Salt to taste
- ¼ cup semolina
- 1 tablespoon rice flour optional
- 2 tablespoon oil
- water a sprinkling optional but recommended
Instructions
How to make the Coffee Rub:
- Measure all the ingredients in a plate or a bowl. Mix it up and crush up all the lumps.
- Transfer to an air-tight container.
Prep for use of Coffee Rub:
- Cut the tofu package and drain under a weight. Say about 30-45 minutes.
- Soak the bamboo skewers if grilling.
- Cut the veggies. Apply the coffee rub and put them in individual bowls.
- Set it aside for about an hour.
Grilling:
- When ready to cook, thread the tofu, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, capsicum in any order you please.
- Brush the prepeared skewer with oil.
- Grill in the pre-heated oven with both the grills on for about 10 minutes at 180 C/350 F.
- Serve with sauces of your choice.
Cooking on the stovetop:
- Add some 1 tablespoon oil to a non-stick pan and add the potatoes first. Stir fry till done. Set aside on a plate.
- Add the onions and cook on high flame in 1 teaspoon oil till the onions are translucent. Transfer to the plate of potatoes.
- Add the tofu and sear all the sides of the tofu. You may need oil again 2 tsps fry till the tofu turns brown. Set it aside on a plate.
- Saute the mushrooms till they are cooked. Add 1 teaspoon oil if needed. Transfer to the plate.
- Toss all the veggies together until the aroma spreads.
- Now, at this point you can serve the stir fry. Especially if you have people who do not eat mushrooms.
- But to add more umami flavours add all the mushrooms and toss the ingredients.
- Serve topped with lemon slices, basil and a sprinkle of coffee rub mix.
For the Eggplant Roundels:
- Cut up the eggplant in roundels about 0.5 centimetres in thickness.
- Rub in salt, and the coffee rub, You can also add chilli powder to the mix.
- Let this marinate for about 20-30 minutes.
- Dredge in a mixture of rava and rice flour.
- Place them on a non-stick skillet and drizzle about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Cover and cook on low flame till the aubergine gets some golden flecks on the rava. Then flip.
- You can add more oil if needed but generally, I sprinkle a tablespoon of water on the slices and cover immediately.
- Cook till done. Serve hot!
- This tastes great with rice, dal, fish curry or just plain as a starter.
Video
Notes
- Use ground coffee beans in place of instant coffee. The only reason I did not use it was will it stick to my veggies? Since the amount we use will be small I was not worried about the fact that it may not be edible.
- You can use cayenne powder, but I have not used it since we tend to eat milder food.
- This spice rub is made for vegetarian recipes. If you plan on adding it to meats or need it to be spicer you will need to amp up the spices.
Nutrition
Serving: 140grams | Calories: 11kcal
Tried this recipe?@apotdar
Nutrition Facts
Handy Coffee Spice Rub Recipe
Amount Per Serving (140 grams)
Calories 11
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutritional Disclaimer: I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Please check with your nutritionist for your dietary needs and restrictions. Ultimately you are responsible for your decisions.
Pin for later:
Kalyani says
OMG !!! this is an unbelievably, insanely delish rub!! so many uses.. couldn't have thought of coffee in a spice rub, arch!!! what an idea, madam ji!!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 not mine Kalyani but yes its a wonderful spice blend.
Pradnya says
Yummy- making it tonight !!
ArchanaPotdar says
:D.
Mayuri Patel says
That is one interesting rub Archana, would never have thought of coffee being an ingredient in it. The way you've described your coffee spice rub, tempted to try it out. Am sure it makes roasted veggies and tofu or paneer more exciting and flavorful.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks.
Jolly says
This coffee rub looks absolutely beautiful. We used to make if for our chicken marination especially the barbecue one. Lovely share!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Maria says
I love coffee spice blend but have only used it for meaty dishes. Thank you for sharing your very vibrant recipe and the idea to use it with veggies.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Maria.
Jayashree T.Rao says
Nice way to enjoy the different varieties of veggies with this spice rub. Liked the addition of coffee powder which is so unique.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you.
Preethi Prasad says
Coffee in a spice rub is absolutely innovative. I can imagine the flavours of this insanely delicious spice mix that is so versatile. Lovely recipe Archana.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Seema Sriram says
I can almost feel the strong coffee aroma rising from this as soon as it hits the grill. I cat wait to test it out when the bbq is out in summer.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Seema.
Shobha Keshwani says
Coffee spice mix must have amazing flavours. Really an interesting one and I am soon going to make it . Thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe. I am always wanting to experiment new dishes.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Shobha.
The Girl Next Door says
Wow, this is so very interesting! I would never have thought of using coffee in a spice mix. With the coriander powder, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder and other ingredients going in, I can imagine how fragrant this rub would be! Definitely trying this out.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Priya.
Renu says
At first, I thought am I reading it wrong. Coffee spice rub, interesting and something completely different. This looks like a different recipe to try for this summer barbeque. Thanks for the share.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Renu.
Meera Girdhar says
Never thought Coffee can be used as spices. Archana your recipe is amazing. One recipe and multiple uses. Thanks for sharing such an innovative recipe.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Meera.
Priya Vj says
Incredible spice rub.. coffee as a spice never occurred to me and that too with so many uses . I am sure it added a oomph to the marinated veggies
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks.
Sujata Roy says
Wow Archana never thought of adding coffee in spices. Coffee rub sounds so flavorful. Loved your well explained recipe of all the stove top method to grill. I would love to try eggplant recipe first.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 it's amazing Sujata, try it.
Poonam Bachhav says
Coffee spice rub sounds like a flavorful marinade to veggies, Tofu and what not. I would love trying out this rub and marinate paneer .Thanks for the wonderful share.
ArchanaPotdar says
Most welcome, Poonam.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
Uff! Whether it is that spice rub with coffee or all that vegetables being coated into it and cooked, I can vouch that this must have been absolutely lipsmacking, since I tried the same and we loved the slight difference in the flavor... I really want to make my roast vegetables this way next...
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks, Rafeeda.
Vasusvegkitchen says
Wow this is very interesting, loved coffee rubbed eggplant recipe. All the spices used to prepare this coffee spice mix, surely adds good taste to any recipe.My in laws are big coffee lovers, surely I prepare this for them.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Aruna. Let me know how it goes for you.
Anu Kollon says
Coffee powder to the grilled dish is something one can never think of. Such a unique and interesting dish. Would love to try it.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Anu.
Narmadha says
Wow this is interesting coffee spice rub and used for multiple purposes. So versatile and flavorful spice rub
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Narmadha.