The ultimate summer barbecue menu – stylish, seasonal, and so easy

Mezze, meat dish, BBQ chicken.

With summer, or at least the promise of it, come barbecues and lighter food, and these are our favorite barbecue recipes. But we haven't just created a menu of grilled meats – there are delicious vegetarian dishes, sides, and even a smoky dessert and cocktail.

The trick to cooking on the grill is to make sure your coals are uniformly white hot, without a trace of flame, before you add the food.

By all means watch the food carefully to ensure it doesn’t scorch, but resist the temptation to turn it too often; fish, especially, will stick to the grill if fussed over. Bon appetit!

Home-smoked seasoning

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

This home-smoked seasoning recipe is perfect for most meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Ideal for grill-outs, it can be used to give depth of flavor even when it's too chilly outdoors to crack open the BBQ.

Vegetarian mezze with baba ganoush and salsa

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

This vegetarian meze is packed with flavor thanks to the baba ganoush and salsa, their ingredients prepped on the grill. Serve with our garlic and herb flatbreads and raw crudités.

Best-ever grilled lamb

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Our best-ever grilled lamb recipe is a cracker. Marinated overnight for best results, it's wonderful served up with our bulgar wheat salad, below.

Bulgur wheat salad

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Quick, easy and packed with goodness, this bulgur wheat salad is flavored with fresh herbs. Pair it with our grilled lamb recipe (above).

Smoky chicken with chipotle

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Smoky, spicy and a little sweet, this chipotle chicken recipe will bring a Mexican flavor to your barbecue recipe list. Serve it with rice, salad, in burritos, tacos... the choice is endless!

Stuffed peppers with harissa yoghurt

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Looking for grill recipes for vegetarians? Or just a filling, fabulous side for a hungry crowd? This stuffed pepper with harissa yogurt is our favorite.

Griddled zucchini and halloumi salad

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

This zucchini with halloumi is griddled for extra flavor. Serve it up hot, warm or at room temperature – it works every way! It's the perfect side for barbecue recipes, or a tasty main for veggies.

Lapsang souchong ice cream

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Smoky, sweet and oh, so refreshing, this lapsang souchong and green mint ice cream is a dessert with a difference. Serve it up at a barbecue to keep those flavors coming!

Maltito cocktail

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)

Love a Mojito? You'll adore our Maltito cocktail recipe. Smokier, grown up, and very elegant, it's the perfect drink to serve to complement a barbecue menu.