Healthy Grilling Tips & Tricks
Summer BBQs are a great time for all the family and whilst it can be very tempting to indulge in rich sauce smothered joints and sides, there are ways to make your grilling experience healthier (whilst remaining delicious!)
Barbecuing adds so much flavour through the smoke and searing of the food that it is easy to maintain a yummy flavour without overdoing it. Read on to find out how to make the most of healthy grilling:
Opt for a light starter
Rather than sticking with crisps and dips, venture into the world of starters cooked on your very own grill. Bruschetta with grilled tomato, olive oil and herbs is a wonderful alternative which will satisfy your guests without taking up too much space for the main course! You could create some vegetable skewers (think aubergine, peppers, mushrooms, etc) infused with herbs and marinade to give a little extra taste. Again, this is a light option to keep your guests occupied whilst you focus on preparing the main.
Keep it colourful
Grill some summer vegetables to fill your guests’ plates with colour. You can present them as a main course or as a sumptuous side to a lighter option of prawns or grilled fish. Try grilling lemon halves until caramelised and squeeze them over your veg, or add some onions for a pop of flavour.
Use herbs and oils – but choose wisely!
Marinades do not have to be fatty or sugary to taste great. Barbecuing should speak for itself and does not require a complex sauce to compliment this. Stick to the basics: olive oil, lemon juice, chilli, salt, balsamic vinegar and herbs such as rosemary.
Be more selective
Swap out processed meat bought at the supermarket for locally sourced beef or pork from your local butcher. If you choose to prepare your meat alongside salad and veg, create a homemade marinade to rub into the meat which keeps things healthy and delicious.
Fish is a fantastic healthy alternative, wild trout or salmon is the perfect addition to the barbecue as they have many benefits. Dice up some pineapple, add a little chilli and prepare for gorgeous flavour!
With a little pre-planning and thinking outside the box, you can create delicious healthy grilled foods so you can eat to your hearts content without the guilt of indulging in fatty BBQ food.
Delicious alternatives to cook on your roasting oven
One of the best features of our spit roasting ovens is the possibility to cook a variety of food, not limiting you to a traditional hog roast. Although roasting a pig is still a widely enjoyed option for many events, it is always good to know what other food and services you can provide. Thanks to our machines being so versatile, the choices are almost limitless! Below we have listed some of our favourite alternatives, perhaps you will find something new to try OR post in the comments if you have your own recipes!
Chicken
Thanks to the versatility of the machine and the ability to switch the spit for our roasting cradle, full chickens are easy to cook making them beautifully tender and flavourful. This is a brilliant choice if you are feeding a lot of people as you can cook up to 24 full chickens at a time and it is a simple way to still supply a good amount of meat. Chicken can be served in a bun or with salad or veg, meaning it is fantastic for summer garden parties where a lighter option is preferred.
Duck
Duck can be cooked similarly to chicken, either on the spit or cradle. A delicious flavour and something a little bit different, you will be surprised by how well this will be received! Duck can be served in a few ways but why not try it in a wrap or with some homemade sauce and sides. Another great thing about cooking duck is that none of the run off fat need be wasted. Position the duck above your potatoes in the roasting trays, the fat will seep into the potatoes giving them a wonderful finish your guests will rave about.
Toad in the Hole
A staple dish but not what you expect to see prepared on a roasting oven! Toad in the hole is surprisingly easy to make, preparing your batter in advance definitely helps to make the event run smoothly and other than that all you need to do is choose how you’d like to cook it. We find the roasting trays to be good option if you are wanting to make a big portion. However, if you are wanting a smaller size which you can serve to guests individually – try cooking a single portion in a small disposable tray (similar to what you’d get from a takeaway) using the roasting cradle attachment. This is a handy trick as it means all you will need is some napkins so that the guests can hold the trays whilst hot – other than that it is a meal ready to eat!
Jacket Potatoes
Simple is sometimes best when it comes to choosing a meal everyone will like. Don’t over-complicate things and go for this option when it is a big event that you will want to turn out lots of food, especially if you are looking to incorporate veggie or vegan options too. The roasting cradle can fit up to 150 potatoes, meaning you can spend more time chatting with your guests and deciding what you would like to serve them with. You could go for simple options such as cheese or beans, but why not step it up and go for pulled pork or a chill mix to really get the taste buds watering.
Pizza
Thanks to our brand-new addition of the pizza cradle, pizza is sure to be a fast favourite amongst caterers. With a huge margin (up to 88%!!) and profit to be made, offering pizza has the potential to transform your business. Preparing your dough and toppings in advance helps to maintain the flow of cooking in vast quantities, it also means you can work out your costs easily and where you would like to splurge a little more (E.g. is it worth paying a few pence more for the tastier tomato sauce base?). With the pizza cradle attachment, you can cook up to 12, 9” pizzas in approx. 5 minutes. A great option for any street food event, a fun alternative at wedding parties and something that you can offer to vegetarians too – everyone will find something to love about this option and you are sure to reap the benefits!