As the unpredictable British weather starts to improve it provides the perfect opportunity to give the back yard a quick tidy, dust off the BBQ and invite a few of your uni friends round for a party. So, to give you some pointers we have asked Studenthq Lettings in Lancaster for their top tips for arranging the perfect student house BBQ.
The basics
It’s probably worth pointing out before you go any further that if you really can’t be bothered, you can pop down to your nearest supermarket and pick up all your ingredients;
- beef burgers
- thick sausages
- bread buns
- cheese slices
- ketchup
- salad
- loose tomatoes
- drinks.
However, if you’re prepared to put in a little more effort then it’s possible to produce some pretty tasty barbecued food without hitting your wallet too hard.
Preparing the outside space
There really isn’t much point organising a BBQ at your student house if the yard or garden is piled high with overflowing bin bags and discarded cigarette ends! So your first priority should be to do a spot of tidying up to ensure the space is in a respectable condition before your uni friends arrive. Removing rubbish bags, sweeping up and arranging a few chairs can make the world of difference and is guaranteed to make your BBQ party all the more enjoyable.
Equipment
Once you have got the outside space looking spick and span the next job is to sort out the BBQ equipment you will need. You can either purchase a cheap disposable BBQ from your local supermarket or if you are feeling flush you might decide to club together with your housemates and buy something better that can be used again. Our advice would be to buy a better BBQ, despite the unpredictable British weather you are guaranteed to use it more than once this year.
You might also want to invest in a pair of stainless steel barbecue tongs to help prevent any nasty burns. For a couple of quid you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of these whether it’s flipping quarter pounders on the barbie or for turning your bacon on the stove.
If you’re having a few guests it may be worth using disposable plates and cutlery. This way it saves time on washing and ensures (once you’ve accounted for those light-fingered or just plain clumsy guests) you will have something to eat off for the rest of the year! Most major supermarkets offer a range of cheap disposable products including paper plates, napkins and plastic cups.
Meat
Now we’re in business. In an ideal world you would pop down to the local butchers and pick up some lovely lean beef burgers, an assortment of kebabs and some succulent sausages. Failing this however, there’s always a butcher or deli counter in your local supermarket, so why not check out some lesser known cuts…
Alternative cuts
Chicken: Breast is not always best and definitely not a cheap alternative! If you want to maximise value for money then why not buy a whole chicken and cut it up into portions yourself. With a little bit of work you will have a whole range of tasty cuts to enjoy. Throw on the grill over a medium heat, brush with some barbecue sauce and enjoy the finger licking flavour.
Note: Always be careful to ensure that chicken is fully cooked before serving as you don’t want to serve up a dose of food poisoning!
Ribs: Pork and beef ribs are a cheap BBQ staple. It’s worth bearing in mind that at least half the weight of a rack of ribs is bone so take fewer bones for the price if you can find it. Also look for ribs with a decent meat to fat ratio.
Beef Burgers: Mince is cheap so why not make your own burgers rather than buying them ready made. If you make your own burgers, handle them as little as possible, and you will have a great burger every time. Avoid making your burger patties too thick; this requires a longer cooking time meaning a dryer burger and you won’t get as many burgers out of your mince.
Pork Shoulder: This is one of the cheapest cuts of meat and offers great value for money when cooking on a tight student budget. Pork shoulder is best slow cooked to ensure it is tender so perhaps consider slow cooking it in the oven for a few hours at a low temperature before transferring it to the barbecue to achieve that fantastic chargrilled flavour.
Steaks: Steaks don’t need to be expensive! There are many expensive cuts out there if you are feeling flush but there are also a few cheaper cuts to suit a student budget, with chuck eye steak the best. They aren’t as tender as their more expensive cousins and will benefit from a good marinade.
Veggie
For those of you not keen on the meaty options here are some veggie alternatives:
Haloumi: This salty cheese is a brilliant Greek offering that tastes truly amazing. Sliced thinly with a dusting of flour, you can whack it straight on the barbie for a great meat alternative. Serve in a pitta or roll with salad. Alternatively it can be cut into cubes and added to a kebab with roasted pepper, tomatoes and courgettes.
Roasted peppers and Feta: Feta also tastes great in a kebab, but is even better stuffed inside a pepper – add some pesto and we’re really talking. Wrap in some foil with a dash of olive oil and some oregano and everything will melt into a salty bomb of flavour.
Sides
Dose up your guests with some scrummy sides and they won’t even realise they haven’t gorged themselves on gourmet burgers or a spit-roasted pig.
Carbohydrates are cheap and filling. A good potato salad never goes a miss: boil potatoes, add spring onion and a dollop of mayo and you’re done! However, you might want to use your BBQ to cook your carbs. There’s nothing like toast on a barbie, any bread will do but seeing as it’s so cheap anyway; go for a nice tiger loaf or French stick. Drizzle olive oil on top to make bruschetta, or add pesto for a really tasty treat.
Tomatoes and melted cheese are equally as delightful and (if you’re feeling really creative) crush some garlic into butter, smother inside your stick and cook in tin foil to make your own garlic bread.
Homemade coleslaw: So much nicer than shop bought. Simply cut up a cabbage, two or three onions and grate four large carrots. Mix together with mayo and Bob’s your uncle, a cheap and cheery accompaniment to your meal.
Grilled Vegetables: Sounds simple and it is simple. You don’t need to go crazy. Stick with the ingredients for your veggie kebabs: grilled courgette, pepper, and tomatoes. To spruce them up shove some cloves of garlic in your pepper and a slosh of olive oil and balsamic vinegar before wrapping up in foil and cooking until soft. Just whacking them on the grill and adding this dressing after will do just as well though.
Dessert
You’re probably not going to have room for dessert after all that food but if you fancy something sweet then why not pop a banana on the BBQ! This makes a very tasty dessert, especially if you sprinkle on some sugar so it caramelises. As you’ve been cooking meat on the barbie it’s best to avoid putting them directly onto the grill so make sure you wrap them in some foil. You could whip up some cream to go with them or serve with ice cream if you prefer.
By the time you read this there’s a very strong possibility that it will have started raining! Don’t be put off though, another bright spell could be just round the corner and you now have all the info you need to take advantage! So stoke up those flames and get grilling!
This article was written by Peter Mercer – Owner of StudentHQ Lettings – a local student lettings business located in Lancaster. Peter is an expert in the property industry and has over 10 years’ experience renting to students.
Image credit: David Holm/123rf.com