Then Pfizer came out with the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, and I traded low fat writing for barbecue.
As it turns out, live fire cooking is actually one of the healthiest cooking methods around: unlike frying or sautéing, food doesn’t require the addition of oil or butter or other fats.
On the contrary, the high heat of the grill melts out the naturally-occurring fats in meat and other proteins. For example, research conducted by the magazine Cooking Light Magazine found that a 4-ounce burger made of 80/20 ground beef lost 33 percent of its fat when grilled.
There’s another benefit to grilling and smoking: vegetables retain antioxidants and nutrients that are lost when they’re boiled, poached, or braised.
But most important of all, food cooked over live fire not only looks more appetizing, but tastes better, too. Bottom line: better tasting healthy food makes you more likely to keep your resolution to eat more healthily in the coming year.
Oh, I knew there are a few naysayers out there who complain that grilling generates carcinogens. Burnt food may contain carcinogens, but here in this community, we grill our food, not burn it.
Cooking food with live fire was the most important invention in human history, and it’s how our ancestors and we have cooked for nearly 2 million years. if it were truly dangerous, we wouldn’t be here.
To help you eat more healthily in the coming year, here are five great recipes that emphasize flavor over fat. Grill on!
5 Healthy Barbecue Recipes
The Real Turkish Shish Kebab
Contrary to American versions of the dish, Turkish shish kebab rarely comes with vegetables on the same skewer as the meat. Rather, the vegetables are grilled on separate skewers, so each can be cooked the proper length of time.
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Shepherd’s Tacos with Chicken and Green Sauce
Shepherd’s Tacos with Chicken and Green Sauce bring together layers of marinated chicken, onions, and pineapple, slow-cooked on a Trompo spit for tender, smoky flavor. The chicken is seasoned with a zesty, tomatillo-based marinade that blends lime, poblano peppers, and a hint of spice for a fresh, bold taste. Served in warm tortillas with salsa, cilantro, and lime, these tacos are a vibrant take on a classic dish, perfect for a gathering or a special meal.
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Thai Grilled Beef Salad
This electrifying beef salad is one of the glories of Thai cuisine: all fresh herbs and chili hellfire. We’re going to give it a smoky dimension by grilling the beef over cherry wood. You don’t normally think of barbecue as health food, but the high proportion of vegetables to this intensely flavored steak definitely makes for healthy eating. It’s a great salad for summer and a very healthy way to eat beef.
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Planked Salmon with Lemon Mustard Glaze
Long before cedar planks started turning up on American grills, nineteenth-century chefs cooked fish on oak planks in the oven. Even earlier, the Indians of coastal Connecticut nailed shad fillets to boards that they stood in front of a campfire. All of which is to say that the “new” technique of planked fish dates back centuries, and that you don’t need a grill to enjoy it.
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Check out our 1000+ Recipes section here on Barbecue Bible.Com
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