Food & Drink

lifestyle Food & Drink

LITTLE-KNOWN FOODS YOU CAN ACTUALLY BBQ

With barbecue weekends in full swing (weather permitting), now’s a good time to be a little experimental when it comes to al fresco dining. The experts at AEG (aeg.co.uk/kitchen/cooling) have us covered by revealing food you didn’t realise you could BBQ… Pineapple

Pineapple can be grilled to create the perfect pudding. Start by grilling underripe pineapple to extract the delicious fruit juices, they will then caramelise over the hot grates, and this dish can be enjoyed either on its own or accompanied with another favourite, such as chicken or pizza.

Halloumi cheese

Fans of halloumi cheese will be pleased to know of this tasty BBQ hack. The mild taste and thick texture means this dish is the perfect contender for BBQ grilling. Serve it on skewers to complement traditional BBQ dishes.

Watermelon

This flavoursome fruit makes for an iconic summer dish when partnered with a feta salad. Cut the watermelon into chunks, and place on the BBQ for two to three minutes either side.

MAKE IT: LITTLE GEM CAESAR SALAD

Good4U’s new Caesar Crumbles Salad Toppers are available from Tesco for £2 for 130g - an ideal accompaniment to this lovely salad recipe:

Ingredients

• Little gem lettuce • Red endive • Radishes • 2 tbsp Good4U Caesar

Crumbles Salad Toppers

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients

• 1/4 cup smooth runny tahini • Juice from ½ a lemon • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tsp very finely chopped capers

Avocados

Perfect for those searching for a vegetarian option, just place the avocado on the grill for around five minutes until grill-lines start to form.

Cake

Yes, even cake can be grilled on the BBQ. Cut a pound cake into thick slices, butter both sides and grill until golden. The grill will give the cake a warm and soft interior, whilst caramelising the crust.

Tips & tricks

• Once meat is removed from a hot BBQ, it should be eaten or refrigerated within two hours. To ensure fast cooling, foods should be divided and stored in small, separate containers and kept airtight to preserve moisture. Once refrigerated, the food should be consumed within two to three days. • Leftover BBQ food can be reheated in the oven, at an ideal temperature of 300-325°F. When heating, make sure the meat is covered so that moisture is retained, flipping the food regularly to ensure it is thoroughly cooked.

• 2 tsp caper brine • 1 tsp grainy dijon mustard • 1-3 tablespoons warm water, to thin out dressing a bit to your liking • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Wash and cut the little gem in half. You can eat it as is or pop under the grill for few minutes. Pan frying works too 2. Try adding red endive for the colour 3. Thinly slice a few radishes and scatter over the little gem for some extra crunch 4. Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. Add salt and pepper generously 5. Drizzle all over with the dressing and top with a good handful of Caesar Crumbles. Add parmesan shavings if using, and black pepper

Cool product alert

What if we told you that you can trick your brain into thinking you’re drinking something you’re not? A reusable water bottle called air up uses flavoured pods to provide a zero-calorie, zero sugar, zero additive way to drink 100% pure water which tastes flavoured. With 80% of flavour coming from our sense of smell, instead of taste, air up harnesses this clever bit of science, infusing every sip of water from your bottle with flavoured air. Flavours range from Lime and Orange-Passionfruit to Cola and Iced Coffee. A Starter Set, which includes one bottle and two scent pods, costs from £29.95, while each additional pack of three pods (flavouring a minimum of 15 litres of water) then costs between £5.95 to £8.95, depending on the flavour. See uk.air-up.com