Thursday, July 19, 2012

East Coast Summer BBQ’s


 What a Fab Day!!!


I’ve just been online checking out the weather forecast for the Island and so far it looks great for the next 5 days!!  So now it’s the moment we’ve been waiting for -  its time to get out there - clean out that BBQ and get cooking this evening!!

We’ve got some great recipes for you to enjoy and also were gonna explain the difference between: 

A Marinade or a Spice Rub… is a question my friend Sam asked me last Saturday as we tried to BBQ in what felt like Baltic Conditions!

A Brine(very common in US & Canada)
is basically a salt based solution which adds juiciness to proteins which tend to dry out on the BBQ for example Turkey …

2 litres of water – bring to the boil add 1 cup of salt & 1 cup of brown sugar – cool down completely and steep a whole turkey for 12 hours it absorbs some of the liquid and becomes plump, keeps it juiciness when cooking… you can also use with turkey breasts but only soak for 30 mins and just barely cover with the solution.

A marinade is basically a sauce/ liquid solution that you soak raw foods before cooking.  Marinating tenderises the fibres in meats and adds amazing flavours to meat and veggie dishes.. 

No Hard rules: To tenderise you need Wines, Vinegars, Citrus juices oranges, lemons & limes,

To add texture and flavour use natural yoghurt, jams, chutneys, spices & fresh & dried herbs…

Red Meat or Game up to 3 days
Chicken up to a maximum of 24 hours
Fish, Seafood a couple of hours


 Herb & Spice rubs… 

A dry mixture of salt, pepper, spices & herbs which adds flavour & texture to meat dishes …

Meat rubs have gained popularity amongst the BBQ ing crew.. and are a fantastic simple way to add flavour to every day food..

Use with – Chops, Burgers, Chicken, Steaks etc.

I saw a little of Michael McIntrye (UK Comedian) last night and he did a very funny piece about spices locked away in our cupboards and how Salt & Pepper take pride of place on tables and some of the others never see the light of day.. for example… The poor “Five Spice” plastic was never taken off the jar, Mustard moved with them from the last house & cumin fell out of the cupboard one day and that’s all he’s seen!

We all have spices we do not use… Combining ingredients into Meat Spice Rubs is a great way of trying new flavours and using up your spices…

Try combinations
Of 1 tablespoon of Sea Salt & ! tablespoon of Cracked black pepper with smaller quantities of another 3 spices – bring down the quantity of the stronger spices..

Oriental..
1 tbls Seasalt & Cracked black pepper with 1 teaspoon of five spice & ¼ chilli powder

USE UP…
mustard seeds, five spice, cumin, coriander, chilli powders, seeds, curry powders, cayenne pepper, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg… Any combination of spices in your cupboard


The great basic meat rub…

2 tbsps sea salt                       ½ tbsp of cayenne
2 tbsp brown sugar                  ¼ cayenne pepper
1 tbsp cumin

Combine and store in an airtight jar… 

Drizzle meat with a little oil, sprinkle meat rub a few pinches per portion.  30 mins before cooking..



Tropical chicken spice rub

2 tbsp ginger
2 tbsp sea salt
½ tbsp of brown sugar
1 tbsp of black pepper
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
Zest of fresh orange

Vegetarian Options…

Don’t forget the vegetarians.. have in lieu of salads ….

Roasted Tomato, Feta & basil parcels

20 Cherry tomatoes halved
20 Cubes of Feta Cheese
20 Fresh basil leaves
Drizzles of olive oil
Drizzles of  balsamic vinegar


Make 6 double parcels by placing 2 squares of foil on top of each other.  Divide the mixture between the squares .. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic.
Scrunch in the top to make parcels…

BBQ for 15 mins…  Also great in the oven @ 180 for 15 mins..


Other parcel options… 

Goats Cheese, Red Peppers, Sunblushed tomatoes, fresh basil pesto

Aubergine, Courgette, Olive layer with halum cheese

Thinly sliced potato, garlic chopped very finely & sliced tomato or mozzarella cheese layered.



Chocolate baked bananas

4 ripe bananas
2 handfuls of chocolate buttons or drops
1 handful of mini marshmallows (optional)
2 tablespoons of grand marnier (optional )

Make a slit through the skin of the bananas along one side – making sure you don’t cut the whole way through. Lay the buttons into each slit with the marshmallows and a drizzle of grand marnier.   Pop each banana onto a sheet of foil..  and seal up into a parcel.  Pop onto the BBQ for about 12 mins  Enjoy..   Serve with vanilla ice cream…


Butterflied Indian spiced BBQ Lamb

2.5kg leb of lamb – butterflied (ask the butcher)

Ginger chopped
4 cloves of garlic
1 tsp, cumin, coriander, turmeric& & paprika spices
juice of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons of natural yogurt

Whizz up all the marinade ingredients in a mini blender or mortar & pestle

Coat lamb in the marinade and leave for at least 4 hours or overnight..

Pop flesh down on a hot bbq for 25 mins, flip over for another 15 min.  This will produce a lamb that is pink in the centre … or leave it on for another 15 mins for more well done.
To serve leave the lamb to rest for 15 mins then carve into thick slices and scatter with coriander.

Serve with a Green Raita

Which is a yoghurt chutney with fresh coriander leaves..

300ml natural yogurt
2 handfuls of coriander leaves chopped v finely
2 cloves of garlic chopped v finely
juice of 1 lemon
½ peeled cucumber chopped v finely


Combine and keep in the fridge until serving..  

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