Barbecue is prepared by cooking or smoking meat slowly, on a small flame, at a very low temperature, using wood or charcoal. It is also the name of the apparatus used for cooking barbecue. Although nowadays, barbecue is common in every part of the world, its origin is quite elusive. The stone age man started using fire to cook meat, and barbecue can be said to have evolved from this way of cooking food.
There is no consensus about the origin of barbecue. Some believe that barbecue was introduced by the Taino tribe of the Caribbean region, where it was known as 'barbacoa', meaning 'beginning place of the sacred fire father'. It was usually practiced for preserving the meat from getting spoiled. They used to keep the meat on a wooden platform above the fire, supported by sticks. Another way was cooking the meat in a pit made in the ground. 'Barbacoa' is also the Spanish word for barbecue, which means 'meat smoking apparatus' or 'sacred fire pit'.
Another theory suggests that barbecue is derived from a French word, barbe queue which literally means 'from beard to tail' i.e. roasting the entire animal. It is also said that in the earlier times signs reading "Bar, Beer and Cues", were put up in front of the roadhouses and beer joints that had a pool table to attract customers and the name 'barbecue' has been derived from it.
Barbecue was introduced in America in the early 1800s, when cowboys were employed for moving cattle to the West. These cowboys were given meat that was hard and impossible to chew. They found out that cooking meat, directly on the fire for 5-7 hours makes the meat tender and edible. They also experimented with goat, pork ribs, beef ribs, venison and pork butt, and the results were delicious!
Barbecue is done in many countries around the world, however the meat used and the way of cooking is different in different regions. Although the choice of meat is mainly pork and beef, it can differ in various places according to the availability of the animal. In South America, pork is the meat of choice, while people in the North prefer beef. Barbecues are also made from chicken, mutton and pork ribs. Sometimes, vegetables are also barbecued, but many do not consider it as an authentic barbecue.
No barbecue is complete without sauces, spice rubs and marinades, which are added while barbecuing and are even used as dips while eating. The preference of sauce and spice rubs vary in different regions. While some prefer it sweet, others like it spicy and hot. They normally include garlic, pepper, tomatoes, herbs and lime juice to make the meat tastier.
Earlier BBQs were made only in charcoal and wood, but nowadays, gas barbecues have become common. They are available in different styles, including a portable one, and are efficient and easy to use. Depending on whether the meat is cooked on charcoal, wood or gas, their taste differs.
Barbecue is not only a way of cooking, but also an event where people come together to eat and make merry. Earlier in South America, the slaughtering of pigs was celebrated with great pomp and they were barbecued and eaten. In the 20th century, barbecues were introduced in restaurants while today, backyard barbecue has become a great way for parties. People who are passionate about barbecues either buy a barbecue equipment or construct one in their backyard.
Many people think that grilling is same as barbecuing because their equipment and techniques are very similar. Apparently, it is not so! Grilling refers to fast cooking, while barbecue takes a lot of time, sometimes even more than 24 hours.
It is interesting to see the way barbecue has evolved from a means for survival to a source of enjoyment and fun. Although it is not clear whether the origin of barbecue was from a single country or an amalgamation of different cultures and nations, it is loved and enjoyed by people all over the world.
0 comments:
Post a Comment