Top 10s Top 10 barbecue bites on the beach

Date Published:

13/07/2009

Forget sand-clogged sarnies and watery lollies, let your dining on the beach be of banquet proportions. 4Food brings you the top 10 barbecue recipes for feasting on the beach

If you're going to be eating by the sea then any barbecued banquet has to take on a fishy theme. Sardines are perfect barbecue food as natural oils prevent the flesh drying out. No Ambre Solaire needed here, though a little oil and a controlled heat will help keep the fish skin from sticking to the grill.

Get your fishy fix with this barbecued sardines recipe.

Potatoes cooked slowly among the coals take on a smoky flavour other dishes can only dream of. If you've got a handy camper van parked nearby, you can par boil your potatoes to speed up your supper. But for a true beach experience bury your potatoes in foil deep into warm coals, sit back and relax. You know what comes to those who wait… crispy skinned spuds that taste heavenly dripping in butter.

Stoke up the coals with this buttery potato parcels recipe.

There are few tastes as sublime as a beautifully barbecued chilli coated in olive oil just beginning to blister. Plump for the more cavernous chilli variety, such as banana or pablano, and create a scrumptious, spicy vessel perfect for cramming with cheese. Get some hot beach action this summer whatever the weather.

Spice up your life with this chillies stuffed with halloumi recipe.

Nonchalantly flipping burgers might be a stress free seaside supper, but isn't it a waste of your skills? For those of you who want to graft for your goodies, get well and truly stuck in… to a squid. Yes it's messy and involves dealing with things like tentacles and intestines, but barbecued squid eaten by the sea with a light lemon drizzle is as fresh a foodie hit as you'll get this side of a cow's udder.

Sharpen your seaside skills with this grilled squid with lemon and thyme recipe.

The key to beach banqueting is eating with your hands. No crockery, no fuss, just finger lickin' foodie fun. King of the mess free morsels has to be the kebab; assembled at home and packed in a cool box, it's not just lollies that taste luscious off a stick.

Add some Spanish sparkle with these pork and chorizo kebabs.

There's something about supper under the stars that makes you crave a Moorish feast. Anything's possible with a little bit of prep. Marinade your chicken beforehand then fire it up on the grill. Just like the Nomads would have - if only they'd had Tupperware.

Conjure up a more-ish meal with this Moroccan chicken and potato salad recipe.

You can't have a barbecue without tomato ketchup, but who wants to cart a load of condiments down the beach? Where there's foil there's a way. Wrap tomatoes in foil and leave them to stew on the barbie with some garlic and chilli and hey presto, you've got homemade relish. Not sure mayonnaise would fare as well.

Create you own condiments with this tomato relish recipe.

When you're firing up a feast on the beach it's easy to sideline the salad and end up with lettuce limper than a salesman's sweaty handshake. Keep your veg fresh and crisp by conjuring up some summery coleslaw. Either prepped by the barbie or pre-packed at home, coleslaw's the perfect accompaniment to a seaside supper. Try throwing in fennel for a perfect partner to fish.

Give your fish a friend with this delicious fennel coleslaw recipe.

Thanks to our friends down under shrimps and prawns are inextricably linked with barbecues. Whether they're coated in garlic butter, marinated in chilli and lime or wrapped in foil with lashings of spice, throw more than one shrimp on the barbie this summer. Or place them carefully on the grill if you're less gung-ho.

Take aim with this scrumptiously spicy balti prawn parcels recipe.

It's all very well feasting on fish but every banquet needs a sweet treat to finish. When it comes to barbecued desserts childhood classics are hard to beat. Bananas - check, chocolate - check, delicious dessert smeared all over your face - check.

Release your inner child with the barbecue classic of chocolate stuffed bananas.

Click here for more 4Food barbecue recipes.

Back to top