5 simple and delicious recipes to pair with your barbecue!

Having a barbecue is always a special event, so the barbecue master needs to ensure everything is prepared to please all guests, from the doneness of the meat to the barbecue side dishes served at the table.

It's known that creating that respected gastronomic experience requires a variety of flavors, which further enhance the richness of the meat.

But don't worry: with Cutelaria Cimo, you'll find 5 simple and tasty recipes for practical barbecue side dishes to suit all tastes! Check them out below.

#1 – Salpicão for barbecue

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon grated onion.
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese.
• 1 cup smoked ham, sliced.
• 1 cup chopped green olives.
• 1 cup potato sticks.
• 1 cup grated carrot.
• 80 grams celery.
• 1/2 cup apple, diced.
• Parsley, salt, and black pepper to taste.

Ingredients for the sauce

• 1 pot of cream cheese spread (requeijão).
• 1 pot of mayonnaise.
• 1 small carton of heavy cream.

Preparation method

In a bowl, combine equal parts cream cheese spread, mayonnaise, and heavy cream, stirring to homogenize the mixture.

Add the salpicão ingredients and refrigerate before serving as a delicious barbecue side dish!

Take the opportunity to check out how to light a barbecue with 5 practical tips and become an expert on the subject!

#2 – Greek-style rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice.
• 4 cups water.
• 100g grated Parmesan cheese.
• 4 tablespoons peas.
• 1 tablespoon butter.
• oil.
• onion, carrot, bell pepper, parsley, chives, and salt to taste.

Preparation method

In the same pot, add water, a drizzle of oil, salt, and wait for it to boil, then add the washed rice. With the heat on low, wait for the water to dry, then remove the rice from the stove and set aside.

In another pan, add the butter and fry the peas, then pour them into a bowl with the remaining ingredients, and finally, the freshly cooked rice.

And there you have it, a perfect barbecue side dish.

Also, don't miss out on the different types of vegetable cuts that Cimo has prepared for you!

#3 – Classic farofa

Ingredients

• 2 cups toasted cassava flour.
• 1/4 cup oil.
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion.
• 1 tablespoon butter.
• 2 cloves minced garlic.
• 1 teaspoon paprika.
• Salt to taste.

Preparation method

In a deep bowl, carefully mix the ingredients, starting with the dry ones and then adding the others until you form the most classic Brazilian barbecue side dish: farofa!

#4 – Red sauce

Ingredients

• 3 ripe tomatoes.
• 1 clove garlic.
• 1 onion.
• ½ cup oil.
• ½ cup ketchup.
• ½ cup vinegar.
• 1 teaspoon paprika.
• oregano to taste.

Preparation method

Blend the ingredients in a food processor or blender and serve the barbecue side sauce in a sauce dish. This way, you'll please everyone's palate and sight!

#5 – Garlic sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold milk.
• 2 cloves garlic.
• oil.
• salt and oregano to taste.

Preparation method

In a blender or food processor, add the cold milk and blend carefully until it creates a homogeneous result.

There is also the possibility of preparing rosé sauce by simply replacing garlic with ketchup to taste.

What shouldn't be missing from a good barbecue?

If you want to prepare a good barbecue, it's worth investing in preparing side dishes. Meat is a food with great flavor complexity, ranging from salty to acidic, depending on the chosen ingredients.

And the best way to explore all these flavor possibilities is by adding different textures and flavors as side dishes for this meal. They make all the difference because they provide contrast and whet the appetite.

The ideal is to vary – choose a vegetable with a more complex flavor, a carbohydrate, a sweet and sour dish, another drier one, and also a more moist one. The possibilities are varied, just look:

1- Garlic bread

Talking about side dishes for grilled meat and not starting with the most famous at barbecues would be a big mistake.

In fact, garlic bread often runs out even before the meat during barbecues – and it couldn't be otherwise: it's a light and crispy dough side dish, with an acidic filling ideal for pairing with steaks.

Garlic bread has many versions: with cheese, with Calabrian pepper, onion cream, cream cheese spread, and much more. It's easy to find in various versions and so practical that it can be prepared at home, daily.

The chef's creativity can be limitless when seasoning the filling!

2 – Queijo coalho (grilled cheese on a stick)

Another barbecue favorite is the queijo coalho skewer. It's mild for all palates, has a delicious texture, and is good at all doneness levels. It also pairs very well with all kinds of condiments: from molasses and honey to spicy or acidic condiments.

It's a delicacy that is very easy to find and even easier to prepare, another excellent option for vegetarian guests.

3 – Potato mayonnaise salad

Ideal for contrasting the flavors of the meat, potato mayonnaise salad is a traditional delicacy found in every Brazilian grandmother's house that is a true classic.

It only requires a little goodwill to mash the potatoes along with the greatest variety of vegetables you can gather. This side dish is the best friend of a Gaucho-style barbecue!

4 – Seasoned farofa

Another great companion to the Greek-style rice for Sunday lunch. Beyond ready-made farofas, the fun part is creating your own combination, with chopped cold cuts, chives, pepper, and whatever you have on hand.

It's an excellent side dish, especially to serve with very juicy meats, pairing very well when preparing picanha, for example.

A tip is to acquire barbecue knife sets that make the whole experience unique and enjoyable!

5 – Pickles/Preserves

Pickles are great snacks, especially with a cold beer. The prolonged flavor is an invitation to harmonize with meats, especially those well-done ones, with more smokiness.

6 – Baked, fried, or grilled cassava

Cassava is one of the triumphs of Brazilian cuisine, consumed in the most diverse ways. If you haven't yet had the great idea of baking some pieces of cassava on the grill, don't waste any more time!

Its slightly sweet flavor goes very well with rarer and more fibrous meats.

7 – Pineapple and honey jelly

Now we come to the more radical part of mixing seemingly different flavors. The texture of the jelly on the meat, along with the spicy intervals of the pepper, will addict your palate.

Thicker steaks, like ribeyes, require a good side dish to add favorable complexity to the flavor.

8 – Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette is another immortal tradition, especially in São Paulo barbecues, which goes very well with a well-seasoned farofa.

Choose very crunchy vegetables and chop them into easy-to-chew pieces; using cold water will preserve their crispy quality. Barbecue accessories are essential at this time!

9 – Vegetable skewer

Using the vegetables you bought for the vinaigrette, you'll also please the vegans at the barbecue with a special selection of vegetables, such as bell peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and other less conventional ones, like cucumber and corn.

To bind it, try adding cheese or coating the vegetables with seasoned flour.

If creativity strikes, why not prepare a fruit skewer too? Or even mix flavors like mango and pineapple among the vegetables.

10 – Greek-style rice

To end on a high note, we've brought you a barbecue side dish that pleases those who love rice at any meal, including gatherings with family and friends.

Greek-style rice is easy to prepare, requiring only the following ingredients in the recipe:

• carrot,
• peas,
• green beans,
• one green, yellow, and red bell pepper.

Dice the vegetables and prepare a beautiful Greek-style rice to serve your guests, and check the recipe details above.

In doubt about how to choose the best barbecue knives? We at Cutelaria Cimo will help you choose. So, did we save your barbecue? Tell us your favorite side dishes and your preparation secrets!