Mini Heatwave Cooking
It may be true that Brits are forever talking about the weather, but this week there really is something to talk about. With highs of 27 °C in some areas, we will be enjoying warmer midweek weather than the likes of Tenerife, Nice, and Barcelona! With the May Bank Holiday on the horizon too, it’s a great time for al fresco dining where summer favourites can take centre stage. This week we are delving into tips for dishes to satisfy your hot weather cravings, taking inspiration from culinary traditions around the globe – think saucy salads, family-friendly flatbreads, delicious dips, and many more sunshine food ideas.
We all know that cuisine varies across different countries, but have you ever wondered why? Before the arrival of fridges and freezers, communities in hot climates did not have an easy time of it in the kitchen! With bacteria able to grow faster than in colder countries, it was hard to keep food fresh and safe to eat for long periods of time. Due to this, spicy foods became central to cooking in countries such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Keeping our ancestors alive, these spices killed certain bacteria and fungi, keeping produce edible for longer. As well as organising gladiatorial fights and inventing underfloor heating, ancient civilisations used techniques such as salting, smoking, drying, pickling, and fermentation for preserving food. Perfect for summer dining, pickles are still enjoyed as a fresh and crunchy addition to any meal, boosting digestion and rich in electrolytes. Pickled red onions and cucumbers contrast perfectly with the smoky flavours of BBQ meats such as our Lidgate Lamb & Chilli Burger or Barbecue Sausages. Alternatively, pickled carrots and cauliflower add colour and tang to Middle Eastern spiced chicken or turkey.
In the world’s hottest countries, salads have always provided a refreshing and cool alternative to heavier starchy meals. Kachumbari is an East African tomato salad – a vibrant mixture of raw onion, coriander, citrus juice, and chilli. We all know the famous names of the salad world such as the Niçoise and Caesar, but don’t forget the more unusual varieties. Juicy and hydrating, this recipe for Watermelon Salad pairs salty feta with cool cucumber and looks beautiful on the table sprinkled with mint leaves. Inspired by the flavours of Port Said in Egypt, this dish brings out the sweetness of the watermelon with a zesty honey-lime dressing for the perfect combo of flavours. Click here to see an abundance of ways to incorporate fruit into salads, and don’t forget that the same goes for meat - our Chicken & Apple Sausages are sweet and mild and this pineapple salsa would pair well with any of our grilled chicken or pork.
Flatbreads have always been popular in hot climates, with Pita in the Middle East, Lavash in Armenia and Iran, and Roti in India and Pakistan. Great for outdoor eating and delicious cold or hot, wraps are a great go-to option for summer dinners, using shredded meat or kebabs. If it’s just too hot to get cooking in the kitchen, our pre-prepared Caribbean Chicken Kebabs have a flavoursome marinade and come with peppers and onions for extra crunch.
Our most popular variety is our Lemon & Coriander Kebabs; the citrusy brightness of lemon complements the herbal freshness of coriander for a refreshing and cooling flavour. Speaking of cooling – sauces are an age-old addition to summer meals. Greece’s yoghurt-based Tzatziki is perfect with grilled meats or as a dip for veggies. Similarly Indian Raita or Mint Chutney is commonly served with spicy dishes for a neutralising effect. In Southeast Asia, coconut-based chilli sauce is popular, and this recipe for a Chili-Lime Coconut Sauce is a versatile dairy-free choice to wake up the taste buds. It’s perfect as a chicken marinade, tossed with stir-fried vegetables, or drizzled over grilled fish.
Of course, ice creams, lollies, and jugs of sangria are always tempting, but it can be harder to know how to cater for our summer taste buds when it comes to savoury dishes. For more inspiration for ‘Sunshine food’, click here to have a browse of some recipes from the BBC which not only taste delicious but look fantastic too. Whatever you’re doing, make the most of the sunshine and blue skies and we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the weather forecast doesn’t let us down!