Chef Poppy O'Toole, known as Poppy Cooks, has shared her top tips for hosting the perfect summer barbecue, with a focus on keeping chicken thighs juicy. The key, she says, is a wet marinade applied the night before cooking.
The Marinade Recipe for Moist Chicken
Poppy recommends coating chicken thighs in a mixture of water, salt, a little sugar, lemon, herbs, garlic, a splash of vinegar, and lemon juice. 'Leave that to kind of do its thing overnight in the fridge,' she said. 'It just means that they're going to be super moist [when] they go onto that hot barbecue.' After grilling, she suggests a hot honey glaze for a proper chargrill finish.
Potatoes on the Barbecue
Poppy also advocates for barbecued potatoes, recommending parboiling them for about eight minutes, then threading them onto two skewers sideways before grilling. She demonstrated this on her YouTube channel with a maple chilli butter glaze, creating a 'smoky, crispy and buttery' result. Garlic butter or hot honey glaze also work, and she suggests serving with whipped feta for extra flavour.
Summer Eating Trends
A new survey of 2,000 adults found that 87% of UK adults enjoy 'picky bits' throughout the summer, and 31% opt for grazing-style meals at least once a week. The research, commissioned by Nanna Tate, also found that half of Brits (50%) would serve chips or potatoes alongside barbecue food.
Poppy's Partnership with Nanna Tate
Poppy has teamed up with Nanna Tate to celebrate the launch of its new Baby potatoes range. 'There's nothing better than spending time with loved ones over delicious food during the summer months,' she said. 'The best recipes don't have to be complicated. All you need is simple, quality ingredients to create a dish everyone will enjoy.'
