This Is Italy
An Italian barbecue is also called one barbeque. The idea of grilling in the open air, over a fire, is an ancient Italian concept, linked to traditions and seasonal ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables and plenty of good olive oil.
Italians like to barbecue in the summer, starting from May 1 (Labour Day). If the weather is nice that day, you can immediately find families and groups of friends at picnic tables in parks, with a BBQ on the side! The BBQ season has started!
It goes without saying that most summer BBQ parties, coupled with good wine and great company, Italians enjoy grilling in a variety of ways. What can you find on and around the Italian BBQ?
Table of contents
1. Always choose quality
Rule number one for grilling the Italian way? Choose only the best meat, fish and vegetables you can find. Every real Italian BBQ starts with the best ingredients.
Italians don't typically use barbecue sauces and complicated marinades, preferring to let the natural flavors of the ingredients shine. That's why it's essential that the main ingredient you put on the flame is the very best!
Think of a good one Florentine steak (T-bone steak) or on Saltimbocca (veal escalopes from the grill). In general, a good piece of meat suitable for grilling should be at least 2 cm thick so that it remains juicy and does not become tough.
A simple but good BBQ dish is of course also just the grilled chicken breast either pollo alla griglia.
Are you more into the fish? A delicious tuna is the ultimate BBQ fish. But cod is also fine.
The hamburgers can stay in the supermarket during Italian BBQ!
So this is the time to visit the traditional butcher or fishmonger.
2. Bruschetta, crostini or pizza?
Crispy, thick slices of bread toasted on the grill until golden brown, seasoned with garlic, olive oil and parsley and served with chopped fresh tomatoes. Simply divine!
Do you have a little more time to prepare? Then it is also wonderful to make yourself delicious crostini with ricotta to make and eat it at the BBQ.
It is perfectly possible to do that, by the way barbeque to combine with that other fantastic Italian tradition. Baking pizza, but on the barbecue. All you need is a quality pizza stone. The heat from the barbecue is evenly distributed over the stone, resulting in a deliciously crispy pizza base. You should really try.
3. Summer vegetable skewers
Skewers are a popular way of grilling all over Italy, from north to south. Small pieces of meat, fish, vegetables and even cheese are strung on one skewered and then grilled. The result? Delicious, easy to eat grilled snacks!
Create your own skewers by mixing and matching your favorite ingredients. Grilled seasonal vegetables are a real pleasure! For example, slices of zucchini, Eggplant, tomato and pepper, which you season with oil and garlic and then season with salt and parsley.
4. Simply spice it up
Speaking of spices, don't make it too difficult for your Italian BBQ. When it comes to spices, Italians like to keep it simple. Finish grilled meats, fish and vegetables with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Don't need that load of BBQ sauce at all.
The olive oil helps coat your palate and adds moisture to meats and veggies, while the sea salt brings out the natural flavors and adds a crunchy texture to every bite.
You can also rub the meat with a few sprigs of fresh herbs, such as rosemary or oregano, and then serve them alongside as an elegant garnish.
5. Potatoes with your Italian BBQ? Of course!
Potatoes are undoubtedly among the most prized Italian side dishes, especially with meat dishes, both roasted and fried.
You can make grilled potatoes extra tasty by flavoring them with, for example, rosemary or thyme and of course sea salt and garlic. Do you want to put them on the BBQ? Then wrap them in foil or grill them in a baking dish. If your BBQ is already full of meat and vegetables, you can of course also prepare the potatoes inside the oven and then serve with the meat and vegetables.
6. Don't forget the drinks
Sure, a BBQ is about much more than food. Especially in Italy. The drinks are also important, but remember: an Italian BBQ is not a party with half liters of beer.
Instead, opt for a tasty (non-alcoholic) aperitif such as spritz or crodino (or one of those others summer drinks that you can make yourself) or bubbles in the form of prosecco. Of course there is always plenty of mineral water.
A few bottles of white, red and pinkish combine perfectly with your grilled creations. By the way, you can easily save what you spend on meat with your choice of wine, because there is really delicious cheap wine from Italian soil for sale at the discount supermarket, for less than 5 euros!
7. End on a sweet note!
Because it's a BBQ, the Dolce don't forget yet! Every important Italian meal ends with a dessert. Choose some fresh summer fruit, such as peaches or pineapple, cut them in half and grill away!
The heat from the grill draws water out of the fruit, leaving behind concentrated, intensely sweet flavours. Do you really want to win the hearts of your guests? Cover the fruit with a ball gelato, which perfectly accentuates the fruity flavors.
How do you approach your Italian style BBQ?
Sources: eataly.com and naturaleitaliano.it
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