Backyard Barbeque Gourmet
by Vincent Burkett
http://www.yahoo.com
When many people think barbeque they think of
burgers and steaks, nothing too fancy. However, more
and more people are enjoying the vast and exciting
foods that you can grill up on your home barbeque in
no time. Creating beautiful gourmet meals that are
bursting with flavor can be a snap with a few simple
tips.
Probably the most overlooked item in barbeque meals is the
side dish. Most people drag out the plain old potato salad
and cold slaw ~ while these dishes may be delicious and
certainly hold a favourite spot in many hearts, you can
also add some variety to your menu by preparing vegetables
on the grill. The key to successfully grilling vegetables
is to prepare a marinade to keep the vegetables moist and
flavourful. Some of the best marinades are a simple sweet
and sour sauce, an Asian themed marinade with a hint of
sesame oil, or an old standard, a honey mustard glaze.
If you prefer your vegetables to be a little more simply
prepared, the best solution may be a tin foil package. By
adding fresh vegetables (such as red onions, peppers,
mushrooms, or potatoes) in a tin foil packet to the grill,
you can have perfectly prepared vegetables. Just add a few
pats of butter and maybe an ice cube to the packet. The
butter will flavour the vegetables and the ice will provide
enough moisture to gently steam the vegetables. For even
more flavour, add some minced garlic, or some herbs or salt
and pepper. Just take the packet off the grill and
transfer the contents to a bowl and you have an instant
crowd pleaser.
The next time you barbecue, don~t forget your vegetarian
family and friends. There are enumerable ways to prepare
vegetables on your grill, and even meat eaters will love
them. One great idea is to marinate some portabella
mushrooms in balsamic vinegar and olive oil and then grill
them for just a few minutes. You can treat them just like
you would a burger by putting them on a bun with condiments
such as garlic and watercress mayo.
Another delicious option for the barbeque grill is fish.
Many people shy away from grilling fish because the light
texture of some types of fish will easily fall apart on the
grill. But there are several varieties, like salmon and
halibut, which offer a firm flesh that grills beautifully.
Fish is a dish that cooks up to perfection on a barbeque.
Most barbecue dishes are greatly enhanced by a simple
marinade ~ for fish, a sweet soy based dressing is the
perfect grilling flavour. Simply combine olive or sesame
oil with some brown sugar, add a little soy sauce. Cook
over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let the
sauce cool, then pour over your fish. Set aside some of
the marinade to use as a basting or dipping sauce.
Remember, fish cooks much more quickly than chicken or
beef, so watch carefully.
It~s not difficult to be an expert barbeque chef; it just
takes a little creativity and desire for adventure.
Barbeque isn~t only for summer months, you can barbeque
year-round. Don~t forget to look for new recipes in some
of the many barbeque cookbooks. You may find some new
favourites, main dishes, vegetables, marinades and
dressing, maybe even a dessert or two. All perfect for the
backyard barbeque.
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