Marinades are a saucy

Make the most of al fresco cooking and avoid dry food disasters, says Lady Claire Macdonald

We are the proud new owners of a Monolith. There are those reading this who will know exactly what this is – but, had I heard this six weeks ago, I wouldn’t have had a clue on what a Monolith is.

It’s a barbecue oven. It is huge and very heavy, because the entire interior is lined with ceramic. It has a vast domed lid with a temperature gauge on the outside, so it is really an oven as well as a barbecue.

We are now barbecuing everything because, not to put too fine a point on it, Monoliths do not come cheap. We have bought an heirloom. It could also be referred to as an investment. But it is worth every pound it cost.

Barbecuing is a form of cooking in which the food can be prone to drying out. Yet simple steps can be taken to avoid doing this, such as making a marinade, and serving the food with a sauce.

I find most shop-bought barbecue sauces to be harshly vinegary in taste. Immodest though it sounds, I prefer my own version – good with chargrilled sausages, burgers and chicken.

There are barbecues and barbecues. I have mentioned the simple family-style events, suitable for and enhanced by my barbecue sauce. But then there is the smarter type of barbecue where a bit more effort is put into the food.

There is one danger which can be entirely avoided, that of cooking the food in relays while your guests hang around, salivating enviously as some of the guests tuck into the cooked food while you and others politely wait for your food to cook.

This is so unnecessary, because all the food can and should be chargrilled slightly ahead of your guests’ arrival.

It will keep warm, loosely covered with foil in a low temperature oven, without spoiling – so everyone can eat at the same time.

And, relevant to this time of year, British asparagus chargrills very well and is delicious. Stand over it with tongs to turn it frequently, and drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the plateful once cooking is finished.