With summer well and truly here, it's time to dust off those barbecues (if you haven't already), and have yourself a feast.But it's not just about flipping burgers on the grill, there's plenty of other things for you to BBQ.We spoke to some of the country's best chefs to find out what they love grilling on the BBQ.
Mango
‘One of my favourite desserts to enjoy in the summer is BBQ mango,’ says Mike Reid from M Restaurants.
‘Serve it with some ice cream or a nice yogurt with a bit of granola.’
Watermelon
'Roasted sugary fruits are great on the BBQ,' says Sergio Sanz Blanco from Ametsa with Arzak Instruction.
'Mix sugar with some spices like juniper berries, cardamom and cumin, coat the fruit then they're ready for grilling.'
And it's not just watermelon, kiwi and strawberries are other good options.
Wok vegetables
Sticking your wok straight onto the coals is a great way to cook veggies.
‘Chop up vegetables like courgettes, broccoli and peppers then stick the wok on the coals and you’ll have perfectly flamed vegetables,’ Hus Vedat, Executive Chef from Yosma told us.
Savoy cabbage
‘I love savoy cabbage on the barbecue,’ says Andew Dargue from Vanilla Black.
‘The day before a BBQ I cut a savoy cabbage into quarters, steam until tender then cool.’
‘Once it comes to the barbecue itself, I brush with olive oil, season with sea salt then sear on the BBQ on all sides until very brown and charred.’
Bananas
‘Grilled bananas are delicious,’ says Hus Vedat. ‘Open one up in the centre and make incisions horizontally across the banana centre.’
‘I then like to fill the incisions with a diced up snickers bar, wrap the banana in foil, and then drop directly onto the coals. After about 4 minutes on each side, peel the banana & scoop into a bowl & serve with ice cream.’
Fish heads
Not for the faint hearted, Asimakis Chaniotis, Head Chef at L'autre Pied recommends fish heads on the barbecue!
'Being Greek means I bring a different approach to cooking and have a very strong sense of tradition,' he told us. 'Fish heads are something special, delicious and highly valued; unlike here where they are thrown away!'
'They're delicious soaked in olive oil, fresh Thyme, lemon and a few fresh bay leaves.'
Black pudding
'Black pudding is great cooked on the grill,' says Xavi Domingo, a chef from Sagardi. 'I like to serve slices with roasted red peppers.'
Whole chicken
'I love barbecuing whole meats slowly on the grills,' says Mike Reid from M Restaurants.
'Whole chickens, shoulders of lambs and beef briskets are all great options.'
Paella
Paella is fantastic on the BBQ, and chef Sergio Sanz Blanco recommends doing this.
'But use a terracotta pot,' he recommends.
Baked Camembert
'Cheese on the BBQ is delicious,' Brett, Head Chef at Ember Yard tells us.
'Camembert in its box, wrapped in foil is particularly great. The possibilities are endless!'
Flatbread
'Barbecuing bread gives it that intense charred, smokey flavour and it doesn’t get fresher than this,' says Eran Tibi, Head Chef at Bala Baya.
Eran particularly loves flatbread, which he cookes on the BBQ with parchment paper between each layer.
Vicky is our Food & Drink Director, where she oversees strategy and content across all of Hearst's brands, from recipe development to fun video franchises and everything in between.
With almost a decade's experience, Vicky was previously Editor of Delish UK, and Digital Food Editor of Good Housekeeping and she lives and breathes food content creation.
Outside of work, Vicky loves learning about wine, eating her way around the world, and hanging out with her dog Pickle.
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