Winter BBQ ideas leading up to Christmas
It's December. The weather is nippy, and everything looks grey and wet, but many of us still haven't tucked away our BBQ sets or covered the Open Fire Pit or Grill? We say- it's the perfect opportunity for one last BBQ in Winter session before it's actually too cold!
If you're just looking for a way to keep the kids entertained for an evening, then there are loads of quick and easy recipes for kids that you make over an open fire. If you had something a little more involved in mind, we have prepared for you two classic recipes which will go down a treat with your friends and family. BBQ in Winter can be the perfect opportunity to try something new like grilled Brussels Sprouts or Chestnuts.
Before you start your food prep remember it's the perfect opportunity to have mulled wine or cider to keep you warm while you supervise the food prep and take up the very challenging role of the BBQ master. For the kids and non-alcoholic beverage drinkers, it's a great opportunity to try chai lattes, malt drinks or hot chocolate.
1. BBQ in Winter by Roasting Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Seasoning and Maple Syrup.
Brussel Sprouts are either loved or hated. This recipe will convince even the hardest non-believers into giving them a go! When cooked the right way, sprouts will taste so good that they become a tasty snack loved by children and adults alike rather than a healthy side dish.
Ingredients/ equipment:
- Heat Gloves – to avoid any accidents by burning hands or getting hot oil on.
- Sharp Knife to slice sprouts and chestnuts
- Chopping Board and a bowl to mix ingredients in
- BBQ frying pan/ cast iron pan
- 1 pack/ 450 grams of Brussel Sprouts
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons ground dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon bacon flavour
- 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-cracked pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Directions
1 - Chop Brussels sprouts in half length-wise and place in a medium-sized bowl.
2 - In a small mixing bowl, mix the olive oil, dijon mustard and bacon seasoning. Pour over Brussels sprouts and mix until evenly coated
3 - Place Brussels sprouts on your non-stick BBQ frying pan. Grill for about 2 to 4 minutes and remember to stir them from time to time, so all sides are nicely cooked.
4 - Once they are lightly cooked drizzle over the maple syrup and grill sprouts for another 3 to 5 minutes until they start to caramelise.
5 - Remove Brussel Sprout from the heat and add fresh black pepper and sea salt flakes to taste.
You perfect Winter BBQ sweet and savoury snack is ready! Next, we are onto something a bit more traditional! 'What can be more traditional than Brussels sprouts', I hear you say, well, roasted Chestnuts.
You see Roasted Chestnuts being sold on street corners and Christmas markets, but it's straightforward to roast them yourself and can be a fun activity to do with kids.
2. BBQ in Winter by Roasting Chestnuts with Sea Salt and Butter.
- Equipment/ Ingredients
- A pinch on Sea Salt flakes
- Fresh Chestnuts
- Grape-seed Oil
- A bag of Chestnuts
Directions:
1 - Before you roast them, you need to do a bit of prepping. Make sure that there are no old or dried up ones. Chestnuts should be nice and round if they are rattling throw them away. After you have divided the good from the bad ones, the next step is to wash them in case there is a bit of soil on them.
2 - With a sharp knife score, the nuts by cutting across on the round side. This prevents the chestnuts from popping while roasting, by allowing them to release steam. It will also help to separate the skin from the flesh and makes it easier to peel them later.
3 - Heat up a bit of oil or butter in your BBQ pan, once hot add chestnuts. Over an open fire, roasted chestnuts will cook in 10 – 12 minutes, remember to stir them every so often, so all sides get heat. If your grill is smaller, it might take a bit longer for them to cook. Once you can see that they are nicely brown and have started to open up, it's time to sprinkle over sea salt.
4 - Once roasted chestnuts will be easily crackable. If you find it tricky and are struggling to open them, use a nutcracker. Serve them while they are hot with some melted butter.
Having a BBQ in Winter is another great family activity do to in your back yard or local park. Not only you can get everyone involved in food prepping and spend a bit more time outdoors, but also trick the little ones into eating their greens. We say it's a win-win.
While Winter BBQs are a lot of fun, they're not quite as simple as they are in the Summer. Starting a fire outdoors in winter can be pretty difficult, especially when the wind is blowing. A piece of newspaper rolled-up and set on fire is probably not going to do the trick, so you might want to consider using a Lekto Natural Firelighter. Not only will these help you get cooking quicker, but they're also not drenched in ink and chemicals like newspapers are—yet another win-win.
Image by @ pc_bbq