A barbeque is for many of us a celebration and a way to get together and enjoy each other's company as well as the food, so picking a menu all can enjoy is a big and important part. Here are some of our top tips for how to pick the right food and drinks for your occasion, so that all can enjoy your barbeque party.
Let's start with what type of barbeque you are planning on having. Are you all meat-eaters, vegetarians or mixed? Maybe you want to mix it up with different types of food or just serve a basic barbeque that is quick and effortless. Are you at home with lots of space and a big barbeque? Then you have more options. If you are at the park with a portable barbeque, then you might want to stick to easier dishes and with fewer side dishes. Maybe just serve burgers or sausages with buns and bread and a salad as a side dish. Here are our tips for how you pick the right food for the right occasion.
1. Choose your meat or vegetarian main dish
No matter what type of barbeque you are planning on, choosing the main dish is one of the most important parts. Are you planning on serving up food for many people? Then a more quick main dish is appropriate. Burgers or sausages are great as well as barbeque skewers you can prepare in advance. The size of the barbeque you have makes different dishes more suitable as well. If you have a small barbeque you might want to stick to options that don't need a long cooking time and if you have a big barbeque you might be able to cook more versatile types of food.
5 examples of main dishes to serve at your BBQ:
Sausages and Burgers
Hole Meats, game and birds
Skewers and kebabs
Hole vegetables and fruits
Fish and seafood
2. BBQ side dishes, vegetables and cheeses
Serving side dishes that go on the barbeque is always a hit and the options are equally many as with the main dishes. Side dishes could be served as a condiment to the main dish or as a starter. Here is your place to be creative. All cultures have different starters and side dishes equally exciting. This is the perfect way to try different food cultures from around the world. Great as a starter are foods like grilled Greek Halomi cheese, and French grilled and melted Camembert cheese, perfect for dipping a baguette in. Roasted corn or fruits like pineapples are perfect condiments for making your barbeque a success and fitted for all.
5 examples of side dishes to serve at your BBQ:
Corn
Paprika and tomatoes
Onions
Grilled Halloumi, Camembert or different types of cheeses
Grilled fruits and vegetable skewers
2. Serve a filling side dish you can prepare ahead
Serving filling side dishes to your barbeque is always a good choice. Bread of all kinds, as it is or toasted on the barbeque is a safe and easy option. You can prepare it ahead and at the same time, you don't have to cook all of your food on the barbeque. There are a lot of different options and depending on what country and region you are from, you probably have your own favourite.
5 examples of filling side dishes to serve at your BBQ:
Bread
Potato salad
Rice
Cold nudle salad
Potatoes
3. BBQ sauces, glaze and dipping sauces
Most of us would say that sauces and dips are a must at a barbeque. If you like to serve snacks meanwhile you are barbequing, dips are always a great way to go. Cold dipping sauces are a good condiment for all types of meats, fish dishes and vegetable options and most of them are both quick and easy to make. barbeque glaze or umami tasting sauces are also classic and popular choices.
5 examples of sauces to serve at your BBQ:
Tzatziki
Guacamole
Yoghurt sauce
Mojo sauce
Sweet and sticky BBQ glaze
4. Fresh salads
Something fresh to serve with your barbeque is a good idea. A barbeque could be starchy or a bit too heavy if you do not bring some freshness to it. It is also a great way to get in more vegetable dishes for the vegetarians and you can make them ahead so that you do not have to prepare all of the dishes at the same time as you are hosting the barbeque. Remember that there are a lot of options so you don't have to go with a plain mixed salad if your kids don't like it. You can equally well serve a fruit salad or a more grown-up version with strong cheese.
5 examples of fresh salads to serve at your BBQ:
Greek salad and feta cheese salad
Mixed spring vegetable salad
Starberry and watermellon salad
Figgs and gorgonzola salad
Salad with mustard dressing and pickled cucumbers
5. Choose your drink options
It is easy to forget that your drink option is important. We all like different things, red wine, white wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Make sure that you serve options so that everybody has something they like and can drink. There are a lot of options for smart cocktails and punches you can make in bigger volumes ahead of time, like a cooling sangria or Mojito if you want a Spanish theme. Why not serve a non-alcoholic cucumber lemonade or a smoothie for your barbeque this summer.
5 examples of drink options to serve at your BBQ:
Wine
Beer
Cocktails
Lemonades
Refreching sparkling softdrinks
Everybody likes a good barbeque
No matter what you make of your barbeque, you will surely have a great time. Keep in mind to pick the right food for the right occasion and drinks that all can enjoy. That way you don't need to work as hard and have more time to spend with your guests. Always put safety first around the fire, so that you all can remember the barbeque party as a fun and great success.
