Easy & Healthy BBQ Recipes & Tips
Elly Wentworth
Head Chef at Fowlescombe Farm, Devon
A kale relish is a nice, light alternative to chimichurri for summer. Finely dice perennial kale, gherkins and capers, add some mustard, lemon juice, olive oil and herbs (we use tarragon, parsley and basil from the garden). It works as well spooned over meat cooked on flame, as it does with charred vegetables and even as a dip for snacking.
Quick pickles can take a BBQ from ordinary to impressive with very little effort. We're into courgette season now and one of the ways we make the most of a very chunky harvest of them is by preserving for later. Pickled courgettes are ridiculously easy – just thinly sliced courgettes, apple juice, vinegar, sugar and salt. Pop it all in a Kilner jar and give it a few hours. It's a slightly more elevated spin on last year's viral cucumber salad. They work in all sorts of ways: top snack-sized tart cases with some beetroot and whipped goat's cheese in there to keep everyone going while the coals hot up or use them for a bit of greenery on a charcuterie board.
Have a main event, but keep it simple. Buy a couple of cuts of beef – the best quality you can, one for cooking low and slow well ahead of everyone arriving, the other to cook on coals once they're here. Pile on big plates and serve as sharers. There's something really simple and honest yet also a bit special about sharing really good cuts of meat, rather than the usual burgers and skewers. When it comes to sides, keep it simple with some chargrilled vegetables, and maybe a salad of good new potatoes with heritage tomatoes and lots of herbs – delicious with the kale relish spooned over too.
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Inspired? Here are ten recipes to try this weekend…
Grilled Chilli Honey Salmon
Extracted from Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt by Donna Hay
To make the curing mix, combine the salt, sugar and extra chilli in a bowl. Place half of the mix onto a large glass dish and top with the salmon. Place the dill sprigs and remaining curing mix on top of the salmon and refrigerate for 1–2 hours to lightly cure.
Rinse the salmon to remove the curing mix, then pat dry with absorbent kitchen paper.
Preheat the oven grill (broiler) to medium–high.
Place the cured salmon on a baking tray. Combine the honey, chilli and pepper and brush over the salmon. Grill for 6–8 minutes or until the salmon is caramelised and cooked to your liking.
To make the horseradish crème fraîche, combine the crème fraîche, horseradish, capers and lemon rind in a small serving bowl.
Serve the salmon with the horseradish crème fraîche and a squeeze of grilled lemon.
Cook’s note: The type of salt used for curing is important. Use rock salt, rather than a finer salt, as its coarseness cures the meat without imparting too much saltiness.
Lemon Leaf-Charred Haloumi
Extracted from Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt by Donna Hay
Place a haloumi slice on each lemon leaf and sandwich with another lemon leaf.
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. In batches, add the haloumi sandwiches and cook for 4–6 minutes on each side or until charred. Remove from the heat.
Place the tomatoes in a serving bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with the oregano, salt and pepper.
Serve the haloumi with the tomatoes, baguette and a squeeze of lemon.
Cook’s note: The lemon leaves impart a deep lemony flavour and look great on the table, however they are not suitable for eating.
Thai-Style Watermelon, Prawn, Mint & Lime Peanut Salad
Recipe courtesy of So Good Express by Emily English
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lime zest and juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic granules and chilli paste. Taste and adjust – it should be a balance of sweet, salty and sour. Stir in the mint, coriander and spring onions.
In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the avocado, cucumber, watermelon and prawns. Pour over the dressing and toss to coat.
Scatter over the chopped peanuts and serve immediately, or chill for 10 minutes to let the flavours come together.
Ultimate Chicken Salad
Recipe courtesy of So Good Express by Emily English
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mustard, honey, lemon zest and juice, and a pinch each of salt and black pepper. Add the chicken, red onion, parsley, cornichons, celery, green pepper and tomato. Toss gently until coated, then taste and adjust the seasoning.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Spatchcock BBQ Chicken
Recipe courtesy of MALDONSALT.COM
Start by spatchcocking the chicken. Place it on your board, breast side down and the legs at the bottom facing towards you. Using a pair of sharp scissors, start with the tail end of the chicken and cut either side of the backbone all the way up so you remove it completely.
Flip the chicken over. Use your hands to press down on the breastbones and legs to snap the small bones and flatten the chicken out.
Now prepare the marinade by mixing together the olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, chipotle paste, runny honey and lemon juice. Season this well with Maldon salt and cracked black pepper.
Place the spatchcock chicken on a large tray. Coat it well with the marinade, making sure it gets into all the cavities and is evenly coated.
Leave this to marinate for at least 30 minutes, though it can be left overnight in the fridge too
When you are ready to cook your chicken, heat up the BBQ. The best way to ensure even cooking is to cook the chicken skin side up on the indirect coals for about 20-30 minutes. Then turn the chicken, and place it on the hot coals skin side down for about 10 minutes, until the skin is nice and crispy. This really does depend on the heat of your BBQ, so make sure to keep an eye on it.
If you aren’t using a BBQ, you can simply cook the chicken in the oven at 180ºC for 15 minutes, then place under the grill for a further 10 to crisp up the skin. Remember a spatchcock chicken cooks much quicker than a whole chicken.
Serve the chicken alongside your favourite side dishes.
Healthy Potato Salad With Yoghurt Dressing
Recipe courtesy of COOKINGWITHELO.COM
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the baby potatoes (skin on) and cook for 20-25 minutes until ‘fork tender’. Drain and let cool slightly.
To make the dressing, whisk together the yoghurt, mustard, olive oil and vinegar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, halve or quarter them depending on their size. Add them to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat.
Stir in the red onion and chives. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve immediately, or chill in the fridge for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra herbs before serving for a fresh finish.
Gochujang Corn
Recipe courtesy of WILDROOT.KITCHEN
Start by chopping your 4 cobs into 4 smaller cobs, giving you 16 bitesize corn pieces.
Add the corn straight onto the hot barbecue, no need to boil first. Pull down the lid and allow them to char on one side.
While they are cooking, make the glaze. Add the gochujang paste, tamari, maple syrup, tomato purée and olive oil into a small dish. Whisk with a fork or small whisk. Add water to thin, to allow you to glaze your corn.
Open the barbecue lid and brush on the glaze to the side of the corn that is facing you. Then flip your corn to allow the other side of the corn char.
Pull down the lid and cook for a further 5 minutes or until at your desired level of charred.
Once cooked, transfer to a large bowl, sprinkle with sea salt and garnish with coriander, spring onions, sesame seeds and enjoy.
Grilled Greek Halloumi Kebabs
Recipe courtesy of AMBITIOUSKITCHEN.COM
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Add the halloumi cubes and chopped vegetables to the bowl. Toss well to coat, then cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Thread the marinated halloumi and vegetables onto skewers, alternating as you go for a colourful mix.
Preheat a grill or barbecue to medium-high heat. Grill the skewers for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred and the halloumi is golden.
Serve hot with a drizzle of lemon juice and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, or pair with a simple Greek salad and warm flatbreads.
Grilled Peaches With Tomatoes, Basil & Feta
Recipe courtesy of The DIY BBQ Cookbook by James Whetlor (Quadrille)
Preheat the BBQ to a medium heat.
To make a quick onion pickle, mix half the oil and all the vinegar together in a bowl. Stir in the red onion, add salt and pepper to taste, then set aside to macerate.
In another bowl, gently toss the peaches in the remaining oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the peaches on the grill, cut-side down, and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side until lightly browned.
Spread the tomatoes out over a wide serving platter. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then top with the grilled peaches. Stir half the basil through the dressing and spoon over the salad. Top with the cheese, scatter with the remaining basil leaves and serve immediately.
Tahini Cabbage With Green Chilli Oil
Recipe courtesy of WILDROOT.KITCHEN
Preheat your barbecue. Alternatively, you can create this dish in a griddle pan, although you may want to boil the cabbage first, as using a pan will not allow the cabbage to steam cook like a hooded barbecue would.
Chop the cabbage in half (length ways) and then each half into 3 wedges, making sure to go through the core so the wedges hold their shape and do not fall apart.
Plunge your wedges into boiling water to blanch while you prepare the tahini sauce.
Add the tahini, water and yoghurt to a bowl and whisk until smooth, then fold in the lemon zest, salt and herbs. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Place the cabbage onto a very hot barbecue. Do not shake too much water off the cabbage as this water will allow the cabbage to steam cook whilst charring. After about 8-10 minutes, turn your cabbage until both sides are equally charred.
Meanwhile, add a drizzle of oil to a pan. Once hot, add the drained chickpeas and fry for 5 mins, tossing occasionally. Add paprika, cumin, garlic and salt; stir until all the chickpeas are thoroughly coated. Cook for a few minutes more.
Prep the plate. Add a generous layer of tahini yoghurt to the base of the serving plate, next add on the charred cabbage. Sprinkle across the crispy chickpeas, and garnish with the remaining lemon zest and fresh herbs. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Tomato, Za’atar & Sumac Salad
Recipe courtesy of Boustany by Sami Tamimi (Ebury)
Put the tomatoes, red onion, parsley and sumac into a large mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and 1¼ teaspoons of salt.
Pour the dressing over the salad, add the za’atar or oregano leaves and give it a good mix. Pile the salad onto a serving platter, and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and more sumac.
Baked Greek Kofta Kebabs With Tzatziki
Recipe courtesy of FOODBYMARS.COM
Set your oven to 200°C fan/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, olive oil, garlic, onion, herbs and spices. Mix well using your hands or a fork until fully combined.
Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions. Shape each into a long sausage-like form and thread onto skewers, or shape into ovals if baking without skewers.
Arrange the koftas on the prepared tray and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway, until browned and cooked through.
While the koftas are baking, squeeze any excess water from the grated cucumber using a clean tea towel. In a bowl, mix the cucumber with the yoghurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and herbs. Stir to combine and chill until ready to serve.
Plate up the koftas with a generous dollop of tzatziki, fresh herbs and your choice of sides.
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