Add This Simple Ingredient To Ribeye Steak For 10x The Flavor (Hint: It's Not Rosemary Or Garlic)

Ribeye is a beefy-tasting steak, which means that the seasoning you employ needs to hold its own. Common options include the bold notes of garlic, a dose of earthy rosemary, or simply a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. However, if you're really looking to upgrade the dish's flavor, consider a smoked paprika rub. Sweet and smoky is a go-to beef flavoring for good reason; many eat steak with barbecue sauce, after all. Smoked paprika plays to such a character, only with a richer and earthier dimension, which is subtle enough to still let the steak shine.

Also a type of pimentón, smoked paprika is primarily made in the La Vera region of Spain, where harvested peppers are smoked over wood for weeks at a time. Available in both spicy and mild versions, it's a spice with an extraordinarily dense flavor. Subsequently, you'll need as little as a teaspoon per steak to season a ribeye into an impressively aromatic dish.

Like with other dried seasonings, you'll want to mix the paprika and a dash of salt with oil — just don't make the mistake of cooking steak in oil with a low smoke point. Then, spread the paste onto your ribeye and prepare the beef on either a skillet or grill, yielding a wondrously flavorful steak, enhanced with only one ingredient.

Smoked paprika on its own already makes for a mouth-watering steak — but the spice welcomes complementary ingredients, too. Start by adding a touch of sugar to the rub; the ingredient delectably caramelizes the exterior, thereby creating a steak with an improved crust. Prepared on a high-heat grill, the addition plays to the smoked paprika's fiery touch, giving you a ribeye with more character.

Alternatively, consider using smoked paprika as a foundation for additional flavors. Play around with peppers; mix in cayenne for a hit of spice or chili powder to enhance the rub's warmth. It's also common to include oregano, lending the steak an herbal-earthy spin. And allium-derived favorites onion powder and garlic powder certainly fold right into the mix. You could even grate in fresh garlic, too, kicking the earthiness up a notch. The combination is guaranteed to be flavorful, enhancing a ribeye or a budget-friendly alternative cut to terrific effect.