Cocoa powder (Recipe: cocoa-cumin-allspice rubbed rib-eye steak)

First published in July 2006, this updated ingredient post features new photos, links, and significant changes to the recipe, just in time for the holiday weekend. Get your grill on!

Sometimes I uncover an item in my pantry that's a bit of mystery. I know I should have it. In fact, I'm never without it. I just don't know why.

Cocoa powder is the mystery du jour.

What, exactly, is cocoa powder? What makes some of it Dutch-processed? Is natural cocoa powder better, or just different?

Here's what I've learned.

Unsweetened cocoa powder results from the pressing of chocolate liquor to remove most of the cocoa butter. The remaining cocoa solids are processed to make a fine powder. There are two types: natural, and Dutch-processed.

In 1778, the Dutch brought cacao from the Philippines to Sumatra, where they established a propagation facility that enabled major production in the region. In 1828, Conrad van Hooten, a Dutch chemist, patented a technique for pressing most of the fat from roasted and crushed cocoa beans, improving the digestibility of the resulting powder. The addition of alkaline salts neutralized the acids in the cocoa, making it more easily soluble in liquids. This "Dutch cocoa", as it came to be called, has a mild flavor, and must be used with baking powder or other acidic ingredients.

Natural unsweetened cocoa powder is more intense in color and flavor; when used in a recipe that calls for baking soda (an alkali), it creates a leavening agent.

Though it's always best to use the type of cocoa powder specified in a recipe, in a pinch (ha ha) you can substitute one kind of cocoa powder for another:

• For 3 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa, substitute 3 Tbsp natural cocoa powder plus 1/8 tsp baking soda.
• For 3 Tbsp natural cocoa, substitute 3 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa plus 1/8 tsp cream of tartar or 1/8 tsp lemon juice or vinegar.

(At the moment, I happen to have Droste, a Dutch-processed brand, in the pantry. Other popular brands: Valrhona and Lindt. Some natural cocoa powder brands: Ghirardelli, Scharffen Berger, and good old Hershey's.)

We always think of cocoa as a sweetener, but unsweetened cocoa is an ancient food that features in the cuisines of Brazil, Mexico (think molé), and other countries in the cacao-growing bands a few degrees north and south of the Equator

Cocoa-cumin-allspice rubbed rib-eye steak {gluten-free}

From the pantry, you'll need: cocoa powder, ground cumin, ground allspice, kosher salt, fresh black pepper, canola oil.

Adapted from Cooks Illustrated, the recipe makes about 1/3 cup of the rub, enough for 4 boneless rib-eye steaks. Serves 4.

Ingredients

4 1/2-lb boneless rib-eye steaks
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp coarse ground fresh black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp canola or vegetable oil

Directions

Set the steaks out in a single layer in a rimmed pan.

Stir together the cocoa powder cumin, allspice, pepper and salt in a small mixing bowl. Press this mixture onto both sides of the meat, and let the meat sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Preheat a grill to high heat. While the grill is preheating, add the oil to the pan, and turn each piece of meat so it is coated with the oil.

When the grill is hot, place the steaks on the grill, and cook for 4 minutes. Turn, and cook for 3 minutes (for steaks 1-inch thick; thicker pieces might take longer).

Remove the steaks from the grill and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More savory cocoa recipes:
Turkey mole chili, from The Perfect Pantry
Mole colorado, from The Perfect Pantry
Cincinnati chili, from The Kitchn
Black bean chili with chocolate and coconut, from Gimme Some Oven

Unsweetened cocoa powder results from the pressing of chocolate liquor to remove most of the cocoa butter. The remaining cocoa solids are processed to make a fine powder. There are two types: natural, and Dutch-processed.

In 1778, the Dutch brought cacao from the Philippines to Sumatra, where they established a propagation facility that enabled major production in the region. In 1828, Conrad van Hooten, a Dutch chemist, patented a technique for pressing most of the fat from roasted and crushed cocoa beans, improving the digestibility of the resulting powder. The addition of alkaline salts neutralized the acids in the cocoa, making it more easily soluble in liquids. This "Dutch cocoa", as it came to be called, has a mild flavor, and must be used with baking powder or other acidic ingredients.

Natural unsweetened cocoa powder is more intense in color and flavor; when used in a recipe that calls for baking soda (an alkali), it creates a leavening agent.

Though it's always best to use the type of cocoa powder specified in a recipe, in a pinch (ha ha) you can substitute one kind of cocoa powder for another:

• For 3 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa, substitute 3 Tbsp natural cocoa powder plus 1/8 tsp baking soda.
• For 3 Tbsp natural cocoa, substitute 3 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa plus 1/8 tsp cream of tartar or 1/8 tsp lemon juice or vinegar.

(At the moment, I happen to have Droste, a Dutch-processed brand, in the pantry. Other popular brands: Valrhona and Lindt. Some natural cocoa powder brands: Ghirardelli, Scharffen Berger, and good old Hershey's.)

We always think of cocoa as a sweetener, but unsweetened cocoa is an ancient food that features in the cuisines of Brazil, Mexico (think molé), and other countries in the cacao-growing bands a few degrees north and south of the Equator

Cocoa-cumin-allspice rubbed rib-eye steak {gluten-free}

From the pantry, you'll need: cocoa powder, ground cumin, ground allspice, kosher salt, fresh black pepper, canola oil.

Adapted from Cooks Illustrated, the recipe makes about 1/3 cup of the rub, enough for 4 boneless rib-eye steaks. Serves 4.

Ingredients

4 1/2-lb boneless rib-eye steaks
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp coarse ground fresh black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp canola or vegetable oil

Directions

Set the steaks out in a single layer in a rimmed pan.

Stir together the cocoa powder cumin, allspice, pepper and salt in a small mixing bowl. Press this mixture onto both sides of the meat, and let the meat sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Preheat a grill to high heat. While the grill is preheating, add the oil to the pan, and turn each piece of meat so it is coated with the oil.

When the grill is hot, place the steaks on the grill, and cook for 4 minutes. Turn, and cook for 3 minutes (for steaks 1-inch thick; thicker pieces might take longer).

Remove the steaks from the grill and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More savory cocoa recipes:
Turkey mole chili, from The Perfect Pantry
Mole colorado, from The Perfect Pantry
Cincinnati chili, from The Kitchn
Black bean chili with chocolate and coconut, from Gimme Some Oven

Comments

Lydia,
Oh, the sight of that Droste package takes me back to my brother's Droste phase! I'd never really had chocolate products in savory dishes until I tried Cincinnati chili, and since then I've expanded to mole sauce. I'm happy to branch out a bit more.

Thanks!

OH My! Now I am really excited... steak, cocoa and cumin - yum! I always feel a little "cowboy-ish" when I have meats with cocoa or coffee in the rub.. is that weird?

That steak looks amazingly delicious! It's been a while since I've cooked a steak and now after seeing this one and my curiosity of using cocoa powder.....I just may have to do so. Thank You & Cheers!