In collaboration with The Skinny Food Co
It can be strange to talk about food in times like these. But usually at this time of year, the weather begins to brighten up and BBQs are dusted off. If you’re fortunate to have a garden or balcony with a BBQ, now’s the time to get cooking and gain a slight hint of normality.
While eating healthily may not be on the forefront of people’s mind, we should be doing our best to look after our bodies. Barbecued food can be incredibly good for you – no longer just a burger and hot dog (although I won’t judge if this is what you love!).
I’ve put together a selection of BBQ alternatives to help keep you healthy during these scary times. If you don’t have access to one, these can also be made on a hob with a metal grill pan from the comfort of your kitchen.
Grilled squash with mint yogurt
You don’t need to be vegetarian to enjoy this one! After peeling the butternut squash, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices and cover with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Each side should be barbecued for 5 mins until tender. Try serving with a high-protein sauce made with ¼ tub of Greek yogurt, a spoonful of mango chutney and dash of mint sauce. Absolutely delicious!
BBQ halloumi kebabs
These should be a staple at every BBQ. For some reason, mushrooms and onions taste so much better when cooked outside, and I love adding red pepper! Cut the halloumi and red pepper into similar size pieces, a white onion into quarters and get a handful of button mushrooms. Poke them onto two metal skewers in whichever order you choose and brush with oil, salt and pepper. Cook for roughly 10 minutes, making sure to turn often to avoid burning.
Chicken sausage hot dogs with ALL the toppings
The perfect alternative to your usual hot dog! These can be made in the same way, but chicken sausages have a much lower fat content. Some of my favourite toppings for these are caramelised onion and grilled tomatoes – don’t attempt the tomatoes on the BBQ though as they might fall through! You could always do these on a metal plate or just pan-fry for a few minutes.
BBQ courgettes with orzo salad
Another light recipe for a warm day, first cut your courgettes into ¼ inch slices longways. Brush with oil, thyme and oregano before cooking for about 3 minutes on each side or until tender. The orzo salad can be easily prepared in advance by cooking the pasta following advice on the packet. Once cooled, add some fresh plum tomatoes, chopped pepper, cucumber and a large handful of torn spinach before squeezing over some lemon juice. A simple but effective crowd pleaser!
Spatchcock chicken
Slightly more of a challenge, but well worth the effort. You can make this easier by buying a pre-prepared one on your weekly shop and simply barbecuing for roughly 30 minutes on each side. It takes longer if you make it from scratch, but my favourite dressing is with some olive oil, 2 crushed garlic cloves, a dash of orange juice and 1 & ½ tsp of Chinese five spice. Add some salt and pepper for extra flavour.
Hopefully this will inspire you to get cooking!