Backyard BBQ Bible: 100+ Recipes for Outdoor Grilling

Australian grill master Smith (Feed the Man Meat) assembles a wide range of recipes in this serviceable guide to “getting the best out of your grill.” Neither a tome of biblical proportions nor a definitive work on grilling, Smith’s collection instead lets the recipes do the talking; luckily, they’re packed with flavor. Classic options for chicken, pork, and beef are all checked off: there’s a no-fuss recipe for Buffalo wings, burgers are baconized, and all manner of ribs get tossed and thrown on the fire. Equally satisfying are a vast array of options that take cues from global cuisines, including a Japanese-inspired seven-spice calamari, Thai chili-coconut surf and turf skewers, and currywurst. Rich entrees run the gamut from prosciutto-wrapped shrimp to a New York strip steak with béarnaise and a set-it-and-forget-it rack of lamb with rosemary crust, while veggies make frequent appearances in an assortment of sides, salads, and a tempting edamame burger with red onion jelly. Aside from a straightforward primer on basic tools (tongs, meat thermometer, basting brush) and a few obvious tips on grill maintenance (“check for gas leaks,” “keep it covered”), the prose here is sparse and far from geared toward those craving advanced techniques. Still, novice home grillers looking to add some solid recipes to their repertoire won’t be disappointed. (May)