Barbecue might be the ultimate American backyard tradition, yet different versions of it can be found all over the globe. Its origins go back to cooking methods from the Caribbean, which is why we can find several barbecue recipes around the world. From Korean bulgogi to South African braai, Indian tandoor, Brazilian churrasco, and Filipino lechón, we’re in for a succulent, meaty ride.
We decided to share with you our five favorite barbecue recipes that we would love to try. Have you tried any of these? Do you any other recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!
If there is any other country in the world with such an affinity for barbecue-like cuisine, that is Korea. Their traditional bulgogi consists of grilled or roasted meat, whether beef or pork. The most common cuts are sirloin, rib-eye, and brisket. Before grilling it, they marinate the meat using soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and black pepper.
Bulgogi is so popular in South Korea, that you can order this dish in fancy restaurants, fast-food places. They even sell pan-ready kits at different supermarkets.
South Africans share this passionate love for barbecue. However, their braai goes beyond cooking. It is a celebration of family, friendships, food, and drinks.
One key aspect of braai is that you must cook the meat with wood. Using gas or even coal to start the fire is even considered cheating. It is common to find boerewors, steaks of different kinds, lamb, chicken, pork, kebabs, and seafood.
The word tandoor refers to a cylindrical clay oven used in India to cook meat and other types of food and dishes. However, the most popular one is the tandoori chicken. Before cooking, the chicken is marinated with yogurt and masala, which is a blend of different spices. They season the meat with garlic, cayenne, ginger, and pepper.
You can have tandoori chicken at any time of the day really, and you can order it as an appetizer or as a main course. It is common to have tandoori chicken during official banquets, too.
If you are looking for quantity-driven barbecues, Brazilian cuisine has what you’re looking for. Their popular churrasco refers to grilled meat, of many different kinds. You need a special grill to properly cook churrasco, though. The key is to slowly roast meat over skewers over a bed of charcoal, and to the open flame.
Churrascarias are famous because of their all-you-can-eat service. Waiters walk around the place, serving the meat from the skewer to your plate. This certainly sounds like barbecue heaven to us!
Lechón might be what separates true, skillful pitmasters, from aficionados. Properly roasting a full-grown pig isn’t something just anybody can do. As a result, people in the Philippines reserve this traditional dish for special occasions, hence the number of guests (and their appetite), has to match the size of the dish.
They stuff the pig with vegetables and herbs, and then spit-roast it over charcoal, skewer it on a wooden stick, and leave the hog there for several hours. As you can imagine, it gives a very tasty, crunchy, crispy dish that is usually served with liver sauce simmered with vinegar and herbs.
