The Beauties of Barbecue — Summer Soiree
Tara Donne
When it comes to barbecue, one size most certainly does not fit all. For some, it’s all about nibbling smoky ribs from the bone. For others, a pulled pork sandwich doused in barbecue sauce is where it’s at. And as far as regional differences go (from the Carolinas to Tennessee to Texas), don’t even get us started. This week, conjure your inner grill master with the forerunners of backyard barbecuing.
Pork Ribs
For a barbecue phenomenon that needs no utensils, ribs are always the answer. But the question remains: Will you have yours wet or dry? Cooked indirectly for hours on end, the Neelys’ Wet BBQ Ribs are dripping with a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce.
For those in the dry school of thought, there’s Kansas City-Style Pork Ribs, which encrusts the ribs with a dry rub of spices for a dose of pure barbecue.
2012 Food Network
Brisket
Bobby Flay’s Smoked BBQ Brisket leaves the grill crusty on the outside and oh so tender on the inside. Maybe it’s from slow smoking it for hours on end, or maybe it’s from the dark beer-based mop he bastes it with every half-hour. (It’s definitely from both.)
Pulled Pork
Smoked until it reaches a new state of matter, pulled pork is a barbecued meat with a smokehouse following for a reason. Pile it on hamburger buns with coleslaw for the Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
Smoked Fish
Rather than buying from a plastic pack, home smoke your salmon for legendary results. Alton Brown rubs his Smoked Salmon with brown sugar before slowly smoking it. From there, whether you load it on a bagel with schmear is up to you.
Yunhee Kim
Pork Belly
As a fatty boneless cut, pork belly needs little love to reach a sumptuous status. Food Network Magazine’s Glazed Pork Belly with Ginger Barbecue Sauce results in a caramelized exterior, and an interior that barely requires a knife.
Barbecue Chicken
Solid barbecue chicken takes more than a hit on the grill. For Beer Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce, sit your bird on top of an open can of beer on the grill. Believe it or not, it’ll keep things tender and smoky.
With these how-tos in your back pocket, it’s easier to achieve fall-apart, smoky, carnivorous goodness than ever before. For more barbecue inspiration, make your way to Food Network.