Spice up this summer’s barbecue

Summertime, and the living is easy. As temperatures go up, people head to their backyards, parks, picnic areas or camping sites and fire up their trusted grills. This summer, spice up your cookout by adding more diverse dishes to your barbecue repertoire.

Corn-on-the-cob, kebabs, burgers, veggies and steak. These favorites can typically be found on every grill around the world. But this summer, we’re challenging you to try out some diverse ingredients that give your BBQ staples a run for their money. And let’s face it, we won’t be traveling much this summer, so let your tastebuds take a culinary trip with dishes from around the world.

Check out our collection of diverse BBQ dishes from side dishes to desserts. And because every good barbecue can do with a few cocktails, we’ve included a few diverse cocktails from our Food Forever Experiences. Invite us to your next cookout, or share your own diverse BBQ recipes with #FoodForeverBBQ!

Happy grilling!

Appetizers & Sides

Jollof Rice with Crab Salad

Enjoy this dish at your next BBQ with the knowledge that you’re supporting female smallholder rice farmers in Liberia. Small gestures can have a big, even tasty impact in the world. Get the recipe by Chef Tim Blake here.

Superfood salad

This salad packs a nutritional punch featuring healthy grains such as millet, sorghum and barley, as well as fresh fruit and a zesty sauce. It just might steal the show! Get the recipe here.

Grilled eggplant salad with freekeh

This grilled Middle Eastern salad combines eggplant, fresh herbs, a tangy yogurt dressing and the smokey ancient grain known as freekeh into a delicious dish that shouldn’t miss at any cookout. Check it out here.

Grilled fava beans

Fava beans are popping up more and more often in local farmer’s markets, and there’s a multitude of ways to prepare them. This summer, toss them on a grill and combine with a fresh and simple dressing. Get the recipe here.

Mains

Pulled jackfruit burger

Jackfruit is the rising star for burger lovers worldwide. And yes, it technically doesn’t get cooked on the grill, but we figured this would be a great pulled-pork alternative. Check out the recipe by Chef Radhika Kandelwal here.

Chichinga: Suya Goat Kebabs

Get a taste of the popular West African street food snack chichinga! These Ghanaian kebabs feature tender goat and a spice rub called suya. Get the recipe by Chef Zoe Adjonyoh here.

Smokey mushroom and walnut-stuffed portobellos

Portobello mushrooms are perfect for stuffing and a great replacement for meats. You can enjoy these mushrooms on their own, or add tomato, some greens, hummus and buns for a quick vegan burger! Get the recipe here.

Desserts

Blueberry millet tarte

Blueberries are high in antioxidants, but did you know that millet is a gluten-free grain that is high in iron and protein and rich in Vitamin B? This blueberry millet tarte by Chef Yi-Wen Lee allows for guilt-free gorging! You can also swap out the blueberries for other fruits, like apples or pears. Get the recipe here.

Baked bananas

What do you get when you mix the world’s favorite fruit with chocolate and a barbecue? A delicious, fruity summer dessert. Pro tip: add mini marshmallows for extra gooeyness. Get the recipe on BBC goodfood.

Grilled Fruit Skewers

This quick and simple fruity kebab can feature summer favorites like strawberries, pineapples and peaches, but also more diverse fruits such as cherimoya, mango, physalis, lucuma, or pawpaw. Get the recipe on delish.