Barbecue: The great summer event!

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A get-together with friends, happy times with the whole family ... There's always a good reason to fire up the barbecue, and enjoy a special meal outdoors while you savour the fine weather.

Barbecuing is a great time to experiment with food, and there are plenty of healthy cooking possibilities you can try.

Here are a few gourmet ideas to liven up your barbecues. Plus a few words to the wise about how to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

Gourmet ideasClose

There's more to great barbecuing than just kebabs, steaks, burgers and other classic meat items. In fact, you can cook up and savour some positively exotic dishes.

Cheese

Grilling cheeses like Doré-Mi, are absolutely delicious when barbecued. Rounds of soft cheese, on the other hand, can be garnished with fresh fruit, jam or nuts, then wrapped and cooked over a low flame. For example, you'll be delighted by a cheese like La Sauvagine adorned with honey and pecan nuts, or a Petit Brie du Village coated with bruschetta.

A vegetarian feast

Tofu is another ideal solution for the barbecue. Simply cut the tofu into thick slices, steep it in your favourite marinade and put it on the grill. Make a sauce or dip to accompany it, and you're done. You can also prepare lightly grilled romaine lettuce hearts to decorate your salads.

Treat your sweet tooth

Fruits that are semi-firm, like pineapples, peaches, strawberries and mangoes, can be easily barbecued on skewers – or straight on the grill, if the slices are big enough. For extra sweetness, brush them with maple syrup while cooking or top them with a drizzle of honey. Serve them with bowls of vanilla ice cream, and you've got a summer dessert your family's sure to ask for again!

Handy accessoriesClose

If you want to be versatile with your barbecue, there are a few inexpensive items you can buy in any supermarket to give you a hand when you're cooking.

Griddles and toppers

For delicate fish cuts (like filets) and small vegetables, be sure to have a griddle sheet or a perforated grill topper. They'll help you cook food that's more fragile without losing any of that great barbecue flavour.

Wooden grilling plank

If you're using a gas grill but want your dishes to still have that delicious smoked flavour, be sure to get a wooden grilling plank. You can buy untreated cedar or maple planks that are specially designed for barbecues. Simply soak the plank in water for a few hours, give it a brushing with oil, and set it on the grill to receive meat or fish.

More about smoking

Another way to get a smoky taste without burning charcoal is to use a stainless steel smoker box. This is a perforated box that's designed to hold dampened wood chips (hickory, cherry wood, alder, etc.). Place the smoker directly on the grill beside the food you're cooking.

10 barbecue tips by IgorClose

1. Once you've heated the barbecue, clean the grill with a steel wire brush to get rid of any food residues. Then oil it with a heat-resistant brush (made of silicone, for example) to prevent your food from sticking.
2. Let meat sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. This will prevent the meat from lowering the barbecue temperature when placed on the grill.
3. Wait until the grill is good and hot before placing food for cooking. Food will stick if placed too early.
4. Avoid poking holes in your meat with a fork while grilling. The meat will lose its juices and become tough and flavourless. Use a spatula or tongs to turn your pieces of meat on the grill.
5. If you're grilling meat on a spit, place a metal container full of water underneath the meat. This will keep it from drying out and will also prevent dripping fat from causing dangerous bursts of flame.
6. If fish is on the menu, steak cuts are best for cooking direct on the grill. Avoid turning the fish steaks too quickly, because they will stick.
7. After cooking, wrap your meat (except chicken) and let it stand 10 to 15 minutes at the ambient temperature. This will help redistribute the blood inside the meat, so that it will be juicier when cut with a knife.
8. If your barbecue has multiple burners and you're cooking a large piece of meat, like a roast or a whole chicken, indirect heat is best. Sear the meat on a high flame, then turn off one of your burners and set the meat. The heat will spread indirectly from the other burner.
9. To prevent food from catching fire, cut away all extra fat from meat before grilling. If the meat is marinated, remove any drops of excess marinade before placing on the grill.
10. To prevent cross-contamination, make sure raw meat doesn't come in contact with the other food you're cooking. Make sure you have a clean plate to place cooked meat on, and wash all accessories you've used while handling raw meat. And wash your hands frequently ... a must for every good cook!

Now you're ready to amaze your guests with one delicious barbecue dish after another. Happy grilling!