Fired up for summer: Pointers to put some thrill into what’s on your grill

As spring turns into summer, millions of Americans will rush outdoors to light up a grill in celebration.

Take some simple steps before, during and after the party to minimize any hangover, gastronomic or otherwise. Here are some simple do’s and don’ts from experts who know how to prevent the most common grilling mishaps.

1. Read or reread the owner’s manual for your grill, says Leslie Wheeler, spokeswoman for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, a trade association based in Arlington, Va. Pay particular attention to the manufacturer’s safety hints.

2. Give the grill a thorough inspection and cleaning. “Make sure the legs are sturdy, that things haven’t rusted out, the vents are working properly and the burners are clean,” Wheeler says. With gas grills, make sure there are no holes or leaks in any hoses, that the hoses are properly hooked up and all connections work properly.

3. Use care in positioning the grill. “Lots of people put the grill outside the back door but, really, is that the best place?” Wheeler asks. Grills need to be out of high-traffic areas so children and pets won’t bump into them. Ideally, the grill should be at least 10 feet away from the house to reduce fire risk. If you live in a condominium or apartment building, make sure grilling is permitted and know what type of grills are allowed.

4. Pay attention when lighting the grill. Open the hood before igniting a gas grill to vent any fumes that may be gathering there, Wheeler says. Don’t pour additional lighter fluid on coals after they’re lit; you risk a big flare-up.

5. Watch chicken especially. “People are terrified the chicken will be undercooked, so they leave it on too long or on too high a flame,” says Cheryl Jamison, co-author with her husband, Bill, of “100 Grilling Recipes You Can’t Live Without” (Harvard Common Press, $16.95). “You get a charred surface and chicken sushi inside.” Chicken should be grilled over medium heat, Bill adds.

6. Stay focused: “We get frustrated when we see people not sticking with the food,” Bill Jamison says. “They’re going away, getting a beer, drinking a beer, while the food cooks without them paying any attention to the time or the temperature.”

7. Don’t move the food about. Put it on the grill, let it get a good sear on both sides, then move the food to more moderate heat to cook through, say the Jamisons. Searing eliminates the risk of food sticking to the grill, Cheryl Jamison says.

8. Don’t press the burgers onto the grill. “All the juices will run out,” Cheryl Jamison says.

9. Never sauce too soon. “Most sauces on the market are ketchup-based, and there’s sugar in them,” says Myron Mixon, author of “Everyday Barbecue” (Ballantine, $24) and a judge on the reality television series “BBQ Pitmasters.” “The sugars caramelize and start burning.”

He recommends applying sauce to food at the end of the grilling time or serving the sauce in a bowl at the table. If you want to dab something on the food as it cooks, Mixon, who lives in Unadilla, Ga., recommends an old Southern trick, a mop made of vinegar, salt and red pepper flakes. “Use it for basting, for flavor and for keeping the food from burning,” he says.

10. Practice, practice, practice. Mixon says you should try out any unfamiliar grill recipe a few times before adding it to your party lineup.

11. Clean the grill while it’s still hot: The work will go faster, Wheeler

says. Use a sturdy brush to get any food residue off the grill rack. Make sure the gas is turned off before closing the grill lid. Close the grill vents so a charcoal fire dies out quickly; you should be able to reuse some of the coals next time, she says.

Bodacious Barbecued Chicken Breasts

Prep: 20 minutes

Marinate: 20 minutes

Cook: 15-22 minutes

Servings: 4

Note: In their “100 Grilling Recipes You Can’t Live Without,” Bill and Cheryl Jamison describe this dish as a “fool-proof version of the all-American backyard classic: juicy chicken coated in sauce with a few charred and chewy edges.” Their secret? Using boneless, skinless breasts pounded to an even thickness so all portions are cooked through at the same time.

Barbecue sauce:

1 cup ketchup

1⁄4 cup molasses

2 tablespoons each of packed brown sugar, butter

11⁄2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons yellow mustard

1 teaspoon onion powder

1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

1⁄4 teaspoon each of freshly ground black pepper, chili powder

1⁄2 cup water

3 to 4 tablespoons bourbon

Chicken:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 7 ounces each), pounded to 1⁄2 inch thick

1⁄2 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

1. Combine the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, butter, Worcestershire, mustard, onion powder, salt, pepper, chili powder and water in a medium saucepan; heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to a bare simmer; cook until thickened lightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the bourbon; simmer 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; set aside about half of the sauce to serve with the chicken at the table.

2. Place the chicken in a zip-top plastic bag; pour the Worcestershire over it. Add the oil and salt; seal the bag. Toss back and forth to coat the chicken evenly. Let sit at room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Fire up the grill, bringing the temperature to medium. (You should be able to hold your hand over the grill for 4 to 5 seconds.)

4. Drain the chicken, discarding the marinade; blot any moisture on the surface with a paper towel.

5. Grill, uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes total. Turn three times, rotating the breasts a half-turn each time for crisscross grill marks. After each side of the chicken has faced the fire once, begin brushing the sauce over the breasts. The chicken is ready when it is white throughout but still juicy and the sauce is a bit chewy and caramelized in spots. If you wish, leave the chicken on the grill an extra minute or two to get a slightly crusty surface.

6. Serve the breasts whole or thickly sliced and mounded on a platter. Pass the reserved sauce on the side.

Nutrition information:

Per serving: 294 calories, 7 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 102 milligrams cholesterol, 20 grams carbohydrates, 35 grams protein, 707 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fiber.

Coconut-Marinated Pork Tenderloin With Green Onions and Peanuts

Prep: 25 minutes

Marinate: 3 to 8 hours

Cook: 20 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

Note: A Caribbean-influenced recipe from “Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction“ (Clarkson Potter, $35), by Bobby Flay with Stephanie Banyas and Sally Jackson.

1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk

Grated zest of 2 limes

Juice of 2 limes

1 heaping tablespoon mild curry powder

2 teaspoons mild Spanish paprika

6 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 Scotch bonnet chili, chopped, or 2 tablespoons Scotch bonnet hot sauce

1⁄4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

2 pork tenderloins, 1 pound each, trimmed of excess fat

2 tablespoons oil

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

4 green onions, halved lengthwise, finely chopped

1⁄2 cup coarsely chopped roasted unsalted peanuts

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1⁄8 teaspoon ground allspice

Hot sauce

1. Combine the coconut milk, lime zest, lime juice, curry powder, paprika, garlic, ginger, Scotch bonnet chili and black pepper in a bowl. Add the pork; turn to coat in the marinade. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 8 hours.

2. Heat your grill to high for indirect grilling. Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking; pat dry with paper towels.

3. Brush the pork with the oil; season with 1⁄4 teaspoon salt or more to taste. Put the pork directly over the heat; grill, turning as needed, until charred on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove to the cooler part of the grill (indirect heat); cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 150 degrees, about 12 minutes.

4. Transfer pork to a platter; tent loosely with foil. Let rest 10 minutes.

5. Combine the green onions, peanuts, cilantro and allspice in a bowl; season with remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon salt or to taste.

6. Slice the pork across the grain into 1⁄2-inch-thick slices. Sprinkle with the green onion-peanut topping; serve with hot sauce.

Nutrition information:

Per serving (for 6 servings): 251 calories, 16 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 56 milligrams cholesterol, 5 grams carbohydrates, 24 grams protein, 437 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.

Spicy Salmon Burgers

Prep: 15 minutes

Chill: 1 hour

Cook: 4 minutes

Servings: 2 to 4 burgers

Note: A recipe from “Everyday Barbecue” (Ballantine, $24), by Myron Mixon with Kelly Alexander. Mixon, billed as the “winningest man in competitive barbecue” and a judge on the reality television series “BBQ Pitmasters,” recommends chilling the salmon patties for one hour before grilling for easier handling. “Take special care not to overcook them: Juiciness is the key to a good salmon burger,” he notes.

1 pound skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon each of fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard

1⁄4 cup chopped green onions

1 garlic clove, minced

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper

1⁄2 cup prepared tartar sauce

1 tablespoon fresh dill

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, optional

2 to 4 sesame seed rolls, split

Red onion slices

4 to 8 Bibb lettuce leaves

1. Place the salmon, egg, lemon juice and mustard in a food processor; pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer the mixture to a bowl; mix in the green onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Gently form into two to four 1⁄2-inch-thick patties. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.

2. Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat. Meanwhile, whisk together the tartar sauce, dill and lemon zest in a bowl.

3. Grill the rolls until toasted; transfer to plates. Spread the bottom halves generously with the enhanced tartar sauce. Grill the salmon patties uncovered until the fish is cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Place the burgers atop the sauce on the rolls. Top each with onion slices, 2 lettuce leaves and the top half of each roll.

Nutrition information: Per serving (for 4 servings): 609 calories, 27 grams fat, 9 grams saturated fat, 188 milligrams cholesterol, 57 grams carbohydrates, 31 grams protein, 832 milligrams sodium, 1 grams fiber.

Categories: Food