National BBQ Week

This week is National BBQ Week and is the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything BBQ!

This annual campaign encourages people to embrace the culture of cooking and eating outdoors, along with championing delicious summer food.

Barbecuing Benefits

There are several benefits to barbecuing food. Here a few, giving examples of how a BBQ can benefit your social life, family life, health… and even the value of your home!

Entertaining

Having a BBQ is a great way of entertaining friends and family. The BBQ becomes the focal point of any social gathering and acts as the ‘theatre of the garden’. People can watch as you cook their dinner, while enjoying the weather and outdoor space.

Keeping your Home Clean

Cooking outside prevents your home from getting messy, from being filled with smoke or unwanted food smells. Without using the oven and other kitchen appliances, you will also help to keep your utility costs lower.

Health

Grilling food is better for you than nearly any other cooking option. It is delicious, less greasy and – when done right – can be a healthy option. The high heat of grilling helps food retain its moisture too, so all meat and fish will be particularly succulent.
Cooking at home is also healthier than eating in restaurants, because you can control how much butter, oil and salt goes into and onto your food. Barbecuing at home using marinades and rubs can be very healthy and tasty.

Adding Value to your Home

Outdoor kitchens are much more than a place to put the BBQ grill – you can build up your whole outdoor area around it, adding patio furniture, heaters and more to create a comfortable outdoor paradise. Adding a built-in BBQ to your outdoor living space is also a great investment.

Outdoor kitchens have a high rate of return on investment when compared to other outdoor home improvement projects.

BBQ Facts

• BBQ and at-home eating is the UK’s number one summer home leisure activity, with two in three households in the country owning a BBQ
• The average number of BBQs held per family during the summer has risen sharply from round 2.5 around ten years’ ago, to over 9
• After-work or mid-week BBQs now account for over 48% of all BBQ occasions
• US style barbequing has become very fashionable over recent times, with pulled pork being especially popular. Hot and spicy food regions, such as South Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico, North Africa and Southern US and their Cajun and Creole delicacies have also become popular in the UK
• Gas is the preferred BBQ method, with 48% of people using this. 42% use charcoal
• 33% of men and 32% of women now attend between 8 and 9 BBQs per year

Pineapple and Pork Kebabs

Looking for a fruity feast to enjoy via the BBQ this summer? Try this Pineapple and Pork Kebab recipe via Good Food Magazine. These kebabs are even tastier when served with rice or pitta breads.

Ingredients

400g pork fillet
4 tbsp light muscovado sugar
60ml cider vinegar
1 tsp fish sauce
½ small pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks (or use ready prepped fresh pineapple, drained well)
1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into squares (optional)
4 spring onions, trimmed and cut into 4 equal lengths
Small bunch of coriander, chopped (optional)
Cooked rice or pitta, to serve

Method

1. Cut the pork into cubes. Heat the sugar and vinegar in a pan over a low heat until the sugar melts. Add the fish sauce and cool. Tip in the pork and mix well so that all the cubes are covered in sauce.
2. Heat the barbecue. If you are using coals, wait until they turn white. Thread the pork and pineapple onto skewers, alternating pieces with the pepper and spring onion.
3. Barbecue or griddle the skewers for 3-4 mins each side (you may need to cook them for longer if griddling). Sprinkle with coriander, if you like, then serve with rice or slide into pitta breads.

Trevor Mottram

Trevor Mottram has been a name at the heart of The Pantiles for over forty years. It is a cook shop stocking everything a kitchen and cook needs – especially for National BBQ Week! From plates to cutlery and BBQ utensils to clever gadgets, there’s everything to ensure you cook up a fabulous family feast this week.

Whatever way you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a very tasty National BBQ Week.