Summer barbeques mean long sunny evenings spent with family and friends, delicious foods, good vibes, and excellent company.
The idea of the classic barbecue is charred, smokey, and most prevalently: meat filled. All in all, not a healthy dinner for the family to share! But this doesn’t have to be the case, there are lots of small changes that can easily be made to keep the delicious flavours we associate with summer evenings spent in the garden but with a healthier twist.
Try Grilling Fish
Fish is often an overlooked option to cook on a barbecue as it is typically more flaky and can be more difficult to handle. However, with the correct tools and techniques the smoky aromas of charcoal can bring a new flavour palette to the classic dish. Fish contains less saturated fats than other meats making it a healthier choice but nonetheless tasty!
Image Credit: www.gousto.com
A wide variety of fish can be cooked on the grill but Salmon, Trout, or Mackerel are our favourites. There are loads of easy to follow delicious options available such as this Jamie Oliver BBQ Salmon, this grilled whole Trout recipe from RTE, or this garlic and lemon Mackerel dish from Mourne Fishbox.
An essential tool for barbecuing fish is a very simple (and obviously titled) fish grilling basket. Basically, it holds the fish together while grilling so it is easy to turn without the risk of the delicate meat sticking to the grill. This option below is available from Amazon and holds individual fish but options are available to hold multiple together.
Image Credit: www.amazon.co.uk
Choose Lean Meat
Alternatives to red meat are naturally a healthier option, cooking chicken on the barbecue is always an excellent choice and can be done in a variety of ways; chicken wings, drumsticks, skewers, or simple fillets! The key to variety is a delicious marinade and thanks to the culinar-ily gifted people at Gousto.com we have a couple of options for you to try! Simply combine and coat your chicken with marinade for minimum one hour before cooking, but the longer the meat marinades the better.
Image Credit: www.delish.com
Honey Soy
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 4 tbsp Soy Sauce
- Juice of 2 Limes
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)
- Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar
- 60ml Lemon Juice
- 2 tsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Chopped Thyme
- 60ml Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)
Tex-Mex
- 2 tbsp Linseed Oil
- 2 tbsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tbsp Cumin
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Oregano
- 1 tbsp Tomato Puree
- 60ml Water
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)
Indian Spice:
- 2 tbsp Greek Yogurt
- 20g Fresh Coriander
- 20g Fresh Mint
- 1 tbsp Garam Masala
- 1/2 Red Chili
- 2 tbsp Sunflower Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
- Combine all ingredients in a blender
When making burgers there are white meat alternatives such as chicken burgers or using turkey mince. If however, you're longing for a beef burger opt for a lower fat content mince, any butcher counter or meat section will have lean mince options.
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Don't Forget The Veg
Increasing your vegetables when barbecuing is easy. Veg can be used to bolster your chosen meat mains or can replace the meat altogether. Nearly all vegetables can be cooked on a barbecue grill but options that work particularly well include peppers, onions, mushrooms, courgettes: All things that are perfect for skewering. There's no need for any special recipes or methods for skewering, simply load up your metal or wooden skewers with vegetables, or a combination of meats and veg and pop on the grill. If you're using meats we recommend marinading with the above options for extra deliciousness.
Image Credit: www.minimalistbaker.com
Is there a vegetable that is more synonymous with a barbecue than corn? Corn on the cob is easy to prepare and cook, is rich in B12 and Iron, helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol, AND is good for your skin. Seriously what can't corn do!?
Image Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk
Why not swap out the meat altogether with a veggie burger? Halloumi came into popular circulation in the foodie world with a bang in the past couple of years as a vegetarian alternative to meat. The semi-hard cheese has a high melting point meaning it's ideal for grilling or frying and the perfect substitute for meat filled burgers. This amazing recipe for Halloumi Burgers with a sticky chilli sauce are positively mouthwatering and we can't wait to try them at our next BBQ!
