7 Barbecue Finds to Take Your Grilling Up a Notch
There's a moment every summer when the smell of the first barbecue drifts over the garden fence and you realise the season has properly arrived. And while a good bit of meat and a hot grill will always be the heart of it, it's the sauces, rubs, marinades and seasonings that turn a decent barbecue into one people talk about for weeks afterwards.
Finding brilliant independent producers is what I do - I spend my days seeking out the small-batch, artisan makers doing super exciting things with flavour. These seven are the ones I keep reaching for when the coals are lit, and a few of them featured in my BBQ Lovers tasting at the Good Food Show Summer, where they went down a treat. Here's my pick of the finds that earn their place on the grill.
Taishon - Sweet & Spicy Korean Sauce
Perfect as a dip, a marinade, or a last-minute glaze on the barbecue, this brings that unmistakable sweet, gochujang-style Korean chilli flavour. It's the kind of sauce that adds instant depth without any effort - brush it on towards the end of grilling and let it catch and caramelise.
https://www.taishon.co.uk/products/taishon-korean-sweet-and-spicy-sauce
The Little Sutton Spice Company - Steakhouse Burger Spice
Mix this through minced beef for a perfectly seasoned homemade burger — the kind that has the neighbours poking their heads over the fence to find out what smells so good. Making your own burgers is one of the easiest ways to lift a barbecue, and the right seasoning is what separates a good one from a forgettable one.
https://www.littlesuttonspice.co.uk/
Back2Roots - Smoked Sea Salt
All-natural, hand-harvested sea salt smoked over beechwood for 150 hours. It brings incredible smoky depth to just about anything — it tastes like the most amazing bacon. A pinch over grilled vegetables, corn on the cob or a finished steak works wonders, and it's the sort of ingredient you'll find yourself using long after barbecue season ends.
Gingerbeard Preserves - Jerk Rum BBQ Sauce
Fruity, fiery and full of proper Caribbean jerk flavour, all in one convenient BBQ sauce. If you like a bit of heat with real character behind it — rather than heat for its own sake — this is one to keep in the cupboard.
https://gingerbeardspreserves.co.uk/product/jerk-rum-bbq-sauce/
Dust Bros - BBQ Banger
My go-to for seasoning meats before grilling or slow cooking. I rub this on before slow-cooking ribs or brisket for an extra level of flavour. Low-and-slow cooking rewards a good rub more than almost anything, and this one delivers every time.
https://dustbros.co/products/bbq-banger
Makan Malaysia - Satay Marinade (plus their Peanut Sauce!)
Did you know satay actually means seasoned, skewered and grilled meat and not the peanut sauce we've come to associate it with? Marinate your chicken in this gorgeous nut-free authenitic Malaysian marinade, then serve with their peanut sauce for dipping. It's brilliant on the barbecue but just as good for a midweek dinner - either way, you'll thank me later. Kat and Su are fantastic Malaysian caterers and just had to jar their fantastic sauces as they were so popular!
https://makanmalaysia.co.uk/products/satay-marinade
Botree UK - Herb de Kampot Seasoning
The Harrods Grill sprinkle this on their £180 wagyu steak — and if it's good enough for Harrods, it's good enough for my barbecue. It also takes so many other things up a few notches: fish pie, lasagne, soups and beyond. A proper magic blend of salt and spice, and one of those finds that quietly becomes a kitchen staple.
https://botreefarm.co.uk/shop/herbdekampot
Ready, set, barbecue!
You don't need to overhaul your entire barbecue to make it memorable often it's one brilliant sauce or a well-chosen rub that does the work. Every one of these comes from a small, independent producer pouring real care into what they make, which is exactly the sort of food worth championing.
If you'd like more finds like these landing in your inbox — plus first word on my seasonal tasting boxes and live events — do consider subscribing to Fabulous Food Finds. There's always something new worth tasting.
Keep finding fabulous things!
Katy x
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