Help.. I'm a barbeque virgin!

[ganesh]

As a veggie I've never really gone in for the barbie thing but we're going to one soon and as we are supposed to bring our own food I thought I'd take some meat for my kids,as well as veg stuff. What sort of meat works best and is safe and should I pre-cook it first or what? Help needed!!!

[Clanad]

If it's for the kids only, I'd suggest making up ground beef patties. Just a little salt and pepper and form them about 6 to 8 inches in diameter maybe 1/2 inch thick. If well refrigerated before tleaving your abode, they'd be safe for a good hour or so. If it's much longer than that place them in a cooler with ice in a plastic bag and they'll be just fine.

Here in the U.S. our kids like Bratwurst or just plain hot dogs and they're very easy to cook. For the burgers, 6 to 8 minutes a side will give you a pretty well done hamburger completely safe... Kids here like the burgers on onion rolls which are slightly larger than usual hamburger buns.... try toasting them slightly on the grill...

[ganesh]

Thanks,should have said teens rather than kids,and I don't really fancy making anything meaty. But are you saying that everything can be cooked safely from raw straight on the bb(like pork sausages and burgers) which they're fond of.

[shelby45]

Vegetable kebabs, corn on the cobs easy peasy burgers for kids mince beef or pork, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, 1 egg, make into burgers or roll the mixture and make into something like a shish kebab. Spatchcock chickens are lovely on the bbq. sausages ( cook slowly else they burn) or bring to the boil in a pan of water beforehand and then cook!!

[coccinelle]

Yes garnish. Things like burgers and sausages are ideal on the BB as they cook quite quickly. Cooking things like chicken needs more skill so not to end up with too cooked outside and still raw inside. Steaks are ideal too for those who like their meat not too cooked.

[Mortartube]

The key is to not put the grill rack too near to the coals or the outside is black and the inside raw. Remember many items may take longer to cook than in a conventional grill. I put the grill tray furthest away from the coal for sausages & burgers from raw and lets them cook slowly. At least you know that when they look well done outside they are done on the inside. I have a fairly small BBQ. If you have a large inferno of one, you may have to let the coals die down a bit more than usual to ensure thorough cooking.

Although I am a meat eater, I still maintain that chargrilled red peppers and large flat mushrooms (both rubbed with a little oil) are still the best BBQ foods.

[kira000]

Mortar.... yes i agree. Nothing beats a nice portabella mushroom, lighly drizzled with olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper cooked on the barbq.
Asparagus is also yum on the bbq, and you could take some par boiled chunks of corn and the cob and finish them up on the bbq. Thats sooo good.

Burgers, sausages etc are fine cooked from raw. I know lots of people who oven cook their chicken first, then finish it on bbq for the smokey flavour. Works very well lke that with bbq sauce chicken.

[katerich48]

I watched a Nigella programme once and she boiled her chicken in milk first (why milk I can'tt remember - maybe because of the fat) anyway then she put them on the barbi and as they were part cooked there was no fear of anyone getting half raw chicken..