Spring and Summer signal the beginning of the world’s best culinary season….BARBECUE SEASON. Yeah!!! But before you go planning your first barbeque of the year take a moment to make sure you are ready.
First things first. Let’s examine the barbecue itself – has it seen better days? Can you use an upgrade? Do you want the precision, efficiency and convenience of a gas barbecue or would you prefer the hands-on theater of a traditional charcoal-burner? Gas can be a real time-saver, assuming you remember to check the level of the gas bottle and don’t have to make a dash to the local garden center to re-stock in the middle of the party. But charcoal fans will tell you that nothing imparts the smoky barbecue flavor like the real thing – even if you do set your hair and the neighbor’s fence on fire in the process. It’s all down to personal taste, but with dozens of models available in all price ranges the choice has never been wider.
If you’re creative in your kitchen, then there’s no need to be boring when it comes to barbecue food either. Good quality burgers and sausages always go down well, but a barbeque spread does not have to end there. Fish is very easy to cook on a barbecue, and can be really tasty when combined with a tangy marinade or dressing. If time is an issue, you can always speed up the marinating process by massaging the meat in a plastic bag of marinade for a few minutes before placing in the fridge for just 30 minutes. Vegetables are delicious cooked over a fire and flambéed bananas & pineapple make the perfect finishing touch. Do not be too shy to experiement.
If you’re feeling lazy, many better supermarkets now sell pre-prepared food with the BBQ in mind, for example, Waitrose stocks Chinese-Style Pork Loin Ribs marinated in honey, orange and spices and Green Thai Chicken Kebabs marinated in aromatic coconut and fresh coriander and spices.
Many of these same supermarkets also now sell pre-prepared food with the BBQ in mind, for example, Waitrose stocks Chinese-Style Pork Loin Ribs marinated in honey, orange and spices and Green Thai Chicken Kebabs marinated in aromatic coconut and fresh coriander and spices.
Make salads and dressings before you start cooking so that everything is ready to serve as soon as the cooked food comes off the heat. If you are cooking for a crowd, remember that many foods may be cooked off first and kept hot in the kitchen oven until required. Reminder: You – the cook – are there to enjoy yourself too so give yourself time to relax by being properly organized.
There are some basic rules to remember when using a barbecue that do make sense to bear in mind. Keep safe, be aware of children and pets and keep them away from the hot stuff. If using charcoal, allow enough time for the coals to really heat up before trying to cook anything. Look for signs of white ash on the charcoal to indicate that the temperature is hot enough for effective cooking.
Barbecue food is infamous for making an unwelcome return appearance! If you want to avoid this unpleasantness, be aware of basic food hygiene and wash your hands before handling food. Be especially careful when handling raw meats and do not contaminate cooked meats with raw meat juices. Ensure that all items are properly cooked through before serving. If you are cooking items on the bone, such as chicken legs, it’s a good idea to pre-cook them in the oven first and then finish them off on the barbecue. A lot of barbeque chefs do not like to do this but it is a time saver and ensures that the meat will be safely cooked.
…and there you go! You are now ready for the barbecue of your life! Waiting on my invitation…
