Beyond Bangers: Make the most of the Great Aussie BBQ while cycle touring
November 18th 2006 04:40
One of the cheapest ways to get a hot meal in Australia is on the barbie (BBQ). They're usually free at caravan parks and widely available for a small fee at public parks and some rest areas.
A banger (sausage) in bread can be a beautiful thing - quick and delicious with extra vitamins and minerals from the charcoal and tomato sauce. But that's not all a BBQ is good for. Buy yourself some spray on cooking oil and try one of these suggestions (for meat eaters)...
BBQ TACOS
Chop some fresh tomato, lettuce and avocado, chuck some mince meat and onion on the barbie till brown then spoon into a pot. Stir in some taco mix while heating the taco shells on top of the barbie. Combine all with grated cheese. Best eaten on dark nights when no-one can see the mess you're making.
BBQ STIRFRY
My favourite version of this meal is very simple. Chuck some chicken mince on the barbie with onions, chopped garlic and ginger. When cooked, add finely sliced slivers of red and green peppers, zucchini and snow peas. Two-minute rice is pre-cooked rice available from most supermarkets. I like the brown rice best. Stir it through the meat and veges till warm then spoon into a pot. Sprinkle with chilli powder and stock to taste, top with fresh coriander and/or crushed peanuts. Note: you'll be in trouble with the next punter if you sprinkle your chilli powder directly onto the barbie.
BBQ VEGES
I'm a big fan of roast veges and miss them on the road. Here's my BBQ version. Chop potatoes and sweet potatoes into thin round slices and fry on the barbie. When almost done, add large squares of red or green pepper, onions, whole garlic cloves and mushrooms. Cook till they are edible/soft but retain their shape. Spoon into a pot and sprinkle with salt, pepper, a handful of fresh, torn-up basil leaves plus chunks of fetta cheese or a handful of parmesan. The cheese goes gooey and melts into the veges and the garlic and basil makes it really flavoursome.
BBQ SOUVLAKI
Lamb is available almost everywhere in Australia. We even bought some on the Nullarbor from the Fraser Range Station. Lamb chops are fabulous but if you want a change, a lamb souvlaki could do the trick. Buy a whole piece or two of lamb off the bone and fry it on the barbie - not too long. This is much better if the lamb remains red and juicy in the centre. Supermarkets sell pitta and other kinds of flat breads. Mix a tub of plain yoghurt with garlic. Chop up tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. Slice the lamb finely and combine in the pitta bread with the veges and garlic sauce. Add fresh parsley, roll and eat.
A WORD ON BBQ ETIQUETTE
Commandeering the BBQ in caravan parks can be tricky. Just one glance at the BBQ kitchen can be enough to send a bevy of flatfooted fisherfolk in thongs, singlets and Warrick-Capper-like short shorts stomping towards the hot plate with a tinny in one hand and a meat tray, or today's catch, in the other. It's first in first served. So, if you're there first the incoming are supposed to ask if you will be using the barbie. Similarly, if someone is already in the BBQ area, even if they're not yet using the hotplate, you are supposed to ask them if they INTEND to use it, before plonking your own meat on the fryer. Afterwards, before the BBQ cools, you scrape it down, pour water on it and wipe it with a paper towel for the next person.
A banger (sausage) in bread can be a beautiful thing - quick and delicious with extra vitamins and minerals from the charcoal and tomato sauce. But that's not all a BBQ is good for. Buy yourself some spray on cooking oil and try one of these suggestions (for meat eaters)...
A banger in a sanger is a beautiful thing while cycle touring...
Chop some fresh tomato, lettuce and avocado, chuck some mince meat and onion on the barbie till brown then spoon into a pot. Stir in some taco mix while heating the taco shells on top of the barbie. Combine all with grated cheese. Best eaten on dark nights when no-one can see the mess you're making.
BBQ STIRFRY
My favourite version of this meal is very simple. Chuck some chicken mince on the barbie with onions, chopped garlic and ginger. When cooked, add finely sliced slivers of red and green peppers, zucchini and snow peas. Two-minute rice is pre-cooked rice available from most supermarkets. I like the brown rice best. Stir it through the meat and veges till warm then spoon into a pot. Sprinkle with chilli powder and stock to taste, top with fresh coriander and/or crushed peanuts. Note: you'll be in trouble with the next punter if you sprinkle your chilli powder directly onto the barbie.
BBQ VEGES
I'm a big fan of roast veges and miss them on the road. Here's my BBQ version. Chop potatoes and sweet potatoes into thin round slices and fry on the barbie. When almost done, add large squares of red or green pepper, onions, whole garlic cloves and mushrooms. Cook till they are edible/soft but retain their shape. Spoon into a pot and sprinkle with salt, pepper, a handful of fresh, torn-up basil leaves plus chunks of fetta cheese or a handful of parmesan. The cheese goes gooey and melts into the veges and the garlic and basil makes it really flavoursome.
BBQ SOUVLAKI
Lamb is available almost everywhere in Australia. We even bought some on the Nullarbor from the Fraser Range Station. Lamb chops are fabulous but if you want a change, a lamb souvlaki could do the trick. Buy a whole piece or two of lamb off the bone and fry it on the barbie - not too long. This is much better if the lamb remains red and juicy in the centre. Supermarkets sell pitta and other kinds of flat breads. Mix a tub of plain yoghurt with garlic. Chop up tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. Slice the lamb finely and combine in the pitta bread with the veges and garlic sauce. Add fresh parsley, roll and eat.
A WORD ON BBQ ETIQUETTE
Commandeering the BBQ in caravan parks can be tricky. Just one glance at the BBQ kitchen can be enough to send a bevy of flatfooted fisherfolk in thongs, singlets and Warrick-Capper-like short shorts stomping towards the hot plate with a tinny in one hand and a meat tray, or today's catch, in the other. It's first in first served. So, if you're there first the incoming are supposed to ask if you will be using the barbie. Similarly, if someone is already in the BBQ area, even if they're not yet using the hotplate, you are supposed to ask them if they INTEND to use it, before plonking your own meat on the fryer. Afterwards, before the BBQ cools, you scrape it down, pour water on it and wipe it with a paper towel for the next person.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
This is all very interesting and I like it very much.
However, I think a reciprocal visit is long overdue.
katyzz at Ms Paint Art, just click on the logo[icon], make sure you cllck the mspaintart I no longer use the others.
Happy travelling.! You're very brave. And must have good muscles.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I luurv the sounds of the BBQ Taco'style next time I've had a few wines... the mess sounds like it'd be part of the fun on this one...*lol*
..am really enjoying your adventures...
..travel well my friend,
Lilla...