The British barbecuing industry is booming with growth in Electric, gas and traditional BBQs and accessories skyrocketing, while the clamour for new and usual foods to Grill continues to grow at an equal pace.
While the love for British barbecuing and American Grilling stem from the same social enjoyment, with warm summer evenings, friends, family and good music or sport, British cuisine draws inspiration from all over the world as well as having its own unique flavours.
If you’re feeling adventurous, want to impress or are simply just bored of grilling the same food, here are our top 5 British barbecue hits that you might not have heard of.
1. Minted Lamb Chops
Lamb and mint are as classic as it gets in British cuisine, most commonly in Spring, enjoyed as part of a Roast Dinner, but Lamb continues to be available locally through into early summer. They are packed with flavour, are quick and easy to prepare and cook in as little as 10 minutes. As lamb chops are best pink, served rare to medium, over cooking will make them tough and dry. Here are a couple of our favourite recipes to try: bbq-minty-garlic-lamb minted lamb chops
2. Grilled Halloumi
Halloumi is a Cheese originating from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, however the British are the biggest consumers of Halloumi outside of Cyprus.
It is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in various ways. It can be served as part of a cheese platter, sliced added to salads, sandwiches, wraps, and even pasta dishes to add a unique texture and flavour. But it has become a hugely popular barbecue food in the UK, particularly when catering for vegetarians. Its salty flavour and ability to hold its form in high temperatures makes it an ideal non meat addition to the grill. Halloumi can be formed into a burger, added to a vegetable skewer or simply eaten on its own. Try these recipes to get you started: Sticky Halloumi Kebabs , Grilled Halloumi Burger
3. Sausages
Classic Pork sausages, or Bratwurst are found at almost every Grill so you might be wondering why they are on this list of interesting british barbecue foods.
There are over 400 types of sausage produced across the UK many named after the region they originate from. While all pork based the range of size, shapes and flavours are almost endless. Some of the most popular are the chunky cumberland sausage and the flavour packed Lincolnshire Sausage.
While making sausages often requires specialist machines and knowledge and british sausages are not commonly found in super stores you can find traditional british sausages online at specialist producers like Ackroyds Bakery.
4. Black Pudding Burgers
The hamburger is the starting point for any Grill, but like the sausage there are lots of variants, possibly the one that screams “British” the most is the Black pudding burger.
Black pudding is made from cooked blood, typically from pigs or cows. While its exact origins are unclear, black pudding has been a part of British cuisine for centuries. Despite its somewhat intimidating ingredients, black pudding has a rich and savoury flavour with subtle earthy undertones.
The addition of black pudding to a burger adds a unique flavour and helps keep a juicy texture, you might even surprise a few people if they don’t know the secret ingredient. Some of our favourite recipes:
Pork Black Pudding Burger, Black Pudding Burger
5. Lamb Koftas
Lamb kofta is a type of Middle Eastern or South Asian dish made with ground lamb meat, mixed with various herbs, spices, and sometimes onions. The mixture is shaped into small sausage-like logs or balls. Like Halloumi the British have adopted the lamb kofta and it has become a firm favourite for a barbeque. This is in part because of Britain’s cultural society, but also for the simple reason, they are easy to cook and taste great. They also benefit from being quick and easy to make. There are many variants, but here are two to get you started: Lamb Kofta Kebab, Lamb Kofta
There are plenty more unique British barbecue foods and traditions that you can bring into your everyday grilling or big gatherings, and while you will want to stick to your tried and tested favourites, adding something new will add another layer of enjoyment for your guests.