Ah the British Summer! It’s a fact that as soon as there is the slightest hint of sunshine, us Brits will immediately fire up our barbecues.
Whether you have a traditional coal barbie or a gas-powered variation, there is something undeniably British about the smell of burgers, the sizzle of the sausages and the sound of drinks being poured as family and friends gather round for a relaxing afternoon of good food and great company.
At Damerons Farm Cottages, we know the humble barbecue can be the source of many treasured family memories, which is why we’ve installed two brand new barbecues into our newly renovated courtyard – free for our lovely guests to use!
BBQ Recipe ideas…
We’ve previously shared our suggestions for where you can go sample some of Suffolk’s tastiest produce, but if you fancy spending the day on the farm, why not try some of our suggested BBQ recipes below.
The truly wonderful thing about outdoor cooking is that you can be as inventive as you wish, and with Suffolk’s array of farm shops and food halls, you can be spoilt for choice when it comes to ingredients.
BBQ’s can be more than just burgers
If you enjoy a traditional barbecue feast, take a short trip over to nearby Swiss Farm butchery (located in Ashbocking, just five minutes away from the Farm), and stock up on a wide array of flavoured sausages and burgers to get your mouths watering.
Then, head back to base to cook up a storm and try your hand at these delicious grilled lamb skewers or spicy BBQ Pork Buns.
For your sides, we love the look of these sesame sweet potatoes, but our favourite is this tangy tomato and avocado salad:
- 1 small red onion, finely sliced
- Juice 1 lime
- 750g tomatoes (mixed sizes)
- 1 large avocado, cubed
- 100g Chosen by you Light Greek Salad Cheese, crumbled
- 2tbsp rapeseed oil
- 25g roughly chopped coriander
Squeeze your lime over the onion, toss and. Then, dry dry-roast the smaller tomatoes for 4-5 mins on your pre-heated bbq, turning occasionally until lightly charred and soft. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
Halve the larger tomatoes before putting all of them in a bowl and stir in the onions and lime juice mixture, along with your avocado, crumbled cheese, rapeseed oil and chopped coriander. Simple!
Vegetarian BBQ Feasts
The wonderful thing about barbecues is that they aren’t just for meat lovers.
There are hundreds of recipes available online suitable for vegetarians and vegans which are full of flavour. Choices include Jamie Oliver’s Brilliant Veggie Burger and the Vegetarian Society’s Summer Paella, but we really love the sound of Waitrose’s Piri Piri Halloumi Skewers:
- 2 large courgettes, trimmed
- 2 red peppers, seeds and stalk removed
- 250g pack essential Waitrose Halloumi
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Piri Piri Rub
- 2 x 300g packs Waitrose Red Choice Tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 25g pack fresh basil, leaves only
Cut the courgettes into long thin ribbons and the peppers and cheese into 2–3cm pieces.
Mix the olive oil and the piri piri rub together and toss with the vegetables and cheese before setting aside to marinate for at least 1 hour. Thread onto metal skewers, alternating with folded courgette ribbons.
Then, place the tomatoes on their vines on your pre-heated barbecue, griddle or grill. Cook for 4 minutes until starting to blacken and burst. While they are cooling, remove the cooked tomatoes from their vines and place in a saucepan. Add the garlic, brown sugar, vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes or until reduced and pulpy. Add the basil.
Meanwhile, place the skewers on the barbecue and cook for 10–15 minutes, turning occasionally, until coloured and the vegetables are tender. Serve the skewers with small bowls of the tomato sauce to dip!
Don’t forget about the drinks!
Of course, no barbecue is complete without a round of drinks.
But before you rush off to the nearest supermarket to grab the latest special offer, you would do well to remember that Suffolk’s is home to some fantastic small and specialist producers of beers, ales, ciders and juices.
Aspalls, Greene King and Adnams all hail from Suffolk, but if you’re looking for something a little bit different, why not try a lager from Calvors or an ale from Nethergates Brewery?
If spirits are more your thing, check out Betty’s Gin c/o the Heart of Suffolk distillery and try your hand at this refreshing ‘strawberry gin smash’ cocktail:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
- 1 pound fresh strawberries
- 2 cups ‘Rosies gin’
- 3 cups club soda
- Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
To make a sharing pitcher, ‘smash’ the sugar and limes together, then set aside 6 to 8 small strawberries and make a small slice in their tips. Hull and slice the remaining strawberries and add to the sugar and lime juice – be careful not to squish too much!
Stir in the gin and club soda and pack the pitcher full of ice. Add mint sprigs to garnish. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a strawberry on the edge… delicious!
Non-drinkers can sit back and relax with a delightful glass of fruit juice or cordial from our neighbours James White (based in Ashbocking), whilst coffee lovers can enjoy a delicious blend from local legends Paddy and Scotts.
Our new bbqs are perfect for friends and family to enjoy some quality time together in the Suffolk sunshine… contact us on 01473 832454 to reserve one of our holiday cottages today!
NEW BROCHURE!
Our new brochure is out now, and available to view online, or in the flesh. For your copy, pop into one of Suffolk’s tourist information centres or email us to request your copy.
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