Budget BBQs
The great Aussie BBQ is part of our shared culture and one of the most economical ways to entertain friends and family. Following are a few tips for hosting a BBQ, without spending a lot of money:
MEAT IN THE MIDDLE
The costliest part of any meal is the meat but it’s also the ingredient that can make or break a BBQ. Not everyone can afford to offer sirloin or prawns, but gourmet sausages are a delicious alternative. Sausages are certainly as ubiquitous as stubbies or thongs at an Aussie BBQ, but just as you wouldn’t buy low quality beer that leaves a bad hangover, you don’t want to be offering ‘Bunnings-quality snags’.
The most common mistake many hosts make is to grab a pack of cheap sausages without giving much thought to what they’re actually made from. Rule of thumb is to check the ingredients label before buying. Try to cater for those with food sensitivities by choosing sausages that are gluten-free, filler-free and sulphite free. It shouldn’t cost you anything extra but will score you plenty of brownie points.
Be discerning and give preference those sausages that are made from 100% Aussie meat as they’ll be fresher, hormone-free and you’ll be helping support Aussie farmers with your purchase. Shop around. Some Smallgoods makers (such as Eve Smallgoods) allow you to order direct from the factory through their web site. This reduces cost for quality and allows you a greater choice of flavours.
Crowd-pleasers such as Cheese Kransky or Bratwurst sausages are a pretty safe bet for flavour. If your guests will appreciate you being a little more adventurous though, opt for ones that are a twist on the traditional (eg. Chilli Cheese Kransky or Smoked Bratwurst).
BBQ STICKS
It’s possible to make a little go a long way by slicing pre-cooked gourmet sausages into rounds and threading them on to skewers. Separate each sausage flavour from them next by interspersing with marinated capsicum, crumbed mushrooms, herbed zucchini or onion wrapped in speck. This helps stretch meat ingredients further and creates degustation on a stick.
GET SAUCY
Take a leaf from resort buffets and encourage guests to personalise their meals. Offer a range of quality marinades with curry, chilli, mustard and soy-based flavours. These can transform the ordinary into a cultural delight. Relishes, chutney and crafted sauces also help cater for all taste preferences; from spicy to mild. Just be sure to select quality condiments made from local ingredients.
A BIT ON THE SIDE
Beef up your BBQ spread by serving a nice fresh salad. Add brown rice with quinoa, pasta, sweet potato or noodles to make the salad more substantial and appeal to those who find greens less appealing.
Baked potatoes in their jackets are also an instant crowd pleaser; especially at winter BBQs. Bake them in the oven ahead of time in foil, then let guests choose from a range of sizes before personalising them with toppings such as sour cream, beans, cheese, bacon or ham cubes, cottage cheese, chives, garlic butter...
GET CORNY
Corn on the cob is another simple-side that can be made ahead of time. Remove the husk and blanche the cob in hot water. Then smother the corn with a mix of garlic butter, chopped onion, black pepper and paprika before wrapping in foil. Toss the cobs on the BBQ to complete the cooking and enable them to be served piping hot.
BE DISHY
Vegetable gratin costs as little as $5 from the frozen section of the supermarket. Place into an ovenproof dish, add diced ham or bacon and sprinkle over some extra cheese. Then bake and cover with foil until ready to serve in the hot dish.
NIBBLES
Invite your guests to add a few tasty nibbles such as fresh bread, dips, cheese, marinated olives or cheese if they ask what you’d like them to bring. A punnet of fresh berries is also nice as you can create a fresh fruit platter with them.
BEVERAGES
The best way to save on drinks is to tell guests it’s BYO. It’s considered good manners in Australia to bring your choice of drink anyway, so there’s really no expectation otherwise.
As a responsible host, be sure to provide a few non-alcoholic drinks though. Iced water flavoured with a few slices of lemon and sprigs of fresh mint, or crushed lemongrass with sliced ginger and cucumber are both cheap as chips and sure to please.
There you have it! Proof that it’s possible to entertain in style with gourmet good, while still sticking to a budget and buying local.
Enjoy!
