Pylle-based butcher, Jon Thorner tells us his favourite barbecue dishes for summer sharing…
Pork ribs…
…are inexpensive, full of flavour and versatile. Good quality ribs have plenty of meat on the bones, as well as some fat. You can either ask your butcher for a full rack or have it cut into individual ribs. The key to tasty ribs is tender meat which falls off the bone. This is all in the preparation.
If you need them cooked quickly on the day, we recommend simmering the ribs in boiling water for 30-40 minutes the day before. Once drained and cooled, marinate them overnight, then grill, barbecue or roast for 15-20 minutes.
Sweet, sticky marinades and sauces complement ribs perfectly – think sweet barbecue, sticky honey, with aromatic herbs and spices enhancing the depth of flavour. You can afford to go with strong flavours with pork.
Flank steak…
…is a really underused cut of beef. It’s from the bottom abdominal area of the cow, so has a lot of muscular fibre and is quite lean.
It is a great sharing steak and lends itself to high heat and quick cooking, and is best served rare. Give the steak a couple of minutes each side on a very hot grill, then thinly slice against the grain.
Flank steak offers fabulous flavour – a really intense beef taste. This cut of steak marinades well and works well with Asian, Mexican or Chinese flavours.
Butterfly leg of lamb…
…is my absolute favourite BBQ treat; the ultimate show piece and great for a special occasion.
Although it commands a premium price, British lamb is amongst the best for flavour. Ask your butcher to prepare a whole leg, removing the bone and butterflying the meat to keep it fairly flat and an even thickness.
Just a small amount of preparation is needed as it is best marinated overnight. When ready to cook, get your barbecue hot, and sear each side of the lamb for 5 minutes, until slightly charred. Reduce the heat and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, depending on how pink you want to serve it, turning halfway. Rest for 15 minutes, slice, serve and enjoy.
Visit; www.jonthorners.co.uk