bbq partners - herbs

Outdoor living on a warm summer day is not complete without a BBQ. Whether it’s fish, meat or vegetarian food being prepared, the addition of freshly picked herbs will enhance their flavour exponentially.

Herbs grow well in pots, barrels, urns, window boxes and hanging baskets.

Parsley

,

thyme

,

marjoram

and

oregano

grow well together, tumbling and spilling out from hanging baskets, thriving in sunlight.

Mints

can be mixed together, dark green

spearmint

, variegated

apple mint

,

pineapple mint

, golden

ginger mint

and

basil mint

thrive together but should be contained in ample pots or hangers, in a sheltered position to keep them from growing out of control. Don’t plant them into the garden unless you have plenty of space as they’ll soon become invasive.

If you don’t use mint in your cooking, add a sprig to your favourite summer drink. Why not try a traditional Mint Cooler?

2-3 tsp sugar mixed with crushed ice to fill the glass, freshly chopped spearmint leaves, topped with lemonade or -  if you are not driving - a couple of nips of your favourite bourbon or brandy. A wonderful drink on a hot summers night!
 
For more traditional cooking, a large tub of

rosemary

will be useful to improve the flavour of lamb chops. The fresh grey leaves of

sage

enhance the flavour of chicken and nothing can compete with the flavour of freshly chopped

basil

as an addition to barbequed

tomatoes

and

vegetables

.

For Asian cuisine,

lemon grass

is flavourful and decorative, with a modern strapped leafed appearance. Lacy leafed

coriander

, tiny scarlet

chillies

,

Thai basil

,

garlic chives

and

Vietnamese mint

are great to have on hand.

Herb planters can be aesthetically appealing and quite useful. Mix and match your favourite flavours. Ensure the use of a premium potting mix when planting up your containers. All herbs need regular water, good air circulation, plenty of sun, and lots of food to keep them growing well - the more they grow the more you can harvest. And finally, keep your herb pots close to the BBQ for easy picking as you need them.

Related articles:
Talking Herbs with Celebrity Chef Pete Evans
BBQ Prawns w/Avocado Salsa recipe/video by Pete Evans