Recipes & Techniques
Hot Stuff
Discovering Your Grilling Alter Ego at BUSH’S Barbecue Boot Camp
I’ve taught a lot of grilling classes over the years—at Barbecue University at the Broadmoor and at venues all over the world. But earlier this year, I led a course based on a very different premise than my usual classes. Sponsored by BUSH’S (of baked bean fame), Barbecue Boot Camp had two simple missions: transform four students from grilling neophytes to live-fire pros, and help them discover their “grilling alter egos” along the way....
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Sandwiches Hit the Grill
It’s been called Britain’s greatest contribution to gastronomy. I speak, of course, of the sandwich, invented in the 18th century when the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, commanded his valet to bring him roast beef pinioned between two slabs of bread so he could eat while gambling. Whether completely true or not, you have to concede sandwiches are one of the best things since … well … sliced bread. And there’s no better time to pay homage them to them than the present, because...
Read more →Barbecue University™
Perform a Smoky Miracle: Pulled Pork Perfection
Pulled pork is one of the glories of American barbecue, a tender tangle of shredded meat that’s infused with fragrant wood smoke, deftly but restrainedly seasoned and sauced, and piled on soft white buns. And it couldn’t be easier. You don’t have to be a competition-level barbecuer (or even a son of the South) to perform this smoky, porky miracle. You do need the ability to indirect grill—this means a wood- or charcoal-burning grill or smoker with a...
Read more →Barbecue University™
Tips from BUSH’s BBQ Bootcamp Part 2
It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: the time when we shed our scarves, break out the patio furniture, and gear up for some glorious summer grilling. If you’ve been avoiding your grill since the first signs of winter, or simply need a brush-up on your technique, below is Part 2 of my favorite grilling tips to help you kick off the season the right way. (For Part 1 click here.) 7. Boiling ribs is a rookie mistake Never, EVER boil...
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Like It Hot—Grill It Hot
As the summer kicks into high gear and temperatures soar, the best way to beat the heat is . . . to join it. Fiery foods make you sweat, and perspiration is the body’s natural cooling mechanism. Fiery foods are enjoyed in hundreds of the world’s top food cultures. Indeed, people in some of the warmest climates across Planet Barbecue eat some of the spiciest food. Here, to challenge your inner fire-eater, are some of the most fiery dishes on the world’s barbecue trail. Just be sure to keep a glass of cold beer (or better...
Read more →Barbecue University™
Tips from BUSH’s BBQ Bootcamp
It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: the time when we shed our scarves, break out the patio furniture, and gear up for some glorious summer grilling. If you’ve been avoiding your grill since the first signs of winter, or simply need a brush-up on your technique, below are a few of my favorite grilling tips to help you kick off the season the right way. (Below is Part 1 of 2, for Part 2 click here.) 1. Control the fire, don’t let it control you ...
Read more →Game On: Grilling Minnesota Venison
I love it when I get questions and requests from readers and viewers. And one thing you ask a lot is to see more wild game dishes on Project Smoke and in my books. I hear you loud and clear. So when I came across this grilled venison loin with honey, juniper, and black pepper glaze in Dishing Up® Minnesota by Teresa Marrone (published by Storey Publishing—a subsidiary of Workman Publishing), I knew that both our prayers had been answered....
Read more →Game On! Your Guide to Grilling Game Meats
’Tis the season. I speak not of Christmas, but to a topic of burning interest to many members of this barbecue community: game meats. Because hunting season has commenced in many states for certain species of wild game (check with your state’s Department of Natural Resources for specifics), we thought this would be a great time to address the many grilling, smoking, and barbecue questions we receive from people who appreciate game. To get the low-down on special techniques for cooking game, which has considerably less fat than...
Read more →Raichlen Predicts: BBQ Trends for 2015
2015 already? Seems like I just sat down to write last year’s predictions. Many came true, like really big steaks and cocktails get smoked. So here’s a look at my crystal ball for Planet Barbecue 2015. I write these words on a flight from Los Angeles to Miami. Which brings me to my first trend, for California often sets the agenda for grilling and American gastronomy in general. Wood-burning grills invade high-end restaurants: It used to be that grill restaurants were destinations in their own right. Now highfalutin Spanish, Italian, and even French restaurants are installing...
Read more →Battle of the Birds: Brining vs. Injecting
The contentious mid-term elections might be over, but American households are grappling with another controversy: Should this year’s Thanksgiving turkey be brined, injected, both, or none of the above? Like skillful politicians, let’s start by trying to find common ground. I think we can all agree that a lot of turkey comes to the table dry. So dry that it takes a generous, what-the-hell pour from the gravy boat to make it palatable. The reason is anatomical: the modern turkey is a large,...
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