The best new BBQ books to try
Fire up the grill, because the sizzle season is upon us, says Prudence Wade
Few things are more satisfying than cooking up a storm on the BBQ. Whether you’re catering for a crowd or firing up for a quick midweek dinner – as the weather starts to warm up, so do our grills.
BBQing used to have a somewhat basic reputation for chucking unseasoned steaks on the grill and calling it a day. However, there are worlds of possibilities when it comes to cooking over fire – for example, did you know you could even whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies outside?
New BBQ cookbooks released in preparation for summer take us all over the world with their recipes, and could even convince to you to build your own grill from scratch…
1. DJ BBQ’s Backyard Baking: 50 Awesome Recipes For Baking Over Live Fire by David Wright,
Chris Taylor and Christian Stevenson
Think BBQs are just for hunks of meat? Think again.
DJ BBQ’s Backyard Baking proves baking doesn’t have to be an indoor, rainy day pursuit – and can be just as delicious and as much fun over the open fire outside.
This book is a collaboration from three foodies – Christian Stevenson (better known as DJ BBQ), his regular co-author Chris Taylor and baker David Wright.
The trio argue both cooking over fire and baking are often seen as overly complicated pursuits that are easy to get wrong – but in this book, they set out to prove this misconception wrong.
The book starts with the basics – the equipment and set-ups you’ll need, with a baking focus – and then launches into a host of technicolour recipes.
lQuadrille, £20. Photography by David Loftus. Available now.
2. The DIY BBQ Cookbook: How To Build Your Own BBQ And Cook Up A Feast by James Whetlor
This is one for the DIY enthusiasts – anyone who really wants to their hands dirty when BBQing, from start to finish.
While it’s all very well and good to use a regular, shopbought BBQ, food writer James Whetlor is a huge proponent for making your own.
Why? Because shop-bought versions are often expensive, and near-impossible to cart with you on a jaunt to the beach or a day in the park.
But Whetlor predominantly highlights how fun it is to make your own BBQ. You don’t have to be a DIY wizard or a building maestro to do so – some of the simplest set-ups will be hugely effective.
lQuadrille, £20. Photography by Sam Folan. Available now.
3. Big Green Egg Feasts: Innovative Recipes To Cook For Friends And Family by Tim Hayward
While this book is predominantly geared towards people with Green Eggs – a specific type of ceramic BBQ – don’t be put off, because the recipes will suit anyone, with any type of BBQ.
lQuadrille, £30. Photography by Sam Folan. Available now.