15 Things That Sound Weird But Taste Absolutely Bloody Beautiful When You BBQ Them

As we slowly say goodbye to winter and hello to barbecue season, we’ll soon be inviting friends round and firing up the grill.

But do you ever feel like you want to try offering them something more than the usual snags, burgers and steaks? Something different. Something they’ll remember and tell everyone else “I never even thought of that. It sounds weird but was absolutely bloody beautiful.”

If you want to go down as a legend of the grill, here are some BBQ dishes that taste amazing but we bet none of your mates will ever try serving up.

Pizza

So easy, so good. Flatten out some dough, thinly coat it with olive oil and get it on the grill. And the great thing about pizza is, of course, the topping is totally up to you.

Oysters

Make a tasty garlic butter to go with your hot shellfish (a few minutes on the BBQ, flat side up, until they open up) and the world is your oyster.

Rice

Well… rice balls. Make them up using short grain rice, maybe even include some thinly diced veggies, coat with olive oil and get them on a nice hot grill. Treat them like a steak or burger: a few minutes each side, just to get them crunchy.

Peaches

Millions of peaches, peaches for me. Millions of peaches, grill them for tea. So simple. So, so delicious. Dip or brush your peaches in maple syrup and whack them on the BBQ. Even your guests who say they couldn’t find room for another bite, will always…well, find room for another bite.

Grapes

Surely not..? Surely, yes. A seriously brilliant way to round off your pork chop; grill a bunch of grapes for a few minutes, turning to make sure they don’t blacken too badly and retain their juice. Also great as the base of sauces.

Bacon & Green Bean Salad

Almost entirely made on the barbecue. Bit of olive oil on your green beans, bacon (or pancetta), onion and tomatoes, then blacken them up and serve with a crisp leaf. Job’s a good un.

Watermelon

Probably the best known option on this list. Great with chili to make it spicy, or wrapped in prosciutto after you’ve grilled it. Always impressive and always loved.

Vegemite And Cheese Sandwich

Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? Secret is lots of cheese to make it nice and gooey. If you’ve got a sweet tooth (or kids), the same works (even more) surprisingly well with chocolate spread rather than vegemite.

Curried Tofu

Never be afraid to hear the words “I’m a vegetarian” from your barbecue guests again. Season your tofu with curry powder, grill it and serve with a rich chutney. So good, you’ll even want some yourself.

Asparagus

Probably the best way to cook asparagus, some would say. Olive oil and black pepper then a hot grill to char the stalks and bring out the best of their taste.

Halloumi

It’s just grilled cheese. Only with so much more. A thin slice of lemon for a sour bite adds a different dimension. Brilliant in salads and burgers.

Bananas

One good option is to slice them lengthways and serve with caramel sauce or maple syrup. Another is to keep them in their skin, slice a hole and insert chocolate so it all melts together. Tastes as good as it sounds.

Beef In A Cloth

There are a few recipes for this kicking around. Most involve taking a (clean) piece of cloth, laying it out then using huge amounts of rock salt or kosher salt before placing your meat on and then wrapping it all up. Place it directly in the coals or over the gas until it all burns and looks black and singed and your beef is fully cooked through.

Bacon-wrapped Jalapenos

You’re welcome.

Donuts

Admittedly, not the healthiest thing you’ll ever eat.

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