Independence Day BBQ Recipes

Cooking out on Independence Day is traditional and fun. If you are thinking of cooking out this July Fourth, you might be wondering what kind of food should you serve, or if you should have a theme. Here are some ideas for foods and meals for an Independence Day barbecue.

1. Main course

There is nothing wrong with going strictly traditional here – burger, hotdogs, and steaks are fine and uncomplicated. But if you want to get a bit creative, try some of these main course ideas.

* Multi-cultural kabobs – If you want to have a multi-cultural theme, or just celebrate the American melting pot, try grilling kabobs in various flavors.

For an Asian flavor, the kabobs could include chunks of chicken, bell peppers, and onions with a soy sauce or teriyaki marinade/baste. Greek kabobs could have grilled chicken and onion chunks flavored with lemon juice, olive oil, and Greek herbs, and put on the skewer with grape tomatoes and topped with feta cheese.

Make Hawaiian kabobs with chunks of pineapple and ham, served with Macadamia nuts. For Middle Eastern-style kabobs, use garlic and lamb with spices like curry and cumin. Kabobs are a great way to serve multi-cultural flavors in one barbecue.

* Ribs – Barbecued ribs are a traditional American favorite for the Fourth of July. Baste them well with sauce if you like, and serve with grilled corn.

* Pork Barbecue – If you don’t want to grill ribs, you can grill a pork roast, then carve it up and serve it with barbecue sauce on buns.

2. Vegetables

Grilled vegetables are really special. You can grill just about any veggie, but for Independence Day, why not focus on American veggies like potatoes and corn? (While corn is a grain, it is usually served as a vegetable at your average barbecue.)

Before grilling, toss potato wedges in oil, salt and pepper. Lay them on the grill and cook until they are browned. Corn really does not need any particular flavoring during grilling – just lay shucked ears on the grill and turn them often. Brush with melted butter when done.

3. Dessert

Apple pie, of course, is traditional American fare, and presenting one at a barbecue will undoubtedly please your guests. There are other creative ideas for desserts, too.

* Dip fruit in melted white chocolate. Then melt more white chocolate and divide it into two portions. Color one portion red and the other blue, then drizzle over the white chocolate-dipped fruit.

* Mix mini marshmallows with blueberries and strawberries for a sweet fruit salad.

* Watermelon served alone makes a great dessert, or you could dress it up a bit by carving it into a basket shape and filling it with fruit.

* Make a fruit pizza using vanilla cookie dough (press into a circular pizza pan, bake and cool), cream cheese icing, and blueberries and strawberries. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.