Little Switch Ups For A Healthier BBQ

Famous Dave's – Little Switch Ups For A Healthier BBQ

Barbecue is one type of food that everyone feels a need to debate. Is the spicy sweet sauce better than the mustard-based sauce? No matter where you go, the locals will always argue in favor of their style of sauce. But one fact that can't be disputed – barbecue is typically not a good choice when you are trying to maintain a healthy diet.

A popular barbecue spot familiar to many is Famous Dave's. Just a glance at their monstrosity of a menu will not only make your mouth water, but it may cause you to spontaneously gain twenty pounds! Okay, maybe not literally, but the menu is so tempting that it wouldn't be difficult to reach your calorie intake for a week in one meal. There are ways around this temptation. It just takes creative cooking.

Bake, Don't Fry

Famous Dave's onion strings are famous for their amazing taste. They are also famous for their high fat count. A great way to get around this unhealthy hurdle is to bake your onion strings rather than fry them. If you cut the onions very thin and use a light bread crumb, like panko, then you will be able to obtain that crisp texture you long for. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake, flipping a few times, until crisp and browned. You can also throw them under the broiler for a minute if they don't brown up enough for you. One trick is to spray the onions with cooking spray after you coat them with panko. This gives the lightest coating while still allowing them to brown.

This goes for the meat or poultry, as well. Always choose the oven or grill over the deep fryer and you'll cut out an incredible amount of fat. You may want to parboil your meat or poultry or steam it before baking to remove some of the fat from the meat itself. Then be sure to choose a healthier oil when you coat the baking pan or grill grate.

Get Sassy with Your Sauces

Barbecue sauces are notorious for high levels of sodium and sugars, but this results in high levels of amazing taste. How can you get around this? In order to keep the excellent flavor while reducing the unhealthy ingredients, the first thing to try is reducing the sugar. If you're purchasing a prepackaged sauce, read the label. If you're making your own, always start out with the least amount of sugar and salt, then taste and add more if necessary. You would be amazed at how much less sugar and salt you use when you do this. If you still crave the sweet taste, you can make the sauce a bit healthier by using a more natural product like a raw sugar or honey. Again, start small. And remember, the salty taste seems to increase as the sauce sits, so be sure to let the sauce rest before adding more salt.

You can easily whip up a homemade batch of sauce to control ingredients. The basic ingredients are tomato sauce or paste, minced garlic, onion, sugar, salt, oil and some cayenne powder for a little heat. For a dry rub, just leave out the tomato. By reducing some of the ingredients or deciding on more natural forms of them, you will be able to take back control of your diet while still enjoying the rich taste of barbecue.

Your favorite barbecue shack is loaded with salt, fat, grease, and sugar. And, yes, it's all yummy, but there are alternatives that are just as delicious. To enjoy those barbecue dishes in a healthier way, go ahead and start cooking them at home. Skip the ingredients that are packing on the pounds and choose instead all the flavor of the meat, poultry, and spices that are the basis for your favorite BBQ dish.