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Everything you need to know for the best ever Australia Day BBQ

These tips will take your food and decorations up a notch
Stephanie McCabe on Unsplash

If you’re hosting a BBQ this weekend and want to impress your guests, here are some ideas to bring extra flavour and flair to the proceedings.

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Everything you need to know for the best ever Australia Day BBQ | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia
(Credit: Nicky Ryan)

1. It’s the little things

Oil the grill – prepare your grill for all the goodness you’ll be throwing at it with a good clean, followed by a coating of oil to prevent sticking and make cooking easier.

2. Start with a punch or cocktail

Mix up a fruity cocktail or punch to serve to guests on arrival and get the party started. Freeze ice in big blocks to drop into your punch bowl – it melts more slowly so lasts longer.

3. Make your own dips ahead of time

Try our Roasted capsicum & chilli tapenade with crispbread.

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Everything you need to know for the best ever Australia Day BBQ | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia
(Credit: Nicky Ryan)

4. Add flavour

  • Marinate the meat ahead of time for greater depth of flavour. Try our recipe for Burgers with cheesy ale sauce & onion fries.
  • Mix your own mayonnaise with a little mustard or garlic to add flavor, serve with your homemade chutney for good measure.
  • Mix up a herb butter to add to your steaks after cooking
  • Use charcoal to add a smokey flavor to meats and BBQ corn
  • Use herbs as a skewer – stalks of rosemary work a treat!

5. Offer vegetarian options

  • Prepare vegetables such as whole potatoes, cut pumpkin and carrots by wrapping them in foil to roast in the coals or on the side of your BBQ – particularly if you have vegetarians to feed, this keeps things separated.
  • Buy some firm tofu and marinate it (separately) in the same sauce as your meat to ensure a tasty offering.
  • Grill spears of asparagus and thick slices of haloumi cheese

6. Dessert on the BBQ

Halve stone fruits and figs and place face-down on the grill for a lovely treat at the end of the day. Have some cinnamon sugar and marscapone on hand to top once charred.

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