Everything you need to know for the best ever Australia Day BBQ
These tips will take your food and decorations up a notch
If you’re hosting a BBQ this weekend and want to impress your guests, here are some ideas to bring extra flavour and flair to the proceedings.
Nicky Ryan
1. It’s the little things
Oil the grill – prepare your grill for all the goodness you’ll be throwing at it with a good clean, followed by a coating of oil to prevent sticking and make cooking easier.
2. Start with a punch or cocktail
Mix up a fruity cocktail or punch to serve to guests on arrival and get the party started. Freeze ice in big blocks to drop into your punch bowl – it melts more slowly so lasts longer.
3. Make your own dips ahead of time
Try our Roasted capsicum & chilli tapenade with crispbread.
Nicky Ryan
4. Add flavour
- Marinate the meat ahead of time for greater depth of flavour. Try our recipe for Burgers with cheesy ale sauce & onion fries.
- Mix your own mayonnaise with a little mustard or garlic to add flavor, serve with your homemade chutney for good measure.
- Mix up a herb butter to add to your steaks after cooking
- Use charcoal to add a smokey flavor to meats and BBQ corn
- Use herbs as a skewer – stalks of rosemary work a treat!
5. Offer vegetarian options
- Prepare vegetables such as whole potatoes, cut pumpkin and carrots by wrapping them in foil to roast in the coals or on the side of your BBQ – particularly if you have vegetarians to feed, this keeps things separated.
- Buy some firm tofu and marinate it (separately) in the same sauce as your meat to ensure a tasty offering.
- Grill spears of asparagus and thick slices of haloumi cheese
6. Dessert on the BBQ
Halve stone fruits and figs and place face-down on the grill for a lovely treat at the end of the day. Have some cinnamon sugar and marscapone on hand to top once charred.
