When we think of a summer barbecue, we picture the steam rolling off the hot dogs, the sizzle of the fatty beef burgers, the charred smell of fresh vegetables and so much more. You can’t wait to get your teeth stuck into a pork chop or some grilled steak, can you? Nobody can blame you, but what would make your barbecue meals even better? The accompaniments that make the main course even better than it already is. It’s the little things like the condiments, additional ingredients to burgers, the sauces and the dressings, that make our meals fantastic memories. Here are a few you should try out.
Homemade spicy mayo
Spicy mayo goes with fries, burgers, hot dogs and pretty much anything. Slice some red chili and start to gently fry it in a frying pan. Use a little vegetable oil instead of olive oil so you get a full hit of the chili. Then add some lemon juice to bring out the spice that’s sometimes locked in and doesn’t want to come out. Throw in some spicy seasoning that you like, such as Cajun spicy mix, paprika, cayenne pepper or even Mexican spicy mixes. Now scrape all the mixture into a bowl of mayonnaise but don’t add in any of the oil that’s in the frying pan. Mixture thoroughly and you will have a naturally red, spicy mayo sauce. This goes well with tacos, burritos, wraps, chicken wings, hot dogs and fries to name a few.
Making your burger special
Burgers can be surprisingly plain when you don’t add in some extras. Try adding some pickled red onions which you can make at home. Just put some circular sliced red onions into a jar of apple cider vinegar. You didn’t think it was that simple did you? The apple cider vinegar has to be slightly warmed after you put in some kosher salt, peppercorns, sugar and one clove of garlic. Stir this mixture very well, and then take it off the low heat. Allow it to cool down and then start adding the red onions. Seal the jar up and leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. However, since they are pickled, you can leave them in there for weeks on end. Add these are your burger and you get a rich spicy yet sweet hit of onions, that makes every bite better.
Cheesy and spicy
Cheesy jalapeños are definitely something that goes well with your hot dog. All you need is to buy them fresh and then stuff them with your favorite cheese. You need to keep the stalks on top so the cheese is allowed to melt inside. For best results, stick them on the grill so they get slightly charred on the outside. However, you can bake them and add some extra cheese on top for more pleasure. You can also cut them in half and stuff them so you get more mileage out of your peppers.
Barbecue food just wouldn’t be the same without these kinds of extras. The pickled red onions go well with just about anything, even salads. Try the spicy mayo with your fries next time!
