The best summer BBQ ideas

June 4, 2020
Recipes
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Summer BBQ ideas

With summer in full swing, barbecues are back with a bang. The sizzling sounds of the grill and the smell of charred goodness are what we have been eagerly waiting for, and with everyone at home this year, there is nothing better than firing up your barbecue and spending quality time with the family over a plate of delicious food. To turn your cooking skills up a notch, here are some grilling recipes to spice up your summer.

Traffic light skewers

Big on flavour yet mild enough for the kids, these skewers will add a colourful twist to your barbecue. They are tasty and filling yet simple and easy to make.

Marinate the chicken in 1 tbsp paprika, 3 tbsp ketchup and 300g of Greek yogurt. Leave aside for at least 20 minutes. The longer it’s left for, the better the flavour. Alternatively you can make this a vegetarian dish. Simply substitute out the chicken pieces with potatoes, sweet potatoes and other vegetables of your choice. Pre boil the potatoes and season them with pepper, salt and herbs and spices of your choice.
Prepare the peppers and onions by cutting them into large enough pieces to fit onto a wooden/metal skewer. You can add other vegetables if you wish. The more, the merrier (and healthier in this case)
Thread the chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers
Heat the BBQ to medium heat, and grill the skewers for 10 minutes, turning them occasionally until the chicken is charred and cooked on either side. If using potatoes, you’ll need a lot less time on the grill.
Serve warm with a sauce of your choice, some flatbread, yogurt and some wedges of lemon.

How to make salad dressing

This is an unbelievably easy recipe. With a prep time of 3 minutes, there is nothing simpler yet more refreshing that you can add to your salad bar. It’s the perfect way to make eating healthier a touch more interesting. To make this:

Mix together 3 tbsp of white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons of honey, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and a pinch of pepper.
Add ½ cup and an additional 1 tbsp of olive oil and mix until a thick consistency is formed. Taste and adjust to your preference.
Store for up to two weeks and when required, bring to room temperature and drizzle liberally over the prepared salad.

Griddled vegetables with melting aubergines

The perfect vegan alternative to the usually meat filled barbecues. This recipe is healthy and will allow you to get your 5 a day!

Grill the aubergine, turning frequently for around 8-10 mins. Do this until the aubergine is soft all over and the skin is blistered.
When cool enough to handle, remove the skin, finely chop up the flesh and mix with lemon juice, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 chopped clove garlic, and the seeds.
Mix thyme, crushed garlic and rapeseed oil and combine with sliced vegetables of your choice. We recommend using onions, olives, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. (Slice the vegetables into large pieces.
Heat a griddle pan over the BBQ and grill the vegetables until tender and marked with lines.
Pile the vegetables with the aubergine puree and drizzle with a little olive oil and scatter some parsley, lemon zest and crushed garlic for the grand finale.

Tip – you can do a similar thing with sweet potatoes. Try making a dish with aubergine and sweet potatoes puree for something a little special.

Honey pineapple treats

This warming yet sweet treat is perfect for curling up by the fire-pit as the sun sets. Tangy yet sweet it’s a winner with everyone. To make this:

Cut pineapple rings and brush them on both sides with honey syrup. (mixture of water and honey)
Grill on the BBQ on both sides until soft and marked with lines.
Drizzle with caramel, chocolate and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (mixture of cinnamon and sugar). Enjoy!

There we have it; a collection of barbecue recipes and ideas to help you enjoy a sizzling and delicious BBQ. Experiment and add your own touch to our recipes to make it personal to you and make sure you enjoy!