BBQ ideas please!

[BlackAlys]

We have a staple go-to BBQ menu but I really want to wow it up a bit. Any ideas for starters? Sides? I usually make my own coleslaw and a large tomato salad to go with the meat but I need to bulk it with other stuff - any ideas?!

Roasted peppers on the bbq - cut in half and drizzled with oil
Corn on the cob chargrilled
Baked potatoes - 10 mins in microwave then split, oil and salt on skins, and grilled on both sides
Grilled huge flat mushrooms
Grilled falafel stuffed into pittas with salad
Lamb kofta kebabs - just lamb mince with cumin on a skewer really!
Chicken drumsticks with different herbs and spices eg garlic, tandoori, curry, chilli
BBQ ribs - marinaded, cooked slowly, in foil, for an hour, then grilled with some sticky sauce
Beer can chicken (google technique)
Spatchcocked chickens cook in about 40mins
Butterflied lamb

Potato salad always go down well here...I don't follow a recipe but chop up some new potatoes, cook in salted water til tender and cool. Chop some red onion or spring onions (or a mix) stir them in. Fry off some chopped bacon and add that when cooled. Stir in equal amounts of Mayo and salad cream (you could use all Mayo but I like the tang of salad cream.

Thick aubergine slices, griddled on the barbecue, served with yoghurt mixed with some orange juice and zest. (You need to make sure there's plenty of oil on the aubergines before you cook them, so marinate them in olive oil for about 10 minutes or so - they'll soak up the olive oil)

Halloumi, barbecued, with a lemon, pepper and coriander dressing:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon English mustard powder
• 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh coriander

What’s your staple menu? I try to pick sides that go with the main.

So for example, last week DH did grilled prawns with chilli and garlic, which he served with lots of crusty bread and a green salad.

I often do tandoori chicken with grilled peppers and onions, tomato and cucumber salad and naan. Sometimes swap the tandoori chicken for shish kebabs.

Last year we did a lovely slow cooked shoulder of lamb with Middle Eastern spices, and cabbage salad with pomegranate and flat breads.

Wow! Fantastic suggestions. I definitely need to up my game here.

Definitely printing all of this off to put in my recipe book.

Potato salad here too. I normally do our with a mix of Mayo and yogurt, spring onion, chives and sometimes sweet corn or peas p. Alternatively, a coronation potato salad with onion, apricots, sultanas and curried dressing is a big hit.

White bean (cannellini or butter beans) salad, with red onion, tons of parsley and lashings of olive oil and lemon juice. Goes fantastic with bbq fish. We do Tuna steaks, monkfish and prawn kebabs or salmon kebabs.

These are great for cooking fish on, whole side of salmon looks brilliant and a bit different from other barbecue fare. Have also used for swordfish steaks, tuna, sardines, mackerel and halloumi

www.lakeland.co.uk/61567/Magic-Non-Stick-BBQ-Liners-for-Gas-and-Charcoal-Grills---Pack-of-2

www.ecurry.com/blog/starters-snacks/harissa-marinated-tofu-skewers-for-afbhls/

www.thecookierookie.com/mexican-grilled-corn/

www.barbarabakes.com/bacon-wrapped-cheese-hot-dogs/

Feta, watermelon, cucumber, finely sliced red onion and mint always a hit here.
I really like sweetcorn (you can use tinned but if you cook corn on the cob on the bbq then use that it’s even better) with finely diced red onion, red pepper, pineapple (again if charred on the bbq first even better) with lime juice, fresh coriander and chilli if you like it.
Celery, spring onion, apple and Stilton, just with some herby yoghurt stirred through.
Flat breads on the bbq are great, just keep a close eye on them.

• Corn on the cob. I mix up a savoury butter with butter, garlic powder, onion powder and/or chopped herbs. Spread on the corn then wrap in foil and cook on the BBQ.

• I love watermelon salad. Slice halloumi into about 4 slices and grill on the BBQ. Chop into cubes. Chop the watermelon into similar sized cubes, add toasted pinenuts, then chopped green beans. Mix all together and that is all. No dressing or anything, just 4 ingredients.

• Cut courgettes into strips. Marinade in lemon or lime juice, olive oil, salt/pepper then grill.

• Get a banana and cut a slit into the side of the skin, about 5cm long. Push chocolate buttons or squares into the slot. Wrap in foil and cook on the BBQ.

• I also like ceasar salad, potato salad, feta and beetroot salad.

Alternatively, a coronation potato salad with onion, apricots, sultanas and curried dressing is a big hit.

Omg that sounds wonderful, I'm stealing that idea!

Genevieve Taylor has written some amazing cookbooks with bbqs and pizza ovens in mind. I've been working my way through her vegetarian one Charred and it's fab. A lot of the veg dishes have worked well as sides for meat eaters and main plates for veggies.

A big bowl of rice mixed with mushrooms, spring onions, peppers and peas.