Mouthwatering Menus: Delicious BBQ Recipes to Impress Your Family on Holiday

BBQ is an all-time favourite cooking technique that turns meals into cherished memories.

A fantastic BBQ is not just about grilling some meat; it’s about creating a blend of tastes and aromas that define a unique culinary experience. 

In the backdrop of a family holiday, a BBQ is a delightful event, enriching the holiday with flavours and joy.

If you are looking forward to a family holiday soon, perhaps at a Cornwall holiday park by the coast, read on to discover some great BBQ recipes.

Elevating Your BBQ Game: Master the Art of Grilling

The Art of Barbecuing

Barbecuing is much more than just cooking. It’s a gastronomic performance that combines the right ingredients, techniques, and passion to create something truly special. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a BBQ beginner, the following tips will help you elevate your BBQ game:

Master the Heat

Controlling the heat is a crucial aspect of barbecuing. Different recipes require different cooking temperatures. Consistently maintaining the appropriate temperature is key to ensuring that your food is cooked evenly, preventing any raw or burnt parts.

• For High Heat: Foods like burgers, hot dogs, and many vegetables require high heat.
• For Medium Heat: Chicken, fish, and pork are best cooked on medium heat.
• For Low Heat: Large cuts of meat or bone-in pieces require low and slow cooking to tenderise without burning the exterior.

Know Your Cuts

Understanding the characteristics of different meat cuts will enable you to choose the best cooking method. Some cuts are tender and perfect for quick, high-heat grilling, while others are tougher and benefit from slow cooking at a lower temperature.

• Tender Cuts: These include cuts like sirloin, tenderloin, T-bone, and rib-eye. They’re perfect for quick, high-heat grilling.
• Tougher Cuts: Cuts such as brisket, ribs, and shoulder are best for slow and low cooking, allowing the collagen to break down over time and result in tender, flavourful meat.

Marinate Well

A good marinade can make or break your BBQ. Marinating infuses the meat with flavour and tenderises it, resulting in a juicy and flavourful outcome. Allowing the meat to marinate for an adequate amount of time ensures maximum flavour absorption.

• For Beef and Lamb: Marinate for at least two hours or up to 24 hours for a more pronounced flavour.
• For Poultry: Marinate for at least one hour or overnight for a deep, rich flavour.
• For Fish: Due to its delicate texture, fish should be marinated for 15 to 30 minutes at most.

Following these tips will help you harness the power of the grill, setting the stage for some delectable BBQ recipes.

How to Make the Best Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a favourite that never fails to impress. This slow-cooked, tender meat, pulled into shreds, and smothered in a tangy sauce, is a showstopper. Here’s how to make the best pulled pork:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Mix brown sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub. Apply this rub all over the pork shoulder and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
• Preheat your grill for indirect grilling at a medium-low heat of around 135°C.
• Place the pork shoulder on the grill, fat side up, and cover. Cook for about 5-6 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 90°C.
• Once cooked, remove the pork from the grill and let it rest for about 20 minutes.
• Using two forks, pull the meat apart into shreds. Mix in the BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar.
• Serve the pulled pork on soft buns with coleslaw and pickles for a complete BBQ sandwich feast.

This pulled pork recipe is a perfect example of the wonders of slow cooking, and it’s sure to be a hit at your family holiday BBQ.

The Perfect Grilled Veggie Skewers

BBQs don’t have to be all about meat. Grilled vegetables are a delicious and healthy addition to any BBQ menu. They bring colour, variety, and nutrition to your meal.

The trick to getting them right is to choose a mix of vegetables that cook at roughly the same rate or cut them into sizes that ensure they do. Here’s a simple and tasty recipe for grilled veggie skewers that everyone in the family will love.

Ingredients:

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 zucchini
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 red onion
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions:

• Prep the Veggies: Wash all the vegetables. Cut the bell peppers, zucchini, squash, and red onion into roughly equal size chunks, aiming for about 1 to 1.5-inch pieces. The cherry tomatoes can be left whole.
• Marinate: Place all the vegetables in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then add salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme. Toss everything together until the vegetables are well coated with the oil and spices.
• Skewer the Veggies: Thread the vegetables onto skewers, alternating the types of vegetables for a colourful presentation. If you’re using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using them to prevent from burning on the grill.
• Grill: Preheat your grill to medium heat. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning them occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred.
• Serve: Remove the veggie skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. They can be served on the skewers or off, as a side dish or even a main for those preferring a plant-based meal.

These grilled veggie skewers are a colourful, nutritious, and delightful addition to your BBQ menu. They’re proof that BBQs can be versatile and inclusive, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences.

Now that you’ve mastered these BBQ recipes, you’re all set to impress your family on your next holiday. Enjoy the process, the food, and the precious memories you’re creating! If you are still looking for a destination for your family holiday, consider our family-friendly caravan park in Looe, Cornwall.

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