As days warm up and the lakes beckon, it’s time for weekends of boating, hiking, and—of course—grilling. This weekend marks the unofficial start of barbecue season, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes and tips from local chefs to make your cookout the envy of the neighborhood.
Start the party off by firing up the grill and skewering some strawberries to make a grilled strawberry margarita (demonstrated on KARE 11 by yours truly). It’s a bright, tangy twist on the classic frozen drink ideal for entertaining—just toss the ingredients in a blender to get a refreshing pitcherful.
When it comes to meats, there’s no better place to go for tips than Clancy’s in Linden Hills—the specialty butcher shop gives the scoop on unconventional grillables that will push your cookout to the next level.
Speaking of shaking up your proteins, chef Ian Gray of the Curious Goat food truck has worked up a recipe for mouthwatering goat burgers. Cook ’em straight on the grates, or take a cue from chef Jim Christiansen of Heyday and heat a cast iron pan on the grill to make for easy cleanup. For basic grilling tips, the team from Kitchen Window has you covered with ten tricks to make barbecuing easy as pie.
Looking for a tasty side idea? Local blogger and cookbook author Stephanie Meyer gives a State-Fair preview with her recipe for grilled corn on the cob—top with chipotle butter for an extra kick. Isaac Becker of 112 Eatery’s recipe for grilled bread-tomato salad is light and refreshing. Or give the grill a rest and head to the kitchen to whip up a not-so-basic potato salad (hello, pickled radishes and bacon!) created by chef Landon Schoenefeld of the newly-minted Nighthawks diner.
Keep it simple when it comes to dessert and pick up a box of JonnyPops, the creamy popsicles made with fruit and cream dreamed up by a team of Minnesota college students, or drop by Eat Street bakery the Copper Hen for a box of cupcakes or cookies for a sweet treat to end the day.
