BBQ's, whats the secret?

[JandP]

I replied to the "caravan hates" topic by saying I hate BBQ's but I have a confession to make, we have a BBQ! In fact we have 2, a gas one at home and an old charcol one we were given, in the van, but they are hardly ever used. I just dont see the attraction. Why is it that with all the high tech gadgets we have in our kitchens, we prefer to cook like cavemen? The only things I see produced on barbies are burgers, sausages, chicken legs etc and they all seem to be either burnt or partly raw. So whats the secret? Where am I going wrong? Its obvious that I am missing the point somewhere judging by the popularity of them these days, so come on help me out, what are your favourite recipies, techniques etc. Atleast if we have our own barbie going I wont notice the smell from all the others! Jim.

 

[chelsea1]

I love to BBQ, the idea of cooking and sitting outside to eat seems so less stressful than preparing and cooking indoors.

You can make more mess - as its not in your kitchen - its outdoors, its more social - as people gather around the BBQ as they cant do that around your cooker.

When I get home from work on a sunny evening, say to hubby lets have a BBQ, we wheel out the gas one from the garage and fire it up! I NEVER let him cook (he would burn it !)

The secret in good BBQ food is TURNING, do not leave stuff to cook and go off and do other things...the secret is to keep turning the stuff and it will cook perfectly and taste great.

I have done various things on the BBQ, including salmon wrapped in foil, corn in the cob in butter wrapped in foil and also baby new potatoes coated in rock salt and olive oil on skewers cooked on the barby....mmmmmm

 

[Lol1]

It's not about the cooking Jim, it's about the occasion. It's about the gathering, the socialising and the good excuse to have a drink (or two). Beef burgers and sausages are for the kids but you could try some of the more expensive cuts, a nice steak or pork chop but steer clear of fatty pieces (too much smoke!). It doesn't have to be meat (good idea to marinate this early on) though, Brian, his holiness, cooked a vegetarian meal on his BBQ, Bina helped by preparing and it shows just what can be done.

We like Haloumi cheese, mushrooms and fish done on the barby, try some of the meaty sausages such as Bratwurst too. Like I said though, take your time, relax and enjoy the experience.

Hope this helps,

The Spoilsport. ;o)

 

[JandP]

It's not about the cooking Jim, it's about the occasion. It's about the gathering, the socialising and the good excuse to have a drink (or two). Beef burgers and sausages are for the kids but you could try some of the more expensive cuts, a nice steak or pork chop but steer clear of fatty pieces (too much smoke!). It doesn't have to be meat (good idea to marinate this early on) though, Brian, his holiness, cooked a vegetarian meal on his BBQ, Bina helped by preparing and it shows just what can be done.

We like Haloumi cheese, mushrooms and fish done on the barby, try some of the meaty sausages such as Bratwurst too. Like I said though, take your time, relax and enjoy the experience.

Hope this helps,

The Spoilsport. ;o)

Hi Lol, I called you spoilsport because I thought you were spoiling the fun (you cant beat a good argument!) but I think the "fun" has got a bit out of hand recently so I happily withdraw the remark ( I am not really a BBQ hater either!). Jim

 

[cris_408518]

Charcol is BBQ , no gas powered crap!

Good red hot coals, hand fulls of salt to put on flames from fat to stop the food being scorched.

Marinade food with olive oil wine etc and keep basting and turning.

Charcol gives flavour and taste, just bin the gas jobs and do it properly

ps . 1664 is Iced cold and the steaks are just coming off the BBQ with a nice Greek Salad and Haloumi

 

[Lol1]

Hi Lol, I called you spoilsport because I thought you were spoiling the fun (you cant beat a good argument!) but I think the "fun" has got a bit out of hand recently so I happily withdraw the remark ( I am not really a BBQ hater either!). Jim

And my apologies for calling you a BBQ hater, Jim. Seeing as you have two, you are obviously not adverse to a little "burger burning" ;o)

You just can't beat the conversation around a BBQ, words such as, "Quick, grab that one before it falls" and "That one's cremated, give it to the dog", bring back such fond memories.

Hehehe.......

 

[Tina3]

You should try barbequed bananas !! put on the barbie in the skins until they go black, open aND pour on toffee sauce and a dollop of good ice - cream!! YUM YUM !!and you dont even need a bowl !

Tina x

 

[chelsea1]

Charcol is BBQ , no gas powered crap!

Good red hot coals, hand fulls of salt to put on flames from fat to stop the food being scorched.

Marinade food with olive oil wine etc and keep basting and turning.

Charcol gives flavour and taste, just bin the gas jobs and do it properly

ps . 1664 is Iced cold and the steaks are just coming off the BBQ with a nice Greek Salad and Haloumi

each to their own! gas isnt "crap".

Instant - no waiting for hot coals, and cleaner, and re-usable coals.

You can get flavoured/scented coals/lava to put on the gas BBQ.

 

[chelsea1]

You should try barbequed bananas !! put on the barbie in the skins until they go black, open aND pour on toffee sauce and a dollop of good ice - cream!! YUM YUM !!and you dont even need a bowl !

Tina x

mmm...lovely...also nice putting a banana in tin foil and cover with a mars bar - or similar...nice gooey hot bananas!

 

[JackieandSteve_5080688]

Charcol is BBQ , no gas powered crap!

Good red hot coals, hand fulls of salt to put on flames from fat to stop the food being scorched.

Marinade food with olive oil wine etc and keep basting and turning.

Charcol gives flavour and taste, just bin the gas jobs and do it properly

ps . 1664 is Iced cold and the steaks are just coming off the BBQ with a nice Greek Salad and Haloumi

Got to agree with you there Cris nothing like a charcoal BBQ. We wouldn`t have gas if they were free. As my hubby says "might as well cook it in a gas oven as it tastes the same" and i have to agree. You can`t beat a bit of Sirloin on a charcoal BBQ )

 

[smiley]

If we have bbq I cheat and part cook the food in the oven. That way it doesn't get burnt by hubby.

But I have to say I'm not a lover of bbq's

 

[Fouldsy]

J&P

Its about the food, okay better with friends and wine but start at breakfast.

BBQ bacon, sausage, tomatoes and BBQ toast...no smell in van healthy and a dam tastey start to the day!

Lunch: chargrilled veg (asparagus, peppers, courgette) what ever you fancy served with a side salad and some fresh bread, oh you can start the wine now as well

Supper: a nice piece of good steak on BBQ garlic toast or lamb...what about monk fish wrapped in parma ham on a bed of spinach with a garlic oil

need I go on? no burgers, no chicken legs...just good out door living with minimal washing up

Live the dream!!!!!!

F

 

[Bigpow_5039962]

We used to use oxy ander our home made barby in work and a butcher that was two doors down provided the steaks ribs chops etc. Sausages and burgers are good to get it going and after that its just keeping an eye on things whilst drinking a nice cold larger.

Dont forget the desert though, get a bannan cut it along its length pour honey into it and wrap it in foil. Cook for about 5 mins then serve with ice cream and stawbs and a cold larger

 

[cris_408518]

Barbecue by definition is food cooked on an open fire, and that does not mean GAS.

Gas might cook the food but can not replicate the use of Charcol, kid yourself as much as you like.

Gas is Crap and the lazy man/womans option.

 

[smiley]

Mie is an electric oven then charcoal. so is that half man/woman.

 

[cris_408518]

Smiley, if your man can't go primitive and cook and BBQ a piece of chicken so that it is not scorched on the outside and not a health hazard on the inside.

1. Take the time to do it yourself and have pride in your flavoured results as BBQ is not some male only bastion.

2. Take your club and go out and bag ourself a real man and drag him back to you mobile cave ;-)

3. Mr Smiley take note, get your act together before she takes action :-0

 

[popupJohn]

The correct term for food 'cooked' on a BBQ is 'CARBONATED' according to my family.

I was an expert at it..it wife detested the 'thing'

I did give up on it completely in the end tho after vanishing in a ball of ignited gas one hot sunny evening as I tried to relight it after it went out unnoticed. ((blush)) No harm done to me apart from shattered nerves and an extra few feets walk back to the tent that I had been thrown to

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

We've followed a veggie lifestyle for 30 years and still get a load of use out of our BBQ.

Haloumi, sweetcorn cobs, artichoke hearts, and anything else that doesn't have a face cooks really well on a BBQ.

I first should explain that I part-timed as a professional chef during my six years at university. And most people that I've seen don't use their BBQ as a BBQ, they use it as a Grill - actually as what chefs call a Salamander.

A real BBQ combines the heat of the coals with the heat retained by the lid - and this is an ideal way to cook larger lumps of food - and you achieve that oven roasted / grilled effect.

Many BBQ (those without a lid or the ability to move the grids quite a distance from the coals - like the instant party BBQ) only cook by the intense heat of the coals - and whilst this is OK for burgers, sausages, etc, it's not OK for thicker items like chicken legs.

And if you like bananas on the BBQ - then this is about 10 times better - buy a pineapple - remove the skin and core - slice it into thick rings and then BBQ. Serve with a good vanilla ice cream.

Robert

 

[Viking1]

You can get some different woods to put on the coals to had other flavourer to the food.

With bananas or pineapple put brandy or rum or maliebu or Galersy

In tin foil.

Mark

 

[JandP]

Thanks for all your replies, we went to a BBQ at the weekend and had---sausages, burgers and chicken but it was very nice and properly cooked and I was able to understand that its not just about the food so thanks for that. With regard to the charcoal/gas debate I would just like to say that on environmental grounds it has to be charcoal every time. Dont buy the brickets as many of them are imported and often have other things added (even coal), buy lump wood charcoal which will have been produced in the UK and will not only provide employment but will also help to preserve coppiced woodland which is a very important but increasingly rare habitat. Jim.

 

[wayne_5097681]

Thanks for all your replies, we went to a BBQ at the weekend and had---sausages, burgers and chicken but it was very nice and properly cooked and I was able to understand that its not just about the food so thanks for that. With regard to the charcoal/gas debate I would just like to say that on environmental grounds it has to be charcoal every time. Dont buy the brickets as many of them are imported and often have other things added (even coal), buy lump wood charcoal which will have been produced in the UK and will not only provide employment but will also help to preserve coppiced woodland which is a very important but increasingly rare habitat. Jim.

must remember that when i'm stuffing my face full of food off the gas barbey not.