Tips and tricks for quick and easy BBQ dinners
Even during the summer, the weeks can be busy, so to best enjoy the season, plan your BBQ meals in advance. Here are some ideas for the most efficient weekday meal prep.
Portioning meat
The less meat is processed by a butcher, the more accessible it is. By buying large pieces of meat that you cut into pieces yourself, you have more choices as to what to make. For example, pork tenderloin can be cooked whole or made into marinated medallions, or a beef steak can be cut into cubes for skewers. You can also opt for all types of meat in family-sized portions (chicken breasts, pork chops, ground meat, etc.) and use only what you need for your meal prep and freeze the rest for later.
Marinate proteins
All meats can be marinated in advance. Simply place them in an airtight bag or container with the marinade of your choice, and put them in the freezer. Freeze them individually to speed up thawing time.
However, it is not recommended to marinate fish and seafood in advance, as the marinade may damage their delicate flesh. Instead, make minute marinades to coat them before quickly cooking them on the grill.
Pre-cut vegetables
For the upcoming week’s dinners, cut all kinds of ready-to-grill vegetables: squares of peppers and onions for skewers, broccoli florets to cook in the vegetable wok, or raw vegetables to accompany burgers. Wash lettuce beforehand, dry it and store it in a perforated bag in the refrigerator for salads, sandwiches or lettuce wraps.
Always have condiments on hand
The refrigerator door is always full of flavour options to enhance any meal on the BBQ. Make sure you have enough basics to prep improvised sauces at the last minute. Here are some must-haves:
- Soy sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Homemade or commercial pesto
- Anchovy
- Mustards
- Ketchup
- Homemade or commercial BBQ sauce
- Pickled vegetables
- Olives
Making burger patties
Choose large formats of minced meat to prepare burger patties in advance. All you have to do is season the meat, shape it into patties and freeze them. Be sure to freeze patties flat, either by placing them on a baking sheet and storing them in an airtight dish afterwards, or by separating each patty with a sheet of parchment paper.