I cannot wait until spring and summer, especially this year! One of my favorite pastimes is going over to my family’s house or to a friend’s for a big barbecue. The food is delicious and I really enjoy gathering with my loved ones. Typically we spend hours chatting outside enjoying each other and the sunshine. Nothing is better in my opinion. My only wish is that I had a big grill or smoker to pull barbecue recipes off!
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To prepare for sunshine and parties again, check out these brand new barbecue cookbooks coming out this Spring to get started! I’ve listed them in order of what I am most excited for!
Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day
I have been looking forward to this cookbook for a while now. Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day cookbook is a godsend to every pitmaster out there. Rodney Scott is the first African American pitmaster to win a James Beard Award. Big names like Anthony Bourdain and Sean Brock have praised Scott for his barbecue expertise.
Before I begin talking about how delicious everything looks, this cookbook tells a very important story. Rodney Scott is an American success story. We learn that he makes his way from a small town where he worked for his father in tobacco fields and in the smokehouse. Rodney Scott had to make big sacrifices in order to help grow his family’s business. In addition, he shares his story on how he ventured out on his own in Charleston. It’s an inspirational cookbook full of vulnerability, laughs, and tears.
Not only has Scott opened his soul to the world and is sharing his trade secrets! Rodney Scott is definitely the king of the grill, so I am eager to figure out how he cooks and what he seasons with. Especially the science behind temperature and grilling. Especially when you are cooking on an actual fire and understanding where and when you should place each ingredient.
The photos throughout Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day cookbook will make your mouth water. There is an array of recipes that don’t necessarily focus on meat, but the grill itself. I, personally, would love to learn how to grill vegetables and fruits more effectively. Imagine all you can do with a grill!
If you’re an avid griller, you will have to have Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day cookbook. Learn from the master!
Food by Fire: Grilling and BBQ with Derek Wolf of Over the Fire Cooking
In order to create delightful dishes by the fire, you first have to master it! I can see Food by Fire: Grilling and BBQ with Derek Wolf of Over the Fire Cooking cookbook being exactly what you will need to do that. From starting the fire to finish, we will finally understand how to cook over open flames.
Derek Wolf acknowledges that cooking by the fire can be intimidating. Rather than being anxious about open fire cooking, Wolf breaks everything down simply and provides the information we need for fantastic dishes.
BBQ Revolution: Innovative Barbecue Recipes from an All-Star Pitmaster
If youu want to learn from one of the best, Mitch Benjamin is a great mentor. With the BBQ Revolution: Innovative Barbecue Recipes from an All-Star Pitmaster he tries to make barbecue available to everyone.
Benjamin is the king of sauce that has earned him the most award-winning and decorated in the country. Mitch Benjamin is the founder of “Meat Mitch” the competition barbecue team and brand.
Recipes in this cookbook is organized by specific kinds of barbecue. Listed are: Techniques, Char Bar Favorites, Revolutionary BBQ, Using your Que, and Amusements from the “Mitchen”. Each chapter uses a variety of meat, cheese, and veggies to enhance your barbecue experience.
The photos are huge and colorful throughout that’ll make your mouth water!
How to Grill Vegetables: The New Bible for Barbecuing Vegetables over Live Fire (Steven Raichlen Barbecue Bible Cookbooks)
Going to a barbecue can be a hassle for vegans and vegetarians, especially since almost everything is “meat-centric”. The How to Grill Vegetables: The New Bible for Barbecuing Vegetables over Live Fire (Steven Raichlen Barbecue Bible Cookbooks) is a must-have for your next grill session. This cookbook shows that grilling vegetables can be just as much fun as meat.
Steven Raichlen is another barbecue visionary that needs to be on your radar. With 5 James Beard awards and 3 IACPs under his belt and a whole host of cookbooks that are bestsellers, you know he is an expert in the field.
A lot of us are trying to incorporate more vegetables and fruits into our diets, so this is a perfect way to put those in the spotlight. Just to clarify, this cookbook is plant-forward and many of these recipes can be make entirely vegan or vegetarian. If you’re a carnivore, there are meat recipes in here as well. This cookbook provides 8 easy steps for green grilling!
There are even dessert recipes like volcano pineapple and grilled banana pudding that all utilize the grill – yum!
Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room: Southern Recipes from the Winningest Woman in Barbecue (Melissa Cookston Book 1)
We don’t see a whole lot of women dominating the barbecue industry, but Melissa Cookston has changed the playing field. Melissa Cookston, is the only woman who has earned world champion of barbecue seven times. She is also a judge on the Netflix show “American Barbecue Showdown!”
Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room: Southern Recipes from the Winningest Woman in Barbecue (Melissa Cookston Book 1) is a fantastic cookbook for a whole barbecue experience. She goes through the basics, then organizes the book into specific meat recipes and sides. She even includes rubs, sauces, and spices that can be applied to multiple dishes.
If you’re at all unsure about what you should have readily available in your pantry, Melissa Cookston gives us a whole list of essentials. This includes sweeteners, spices and herbs, but also oils and vinegars! I always forget acids are a important aspect of barbecue.
I am in love with the introduction, because we get a glimpse into the world of Cookston. What is it like being a woman in the barbecue world and how did she pave the way for other women who want to make headway in a male dominated field? I love the photos with her along with her food. You can tell she takes a lot of pride in her work.
Foolproof BBQ: 60 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Barbecue
I really enjoy Foolproof BBQ: 60 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Barbecue cookbook. Mostly because there are recipes that cover all meals of the day – including what looks like pancakes and sausages for breakfast.
It feels like many of these recipes are whole meals versus how most barbecue cookbooks focus on a singular meat item. Some recipes included are herby chicken breast with melting potatoes and mushrooms mozzerella pesto crumbs. The recipes are versatile, so no actual grill necessary.
If you’ve never barbecued before, this is a fantastic starter cookbook. The recipes require very little effort and you are still provided with fantastic starters, main courses, and desserts.
The Artisanal Kitchen: Barbecue Sides: Perfect Slaws, Salads, and Snacks for Your Next Cookout
Am I the only one who has indulged in exclusively side dishes during a barbecue party? I think the sides can be more vital for a barbecue over a meat dish. The Artisanal Kitchen: Barbecue Sides: Perfect Slaws, Salads, and Snacks for Your Next Cookout cookbook is meant for me!
The best part about this cookbook is learning about what sides work best with particular mains. There is a Peach and Nectarine Salad with Slivered Almonds that would fit perfectly with grilled sausages. Melting potatoes would be the perfect side with smoky chicken thighs. We talk about textures, flavors, and ingredients to make a delightful whole meal.
Getting an education about the perfect barbecue experience is easy with Adam Perry Lang. He is an award-winning pitmaster with a BBQ restaurant in Los Angeles that is incredibly popular.
The Four Fundamentals of Smoking: Pit Master Secrets to Making Incredible BBQ at Home
Chris Sussman is called the “BBQ Buddha” in his community. He has cook in many major BBQ competitions and is a member of the Big Green Egg Pro Team. Most of all, he has created The Four Fundamentals of Smoking: Pit Master Secrets to Making Incredible BBQ at Home cookbook for us to use at home.
Because of his incredible experience using appliances a lot of us have at home, I feel like I’m in good hands. The four fundamentals to a successful barbecue: 1)fire and fuel 2)humidity and smoke flavor 3) ideal “BBQ Zone” temperature range on the three most popular brands of smokers 4) recognizing the visual and touch cues to indicate meat is ready! We learn about all of these and can practice them with his delicious recipes.
There are 50 distinct recipes in The Four Fundamentals of Smoking: Pit Master Secrets to Making Incredible BBQ at Home cookbook. Included are full page photographs for each dish so we know what to look for!
Barbecue This!
Barbecue This! cookbook popped out at me, because of how bright and colorful it is!
The The Grill Bible – Traeger Grill and Smoker Cookbook is perfect for beginner grillers. There are 500 recipes for grilling or smoking! Navigating this cookbook is going to be very easy. Not only are there 500 recipes, but are also chapters about the history of wood pellet grills, temperature control, and more.
Each recipe is categorized by type, such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, etc. There are even appetizers listed – which look absolutely yummy!
Wow, what a list! Are you ready for spring and summer yet? Get ready, because hopefully we will be able to have gatherings again! Barbecues are a fantastic way to enjoy food and each other.
~Kaiti
