BBQ Recipe Ideas for a Brazilian Themed Party

Are you hosting a Brazilian themed BBQ to celebrate the 2016 Summer Olympics? Here are some Brazilian BBQ ideas to get your taste buds flowing.

In the 16th century, barbecued meat was the staple food for the cowboys of Southern Brazil, who cooked in pits in the ground. The popularity of the BBQ spread to the capital, and now there are restaurants all over the world that specialise in Brazilian barbecued meat, although the food is now generally cooked on big BBQ grills.

If you are enjoying this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, you may want to take advantage of this party-nation and host your very own Brazilian themed barbecue. To ensure that you’re the perfect host, we have put together some BBQ ideas – including a starter, main course, salad and dessert, so you can show off your culinary skills.

Of course, to get your guests into the carnival spirit, why not put on some samba music, decorate your tables in white and green (Brazil’s national colours), and put some beers and Brazilian bubbly on ice? Your guests will love all the effort you have made and will look forward to your next BBQ party.

Take Your Marks...

As your guests wait for the food to cook on your brick-built barbecue, it’s a great time to serve up the starters. One really refreshing starter is fresh, roasted mini red peppers with mango salsa. Just roast the peppers until they blister, and peel off the skin once they have cooled. Chop them length-ways into bite sized pieces and fill with cooked prawns and mango salsa. You can make the mango salsa by mixing finely chopped red onion, mango, and a dash of orange juice and lime juice to taste.

Get Set...

An uplifting salad is simple to make and is always a great hit at a BBQ. Combine four handfuls of baby lettuce leaves with a small, finely chopped red onion, 4 grated carrots, 4 finely chopped tomatoes and half a cucumber. Dress your salad with a combination of olive oil and lime juice, seasoned to taste. Then place a bowl of feta cheese on the side for people to help themselves to.

Go...

Marinate chicken pieces for two to four hours in a combination of lime zest, freshly squeezed lime juice, chopped garlic, olive oil and a generous handful of chopped coriander. Once fully marinated, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers and cook until done. Serve it with tortilla wraps, lime wedges and the above salad for a fabulous main course.

...A Winning Finish

In addition to ice-cream and fruit salad for afters, having a freshly cooked dessert is always popular, especially among the youngest guests. A baked banana pie is a great finish to a Brazilian barbecue, and is an ideal way to use up any leftover bananas before they become over-ripe.

This dessert is easy to make. Just peel the bananas, cut them in half lengthways, lightly fry them and place them at the bottom of an oven proof bowl. Next, separate six eggs and mix the yolks with 225gms of sugar and knob of melted butter. Pour this mixture on top of the layer of bananas. Use the remaining egg whites to make a meringue and pour this on top of the mixture. Cook your banana pie for half an hour at about 150C (less for a fan oven), and let it cool before serving. It’s bound to be a real hit with your guests!

Big K

Big K sell high quality barbecues, including big BBQ grills, brick barbecues and stone BBQs, as well as all the tools, accessories and summer fuel to make your barbecue party a success. Just click on the link above to order your products online for home delivery.

Ten Ways to Keep Wasps at Bay at Your Summer Barbecue

The height of the summer is the perfect time to enjoy home cooked food on your brick barbecue. But while a barbecue is a great excuse to invite friends and family round for a gathering, having swarms of wasps buzzing round your guests is the quickest way to call time on your party. Here are Big K’s top ten tips on keeping wasps at bay, so your all-day barbecue keeps running but your guests stay put!

Natural Deterrents

While there are a host of insect sprays on the market, it’s likely you’ll find the perfect wasp repellent in your kitchen. Natural ways to discourage wasps cost next to nothing but reap rewards, as they ensure your guests enjoy a relaxed, pest-free afternoon. One deterrent is to light the contents of a cup of ground coffee. However, if you are unsure about this trick, fill a small bowl with cloves, as this will have the same effect.

Salads

Wasps don’t like cucumbers, and they don’t like the smell of mint either. So one idea is to combine these two ingredients in a salad – that way your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills, and you can keep your table clear of wasps.

Scents

While spraying on your favourite perfume or aftershave is a great way to get ready for a party, wasps also appreciate the smell. Unfortunately, these irritating pests are also attracted to the scent of sunscreen and deodorant, so it might be a good idea to swap these in summer for non-scented varieties.

Clothing

Wasps are attracted to certain colours, such as white and yellow. So avoid these colours when you dress your table – and yourself too. As a host, no matter how much you like your yellow or white T-shirt, this is one occasion when you might want to give it a miss. You could always opt for red clothing instead as wasps can’t see this colour.

Rubbish

It may sound obvious but when the party is in full swing, try to avoid leaving rubbish lying around on tables and chairs, and check your bins are fully secured. This prevents wasps swarming on the remnants of sweet food and drink left on empty plates and cans.

Sealed Containers

Just as it is worth clearing the rubbish as you go, it is also important to keep food in sealed containers, especially if it is likely to be out for some time. Plastic containers are easily obtainable and can be bought from your local supermarket or kitchen store.

Glasses

While this trick won’t get rid of wasps, it will stops stings in unexpected places. It’s worth serving drinks in glasses, rather than cans, as this way your guests can see exactly what they put into their mouth and will prevent nasty oral stings.

Sweet Trays

If you have a small party, one tried and trusted way of keeping wasps off the table is to lay a saucer of fizzy drink away from your guests. This will help attract wasps to their own designated eating spot, so they don’t buzz around your group.

Fake Nests

A quick internet search will show you a host of different ways to build your own fake wasp nest to mark your territory. Fake nests, such as brown paper bags, work as a deterrent as wasps are likely to avoid areas inhabited by ‘other wasps’.

Wasp Traps

These are easy to build out of old plastic bottles, although there are a variety of effective readymade wasp traps on the market. These can be bought from your local garden centre, or you can buy more sophisticated ones from a pest controller in your area.

Now you know how to deter wasps, you can simply relax and enjoy cooking on your brick barbecue. With our top tips your guests will appreciate all the effort you have made to make them feel comfortable, and they will soon look forward to your next party.

Big K – Click here to see our full range of barbecues including brick, masonry or stone bbqs, Kamando Joes, barbecue tools, accessories and summer fuel products.

Summer Cocktails to Sip by the BBQ

With the barbecue season now in full swing, why not try making some colourful cocktails from our recipes below, and impress your party guests with your presentation skills? Cocktails can be made in batches and served from a jug at parties, with slices of fruit added for a summery touch.

Mojito

Mojitos are perfect for summer, and are served over crushed ice with refreshing ingredients such as lime and sparkling water. Traditionally concocted with five ingredients, this cocktail is easy to make in batches and can be served in a tall glass with a straw. To make this cocktail you will need 1 ½ limes, 20 fresh mint leaves, 2 ½ tsp granulated sugar, a handful of ice, 65ml white rum, and a splash of soda water.

Place the lime, mint and sugar into a glass and crush with the end of a rolling pin to bruise the mint and squeeze the juices out of the lime. Add ice to the glass, pour over the rum and soda water, and stir well before serving. Enjoy!

Pimm's

This well-known summer drink has a reddish tint, and is often served in a jug with chopped fruit to add to the flavour. To make a Pimm’s punch, you will need a half a bottle of Pimms no.1, a litre of orange juice, a litre of apple juice, 350 ml of passion fruit syrup, 200 ml of lemon juice, and 30 raspberries.

Place the raspberries into a punch bowl, and add the Pimm’s no.1 to the bowl. Pour in the orange juice, apple juice, lemon juice and passion fruit syrup, and then adjust the measurements to your taste. Chill for three hours before serving to let the flavours develop, and then serve over ice in a jug or individual glasses while you dish up food from your brick BBQ. Additional fruit can be added as well, such as strawberries, oranges and limes.

Shirley Temple

This non-alcoholic drink is ideal for designated drivers, and also for children, to help them feel grown up and involved. To make a traditional Shirley temple, use 40ml of dry ginger ale, 40ml of pomegranate juice, 1.5tsp of sugar, and a wedge of lemon. You can either buy pomegranate juice from a shop, or you can extract the juice yourself from fresh pomegranates.

Measure all of the ingredients into a glass and stir until combined. Ice cubes can be added to keep the drink cool as you cook. For visitors that prefer an alcoholic beverage, you can add vodka or rum to create a "Dirty Shirley".

Gin and Tonic

Why not keep it simple and create a gin and tonic for your guests? Serve in a high ball glass with a slice of lemon or lime on hot days as a cooling drink before you dish out the food. This drink consists of just 3 ingredients: 25ml dry gin, 125ml tonic water and 10ml lime juice.

Ingredients can be adjusted to suit your personal tastes, and some people suggest that it should be made with equal parts of gin and tonic water. To make a gin and tonic simply fill a glass with ice, and then pour all of the ingredients over the ice into the glass. Garnish with lime or lemon wedges and you’re ready to serve.

Mai Tai

Let your outdoor party take on a tropical theme by serving Mai Tai cocktails. This alcoholic drink is based on rum, and matches well with a variety of meats such as chicken and pork, which can be cooked to perfection on your brick BBQ. To create a classic Mai Tai you will need 45ml Jamaican rum, 15ml orgeat syrup, 15ml triple sec, and 30ml lime juice. Some people also add a splash of Cointreau for extra flavour.

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker, and add ice before shaking until cold. Strain the contents into a tall glass filled with ice, and garnish with a wedge of orange. The orgeat syrup will give the cocktail a noticeable almond taste, and this can be adjusted to suit the palates of you and your guests.

Woo WooM.

This simple drink is perfect for summer, and is made with vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice. Alternatively, light rum can be used to create a Georgia Peach cocktail. Measure out 2 parts of vodka to 1 part peach schnapps, and then add 4 parts of cranberry juice. Shake all of the ingredients together with ice, and then pour into a tall glass.

Big K - sell a variety of brick BBQ fuels to keep you going throughout summer, with fuel options for both modern and traditional styles of barbecues.

Ten Delicious Ideas on What to Serve at a BBQ

For most people stocking up on burgers and sausages instantly springs to mind when hosting a barbecue. It’s not surprising when this type of food is easy to find in the shops, reasonably priced, simple to cook, and is just served in a bun. However, cooking from brick BBQs doesn’t have to be about throwing the simplest things on the grill (unless you are catering for a large group and want to cut down on costs). If you love cooking and are hosting a party for a small group, an attractive brick BBQ is your chance to show off your skills and get creative. Unsure what to cook? Here are ten delicious ideas from Big K who sell a range of high quality outdoor living products, stone and brick BBQs, barbecue accessories, and summer fuel.

Although the barbecue season is nearly over there's still chance to host at least one more gathering before the weather cools. And, with these ideas you can impress your guests with your culinary skills.

Big K Products – Click here to order your barbecues and summer fuel products for home delivery.

Kebabs – You can skewer most things in your refrigerator from chicken pieces to monkfish, lamb, prawns or vegetables. Kebabs are easy to put together and they make a welcome alternative to burgers. For an extra kick, try out various marinades to see which one works for you. If you are making chicken kebabs, for instance, why not try Jamie Oliver’s delicious summery marinade by whizzing together coriander, mint, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a food processor, then adding olive oil? Alternate between the marinated chicken, red peppers and onion on the skewer.

Steaks – Rump steaks, such as Aberdeen Angus, are firm favourites on the barbecue. However, as steaks are quite pricy it’s important that you cook them to perfection (or almost!) each time. Experts advise on choosing thick steaks as it’s easier to control how much you cook them. Although there are all sorts of marinades to choose from (including adding a dash of Worcester sauce), a juicy steak is packed with flavour and tastes good just as it is. A top tip is to cut your steaks into chunks after cooking, if you have a quite a few mouths to feed.

Chicken Wings – According to the Bon Appetit website, to make the perfect chicken wings you need to marinade them for at least an hour in advance (or the day before if you have the time). For the marinade, use a mix of fresh oregano, rosemary and olive oil in equal quantities, plus a few cloves of chopped garlic. Then grill the wings for about 20 minutes on a medium heat, and voila, your guests will be queuing for more!

Vegetables – Corn makes a tasty and colourful alternative to grilled meat and the results are simply delicious! They require virtually no preparation at all; you just grill the cobs wrapped in aluminium foil or even in their own husks. Serve with chilli butter or just brush with olive oil as an alternative to plain butter. Aubergine and asparagus also taste wonderful when barbecued.

Fish – Grilled fish is another option and, like the vegetables above, it is better on the waistline. Lemon sole, salmon steaks, seabass, trout, swordfish and red snapper are ideal choices for your barbecue. Grill a selection of fish and cut them into pieces when they’re done, so guests can take their pick. Grilled seabass with garlic butter or salmon steaks with dill and lemon are easy to make and are firm favourites among seafood lovers.

Shellfish – Prawns are always a big hit on the barbecue and can be grilled by themselves, or on a skewer. If you want to go all out to impress your guests, however, grilled lobster tails are simple to cook and make a fantastic party piece. The lobster can be chopped into chunks and served with garlic butter.

Brick BBQs are an attractive addition to a garden and are the perfect choice for outdoor parties and celebrations. Click on the link above to see our full range of charcoal and gas fuelled barbecues from Big K Products.

Four Superb Salads for Barbecue Parties

If you are entertaining al fresco this season, you’ll already know that barbecuing is not all about the meat, fish or veggie burgers you are grilling (although this is a big part of it). But it’s also about what to serve with it. And, with a rise in the numbers of people striving for healthier ways of eating, salads are becoming a vital part of the al fresco experience.
Salads have come a long way since the days of shredded Iceberg lettuce, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onion and a vinaigrette. They are now becoming increasingly more exotic with a host of different ingredients thrown into the mix, which are all designed to stimulate the palate and leave your guests craving for more.
Since budding chefs and professionals have started to experiment with herbs, spices, chillies, dressings, feta or haloumi cheeses, exotic vegetables, seeds, bulgur wheat or couscous in salads, gone are the days of the predictable side dish. So to ensure that your barbecue is a hit with your guests this summer, here’s four salad ideas from Big K, who are suppliers of gas fuelled, masonry, concrete or brick barbecues and accessories in the UK.
Big K Barbecue Accessories UK – Follow the link for details of our barbeques, accessories and fuels.

Refreshing Summer Couscous, Mint and Tomato Salad

Put about 250g of couscous into a large bowl, cover with boiling water and set it aside for about ten minutes. Meanwhile, chop a generous handful of vine tomatoes, 3 finely sliced spring onions, cucumber (seeded and diced), one red chilli, a handful of chopped mint leaves, parsley and coriander, and mix them all together.
Mix up the couscous with a fork and stir in your vegetables. Add a couple of tablespoons of virgin olive oil, the zest and juice of one lemon, and a pinch of cayenne. Mix it all up and you’re ready to serve.

Scrumptious Spinach, Beetroot and Feta Cheese Salad

Combine a bag of baby leaf salad and baby spinach leaves and place in a large bowl. Chop up four cooked beetroot, and crumble two packs of feta cheese and add them to the lettuce. Combine with four finely chopped spring onions and a handful of chopped mint leaves, plus one finely sliced red chilli (with or without the seeds).
Finally, make a simple dressing of 75g of lemon juice, a heaped teaspoon of Dijon mustard and 75g of extra virgin olive oil. Then mix up the dressing, pour it on top of the salad, and it’s ready to go!

Avocado and Mango Salad with a Zingy Lime Dressing

This summer salad is easy to make. All you have to do is put a bag of baby leaf lettuce into a large bowl. Then roughly cut two mangos and two avocados into half inch cubes and place them on top of the lettuce.
Then it’s time to make the dressing. Just combine the zest and juice of two limes, with a chopped red chili, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or rapeseed oil. Add a touch of honey and some chopped coriander leaves and mix with the salad. You might want to place a few lime wedges on the side for presentation.

Delicious Pear, Walnut and Haloumi Cheese Salad

This doesn’t take long to put together and it is a fantastic accompaniment to a barbecue. Just empty a bag of baby leaf lettuce into a large bowl. Roughly chop two pears into cubes and add to the mix. Slice a packet of haloumi cheese into rectangles and grill for a few minutes each side, then pan fry two handfuls of walnut pieces. Add some lemon juice to taste, mix up all the ingredients together and you’re ready to serve.
Big K
Along with charcoal and gas fired barbecues, Big K also sell a wide range of barbecue tools and accessories in the UK including grill brushes, kebab skewers, barbecue skewers, tool sets, shovels, forks and cleaning kits. We also sell steak grills, fish grills, charcoal or wood braziers, gas conversion kits, fireplace protection, rotisserie spits and kits, wok plates and stone sets. Click on the link above to see our full range.

Enjoying Healthier Barbeques This Summer

For many of us, summer means barbeque season. If you don't already have a grill that you're happy with, now's the perfect opportunity to treat your family to a new masonry, concrete or brick barbeque, and invite friends and loved ones round to join the party.

But, in a world where there's an increasing focus on health and fitness, how can we ensure that our barbeques are as healthy as possible? Here are a few tips from barbeque experts Big K, who are suppliers of a wide range of outdoor living products, including brick and concrete barbeques.
Big K Outdoor Living Products – Follow the link for details of our barbeques, accessories and fuels.

Safer Grilling Tips

Nothing smells more delicious than meat sizzling on a barbeque grill. However, even if you like your steak rare, it's important to make sure items such as sausages and burgers are thoroughly cooked before tucking in. This doesn't just help the flavour, but also avoids any risks of food poisoning. To check meat is properly cooked, cut its thickest point and check it doesn't look pink and that any juices are running clear. You also need to wash hands after handling raw meat to avoid cross-contamination, and avoid putting raw meat next to cooked meat on the grill.

Other tips to ensure safe grilling include turning the meat over regularly so that it cooks evenly, and making sure the BBQ fuels are hot enough before you start cooking. It's also advisable to keep foods cool in the fridge until they are needed, including salads and dips as well as dairy products and meats, and avoid leaving food out in the sun.

Of course, the grilled taste is a big part of the appeal of barbeque food, but too much charring isn't good for us. One helpful tip to avoid this is to cut excess fat off meat before cooking, which will reduce the risk of flare-ups. Another is to steep the meat in a marinade based on olive oil or citrus juices, as this can help to stop it burning. However, if you do end up with one or two heavily charred bits, you can always cut them off.

Healthier Menu Choices

Barbeque dishes can range beyond the sausages and hamburgers, so why not be adventurous and add some delicious lower-fat alternatives? Chicken and fish are both lower in fat than red meats, while vegetable kebabs, homemade veggie burgers and sausages or corn on the cob are all delicious grilled and enjoyed in the open air.

Serving up plenty of salads to accompany the barbeque meats will help to make a healthy feast, while fruits such as pineapples and bananas can also be cooked on the grill. Homemade barbeque sauces and marinades are also likely to be much healthier than bottled ones, which can contain a surprisingly large amount of added sugar. There are many different recipes to choose from, or you could invent your own!

Another tip to help ensure a healthier barbeque is to help everyone stay well hydrated by offering plenty of water, not just alcoholic drinks.

Keeping Your Barbeque Clean and Hygienic

One of the most important things to remember when organising a barbeque is to keep your grills clean and free from grease. Even though cooking in the open air is free and easy, hygiene with cooking appliances outdoors is as important as it is in the kitchen.

Whether you are using a masonry, concrete or brick barbeque, it will need cleaning after every use to remove any burnt-on food residues, which can cause flare-ups when cooking as well as hygiene problems. A more thorough annual clean is also a must. Big K offers a range of cleaning implements to keep your charcoal or gas barbeque clean and in good working order.

Keep Smoke to a Minimum

If a barbeque smokes too much, this could be a problem for any guest with a health condition such as asthma, as well as possibly annoying the neighbours when clouds drift over the garden fence! You could choose a gas barbeque to avoid any problems with smoke, while other tips for those using charcoal are to make sure you buy good quality fuel and firelighters, keep the grill clean and make sure the coals are just glowing before adding the meat.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Being out in the open air is of course healthy in itself. Barbeques encourage us all to spend more time outside, which is great – as well as helping us to relax and share quality time with family and friends. However, just following our simple health tips can help to make barbeques even better and ensure summer enjoyment for everyone. One last tip is not to forget the sunscreen, which is especially vital if you are having your barbeque party at lunchtime!

Big K has an extensive range of barbeques and accessories, including chimney barbeques and clay chimneas as well as stone and brick barbeques. We also supply quality BBQ fuels.

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Serving Up BBQ Dishes With a Difference

The season for BBQs has arrived, bringing the chance to eat al fresco in the sunshine with family and friends. Many people are either getting out their BBQ from last year or investing in a new one. Whether you prefer concrete, brick, masonry or stone BBQs, there are many different designs to choose from, including chimney BBQs.

Once you've got your BBQ set up and have arranged the area with attractive seating and tables, the next question is what to cook? Many people rely on the same old favourites every time, such as sausages and chicken legs. However, there are plenty of other sizzling recipes which also taste great cooked and eaten in the open air. Here Big K, who supply a wide range of BBQs, accessories and BBQ fuels, look at some dishes with a difference to enjoy outdoors this summer.

BBQ Fuels - Click the link to see Big K's full product range.

Meat Dishes

As well as burgers and sausages, there are also many other meat dishes which can be cooked in the open air. Often it's a case of putting a new spin on a traditional BBQ recipe, for instance by marinating lamb chunks in Indian spices to create kebabs with a curry twist. Alternatively, pour a yoghurt-based Tandoori marinade over chicken breasts, thighs or chunks, and then leave the chicken to soak up the flavours before grilling.

Flattening pork chops, cutlets or cheaper cuts of steak before cooking them can help to make them easier to cook – or you could just prick the meat with a fork. Again, a marinade will help to add both flavour and tenderness. Mix up your own marinades and you can have fun adding different flavours, ranging from garlic to soy sauce, honey, vinegar and rosemary. Peppers or hotter spices will give a stronger tang.

Marinating well ahead is the key to a successful BBQ meat feast. If using charcoal, it's also essential to make sure the coal is at the right temperature and has turned white before adding the meat, so that it cooks evenly throughout. Another way to help the meat cook well is to add a stainless steel steak grill to your BBQ. You could also buy a rotisserie spit and cook a whole chicken over the BBQ, achieving a deliciously even flavour.

BBQ Fish Dishes

Meat might be the first type of food that comes to mind when planning a BBQ, but it's by no means the only option. Fish also tastes great cooked in this way. If you're a fan of BBQ seafood dishes you can even buy a double fish grill to make it easier to cook, making turning easier and keeping the fish in great condition.

One delicacy to try is a salmon fillet, marinated in a garlic and olive oil-based mixture and cooked on foil. Alternatively, whole fish that work well grilled on the BBQ range from trout to mackerel, sea bass, bream or red mullet; and leaving the skin on means a deliciously crispy outside layer. However, it's best to make sure the BBQ isn't too hot, to avoid cooking the outside of the fish too well before the inside is ready. It can be easier to cook fish dishes over gas barbecue grills because of the greater controllability, but they can also be grilled successfully over charcoal.

As well as whole fish, kebabs made from chunks of white fish or prawn skewers are also ideal treats for a BBQ party. Or why not try fish parcels wrapped in foil, prepared with a Thai or Chinese marinade?

Veggie Options

So what about vegetarian guests? The good news is that there's no need for non-meat eaters to feel left out, because there are many veggie options which taste equally good cooked in the great outdoors.

Instead of buying ready-made veggie burgers, you could try slices of grilled aubergine with halloumi and pesto patties in a burger bun. Carrot and sesame burgers are another option. Grilled vegetable kebabs, featuring a colourful mix of peppers, courgettes and mushrooms, are also likely to prove popular.

Other Items on the Menu

The key to a great BBQ isn't just the food you cook on the grill, but also the extras. The key is to keep things simple but interesting, for instance by trying out some different salads or more unusual types of breads. If anyone still has room for dessert, banana splits are a great BBQ option. Sprinkle lemon juice and brown sugar on sliced bananas and grill them quickly, with vanilla ice cream as the finishing touch.

If you are looking for inspiration for unusual BBQ dishes, there are plenty of recipe books to choose from. The BBQ Book, presented by Jamie Oliver's Food Tube, includes recipes by American chef DJ BBQ, also known as Christian Stevenson. Ainsley's Ultimate Barbecue Bible, by TV chef Ainsley Harriott, is another popular title on the theme.

Big K has a range of products including brick and stone BBQs, plus many other options to suit your particular garden. We also sell a full range of barbecue accessories and offer home delivery of BBQ fuels.

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