Rosie Mackean’s make-ahead barbecue menu
This make-ahead barbecue menu from entertaining expert Rosie Mackean includes an easy prep-ahead starter, a crowdpleasing chicken main and a gloriously retro summer dessert. Best of all, you can prep most of the menu ahead using Rosie’s clever time plan, leaving you spending less time manning the barbecue and more time with your guests.
Rosie’s make-ahead barbecue menu for 6
Charred courgette dip with flatbreads
Light the barbecue a while before guests arrive and char the courgettes, then bring the dip together just before people walk through the door. Make the dough the night before, then cook the flatbreads on the barbecue – they’ll stay soft in a tea towel.
Marinated chicken chops with chimichurri
I discovered chicken chops a couple of summers ago and haven’t looked back. Essentially you take a chicken leg, then debone the drumstick and most of the thigh, leaving the meat attached on one side so it looks like a chop. This is a little fiddly, but it’s such a good way to get a quick, even cook on grilled chicken – plus you have extra surface area for a nice spicy rub to soak in.
Cherries jubilee
This is an excellent way to use the season’s best cherries for a wonderful pudding. Cherries jubilee is a simple thing – cherries are flambéed in brandy and turned into a luscious sauce for ice cream. Here we’re grilling our cherries on the barbecue until blistered and smoky, then using them for the sauce. It’s a great end to a barbecue.
Rosie’s get-ahead barbecue time plan
Here’s a handy plan so you can get ahead, avoid stress and enjoy time with your barbecue guests.
Next: see Rosie’s Spanish-inspired dinner menu, including a showstopping seafood main and a Spanish comfort-food classic for pudding.