Words by Katy Hofstede-Smith
As an ever-optimistic Brit, when it comes to “summer” I of course take every opportunity possible to get cooking outside. Yes, it may rain, be cold, snow or just turn to charcoal, but there is something ever romantic and ancestral about watching your food cooking over fire and one for which my enthusiasm never wanes.
This year, as a complete surprise, I was given a wood fired pizza oven for Christmas so this summer for me will be all about perfecting the pizza. Pizza is something that I cook often at home but never over flames and I’m sure given the growing popularity of home pizza ovens, is something that many others will be attempting this year. As far as I’m aware, and it must be said I can’t claim to have perfected it yet, it’s all about getting the heat right. Let the heat build up and start to reduce to ensure an even temperature and if you’re making pizzas, move the fire to the back, ensure there are flames to cook the top and a good heat on the base. The pizza, once slid expertly onto the base, should cook within 90 seconds.
Of course, a pizza oven isn’t just for pizza, it can be used to roast and bake once the flames have died down very efficiently and in the art of culinary waste-not-want-not I’m sure that a baked pudding will come together expertly once the pizzas are being devoured along with a loaf of bread for the morning (I’ll admit the idea of trying to cook my sourdough over flame does make me a little stupidly excited!)
Mention camping to most British men and their first thoughts I’m sure will be of fire. A slightly trickier beast to conquer due to the planning involved but therefore arguably even more gratifying, cooking over flame on a camping trip is an experience that every adult and child should have. Again, this is all about the temperature of the fire; too hot and your potatoes will be charred, too cool and they’ll still be solid long after nightfall. Get the fire hot and once the embers start to glow rather than burn you’re good to start cooking. Potatoes wrapped and popped into the embers are a wonderful thing.
Create an instant cooking top using a stable grill base and stirring a simple pasta sauce or chilli over the flames will have you feeling like an ancient cowboy living off the land. If you want to be more adventurous, there are plenty of recipes available from the simple to seriously complex (and a lot of suggestions in my column last summer!). Whatever you choose to make, the mere act of heating or cooking it in the open over fire will ignite something inside you. And don’t forget, where there is fire, there is the perfect opportunity for marshmallow toasting or s’more melting, a perfect end to a day outdoors.