Brown Sugar Rub for Fish

Brown Sugar Rub for Fish

Brown Sugar Rub for Fish

10 mins Serves 4

A flavorful dry brine for fish that combines sweet brown sugar with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a perfect crust when grilled or broiled.

Ingredients

Scale: 1x
  • 1/2 cup kosher (coarse) salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dill weed
  • 1/2 tablespoon savory
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix together all ingredients breaking up any clumps.
  2. Coat fish filets with a heavy layer of the rub mixture, reserving a couple of tablespoons for later use.
  3. Wrap the coated fish in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
  4. Unwrap and thoroughly rinse with cold water. You must rinse VERY clean, otherwise the fish will be much too salty.
  5. Let fish sit out until it becomes slightly tacky (pellicular formation), about 1 hour.
  6. Prior to cooking, sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and the remaining rub.
  7. Grill or broil until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes for a 1-inch thick fillet.

Tips

This process is similar to a light cure or dry brine. The rinsing step is crucial to remove excess salt. This technique works especially well with salmon, trout, and other fatty fish. The pellicular formation (tacky surface) is what allows the second application of seasoning to adhere to the fish.

Seafood Rubs