Cumin Rub

Cumin is so easy to love. Nutty, with a hint of pine, it is the aroma that most Americans identify with chili. But in the world of cooking its redolence permeates cuisines around the globe, from Morocco to Mexico (traveling clockwise, of course). The aroma of toasted cumin dominates this rub, yet it takes on complexity with the addition of fresh gingerroot and cilantro. Like all rubs that include fresh ingredients, this one is perishable and should be used within a few days.