No matter which holiday traditions you celebrate this time of year, the season is filled with comfort, joy and moments that bring people together.
Festive decorations, familiar music and gatherings with friends and family create a sense of warmth – but it’s often around the holiday table where those connections truly come to life.
Typically, the centrepiece meal is prepared indoors, where kitchens can quickly become crowded with guests popping in and out. But no matter the changes in weather, there’s a compelling case to take your holiday cooking outdoors to the backyard grill. Doing so reduces the bustle in your kitchen and introduces a whole new flavour experience to your holiday menu.
“Your backyard BBQ delivers a level of heat, flavor and versatility no kitchen oven can touch,” says Garry Scott, Vice President of Marketing at Napoleon. “Cooking over the open flame of a barbecue adds new flavors and a whole new experience to your traditional holiday feast that won’t soon be forgotten.”
Napoleon’s recipe blog is loaded with great ideas and inspiration for meals on the grill. Here are a few selections to level up some holiday table staples on the grill this season:
- Main Course – The barbecue rotisserie was made for just this type of meal. A butter-injected turkey slowly rotating over the grill results in a golden, buttery bird that is sure to impress. Injected with a butter-honey mixture, the meat is tender and juicy with a skin that is crisp and flavourful. This technique is foolproof for a perfect turkey every time.
- Side – There are countless ways to do up potatoes on the grill. With a turkey, plank smoked mashed is a favourite. You can boil and mash the potatoes the day before, the use an ice cream scoop to place them on a cedar plank and grill over indirect heat until warm and golden on the outside.
- Vegetables — No need to get overly complicated with the vegetables. A simple touch of the grill brings out a nice char and smoky flavour. Season them with a bit of oil and herbs and either place them right on the grill or use a grill wok. One thing to keep in mind – not all veggies will cook at the same rate. A carrot will take longer than a pepper, for example, so plan your grill accordingly.
- Drink — Lean into Canada’s northern heritage with a maple syrup-infused twist on a classic cocktail. The Maple Roch Old Fashioned is the perfect blend of fire and sweetness. Swap out the simple syrup for Maple Roch Dark Maple Syrup to mellow and enhance the vanilla and spices of your quality Canadian whisky, and give the orange peel a kiss of the grill for added smoky flavours.
- Dessert — Around the holidays, the barbecue can be more than just the star of the main course – it can steal the show for dessert, too. The classic four-ingredient shortbread recipe proves just how versatile your grill can be. Get creative with chocolate, sprinkles, bacon, toffee or bright citrus zest, then bake it all on the barbecue using the Napoleon Baking Stone and parchment. With a little patience, you’ll have perfectly golden, melt-in-your-mouth holiday shortbreads ready for sharing, gifting or keeping all to yourself.
For more information, please visit Napoleon | Recipes.