Putting an Asian Twist on the British BBQ

August 09, 2017

Barbecuing never gets old, but if you’re looking for alternatives to sausages and burgers, or perhaps you’d like to make this year even more memorable, why not add a bit of Asian style?

Great-tasting Japanese street food cooked teppanyaki style is easier to achieve than you might think and it’s perfect for impressing your friends and family this BBQ season.

Invented in 1945 by a Japanese restaurant chain, teppanyaki - which involves cooking on an iron griddle - is relatively ‘new’ compared to Japan’s ancient traditional cuisines. It quickly became popular with foreigners, who found the food more familiar than sushi and enjoyed watching the artistry of the teppanyaki chefs.

Teppanyaki is a lighter option to the traditional burger bun or hotdog, perfect for those rare hot days and suitable for those on gluten-free diets. There are many dishes suitable for vegetarians too, meaning you don’t have to worry about catering separately for your veggie friends.

To get started with your teppanyaki BBQ you’ll need a non-stick hot plate for a variety of dishes. Frying meat on your hot plate is known as Yakiniku and is the most common form of teppanyaki. The difference to a traditional BBQ is the range of meats and odd cuts, marinated in a Yakinuku sauce. But anything cooked in a ‘teppan’ or on a hot plate can be called teppanyaki; this includes eggs, pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables.

Vegetable teppanyaki is a simple dish and easy to prepare. It can be any mixture of cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, capsicum, courgettes, beans and mushrooms, and can be served with meats cooked in the same teppan or served with freshly steamed rice.

Yakionigiri or ‘fried rice balls’ and asparagus and bacon skewers are also firm favourites for teppanyaki in Japan.

The teppanyaki grill offers a fun interactive cooking experience, providing a visual delight. Pop the corks and enjoy watching your food sizzle away this summer.

Yakionigiri or ‘fried rice balls’ and asparagus and bacon skewers are also firm favourites for teppanyaki in Japan.

The teppanyaki grill offers a fun interactive cooking experience, providing a visual delight. Pop the corks and enjoy watching your food sizzle away this summer. 

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