Spice up your grill with these BBQ sauces

Temperatures are heating up, and it’s time to get saucy! Whether you're grilling meat or going vegan, you can amp up the flavor with a delicious, nutritious marinade. And while there are plenty of ready-made versions available, nothing beats the taste of homemade.

Customize your marinades to be as fiery or as sweet as you crave, and rest assured knowing the ingredients are as healthy as they come.

Check out these 3 versatile recipes that pair perfectly with just about anything on the BBQ. Make swaps and adjust as you need to craft the ultimate sauce that matches your taste.

If you’re looking for that BBQ wow factor, this coconut and chili marinade is it. Combining the creaminess of coconut with a spicy chili kick, this sauce is perfect for chicken or juicy king prawns.

Ingredients

• 20 ml coconut milk
• 30 ml coconut cream
• 45 ml soy sauce
• 45 ml honey
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 to 2 chopped red chilies (adjust to desired spicy level)
• 5 g of grated ginger
• 5 g ground coriander
• 5 g turmeric powder
• 5 g ground cumin
• Handful of fresh, chopped coriander leaves
• Salt and pepper for seasoning

Method

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the coconut cream and coconut milk.
2. Add the soy sauce, lime juice, and honey and mix well.
3. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and chilies, and then add the cumin, ground coriander, and turmeric powder. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
4. Stir in the fresh coriander leaves.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Place your choice of meat (chicken thighs, chicken breast, or prawns) into a large resealable plastic bag.
7. Pour over the marinade, making sure all the meat is well coated.
8. Seal the bag for at least 2 hours but for the ultimate flavour, overnight.
9. Just before you’re about to BBQ the meat, remove it from the bag, shake off any excess marinade, grill, and enjoy!

Apple sauce is the ultimate pairing for pork chops, enhanced with natural sweetness from maple syrup for a healthier twist. It’s also fantastic with pork burgers.

Ingredients

• 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into chunks
• 100 ml water
• 30 ml maple syrup (you can use honey if you’d prefer)
• 15 ml apple cider vinegar
• 5 g fresh, finely chopped thyme leaves
• 5 g fresh, finely chopped rosemary
• 5 g fresh, finely chopped sage
• A pinch of salt and pepper

Method

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, add the chopped apples and water.
2. Bring the mix to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and cover the pan, simmering for 15 to 20 minutes, until the apples are soft and tender.
3. Remove from heat and leave to cool for a few minutes.
4. Use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples to your preferred consistency. The sauce works both with a smooth or chunky texture, so it’s up to you!
5. Next, stir in the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, thyme, rosemary, and sage. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
6. Cook the sauce on low heat for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
7. Taste and adjust the sweetness or seasoning to your liking.
8. Remove the sauce from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
9. Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature.

Tofu on its own may be bland, but this vegan-friendly recipe delivers BIG flavor and is sure to become your BBQ superstar. It combines sweet, savory, and tangy notes—a perfect match for summer grilling. Moreover, this versatile marinade works wonders with vegetable skewers. Simply toss your favorite veggies and tofu in a plastic bag, add the marinade, let it sit for an hour, then assemble and grill to perfection.

Ingredients

• 100 ml of olive oil
• 50 ml vegan-friendly soy sauce
• 45 ml maple syrup
• 2 minced, garlic cloves
• 15 g freshly grated ginger
• 30 ml apple cider vinegar
• 15 g Dijon mustard
• 5 g smoked paprika powder
• 5 g ground cumin
• 5 g dried oregano
• 2.5 g ground black pepper
• Zest and juice of 1 lime
• Small bunch of freshly chopped parsley
• Small bunch of freshly chopped coriander

Method

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
2. Add the garlic, ginger, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, and black pepper.
3. Stir in the lime juice and zest.
4. Add the freshly chopped herbs and mix well until combined.

To marinade

• Choose your veggies and/or tofu and add them to a large, resealable plastic bag.
• Pour in the marinade.
• Seal the bag and make sure all the contents are well coated.
• Leave in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to infuse.
• Assemble on skewers or grill as they are on the grill.

Get ready to fire up the BBQ and bid farewell to bland meat. Swap ordinary for homemade showstoppers with marinades guaranteed to elevate any meat or veg to perfection. What’s more, you’ll be able to stay on track with these healthier alternatives – and that’s the real chef’s kiss.