5 healthy barbecue recipes for the summer cyclist

Step away from the sausages, these BBQ dishes will blow your mind

Published: May 24, 2017 at 4:00 pm

Barbecue season is a time when tasty food-based temptation lies on every side. You don’t need to sacrifice either your healthy diet OR your pleasure if you choose the right dishes.

So ditch the sausages, lose the fat-packed frozen burgers, and tantalise your tastebuds with these light, delicious and healthy BBQ choices instead.

We’ve partnered with Olive Magazine (also published by Immediate Media) to bring you the very best recipes for cyclists. All the recipes are easy to follow and take you through step-by-step how to create everything from homemade nutritious products to tasty and hearty post-ride meals.

Lamb koftas with kale salad

Koftas are rich and delicious, and surprisingly easy to make

Olive Magazine / Immediate Media Co

Koftas are surprisingly simple to make, which is great because they always impress on the barbecue. This version blends lean lamb with cumin, cayenne and lemon, plus red onion, and cooks nice and quickly on the barbecue. They’re impressive enough to make up a batch to bring as an offering when visiting others!Pair up the protein with iron and vitamin-rich kale in a creamy but light yoghurt dressing with mint and parsley.

Lamb koftas with kale salad recipe at Olive Magazine

Thai coconut fish parcels

A light and delicious fish dish that’s perfect for barbecue season

Olive Magazine / Immediate Media Co

Under 300 calories per portion for a barbecue dish? You’d better believe it! Based around white fish, these flavoursome parcels combine coconut, lemongrass, chilli and ginger into a zesty and satisfying portion of protein. Switch to tin foil rather than greaseproof paper for cooking on the barbecue.

Don’t forget to choose fish from a sustainable source!

Thai coconut fish parcels recipe on Olive Magazine

Chargrilled new potato salad

Potatoes on a barbecue? Why the hell not!

Olive Magazine / Immediate Media Co

Potatoes on a barbecue work surprisingly well, and this dish makes a nice change from mayonnaise-drenched potato salad. Griddle the par-boiled potatoes on a hot barbecue shelf, then immediately toss in a flavoured oil dressing with lemon zest, spring onions and chilli. This makes a great accompaniment to lots of the other dishes in this list.

Chargrilled new potato salad recipe at Olive Magazine

Thai-style turkey burgers

Swap beef mince for turkey mince for instant calorie savings

Olive Magazine / Immediate Media Co

Switch pork or beef mince for turkey mince and you can drop a whole load of calories quickly. Turkey mince also works exceedingly well with Thai flavours, with coriander, chilli and ginger in this delicious burger. Thai-style turkey burgers recipe at Olive Magazine

Asian chicken burgers with pickled red cabbage

Crunchy, vinegary pickled cabbage works well with the spiced chicken burgers

Olive Magazine / Immediate Media Co

The vinegary kick the pickled red cabbage adds to these light and tasty burgers is supreme, not to mention the juicy texture of the burgers themselves. You won’t want to exchange these for a frozen beef burger, that’s for sure!

The chicken is flavoured with ginger, chilli and lemongrass with a dash of sesame oil and sriracha sauce piling in nutty and spicy flavours. They also cook nice and quickly too!

Asian chicken burgers with pickled red cabbage recipe at Olive Magazine

Check out our other tasty recipes and get yourself fuelled for cycling from sunrise to sunset:

Aoife Glass

Digital Strategist, BBC Wildlife Magazine

Aoife is an experienced journalist, editor and product tester. With 6 years’ experience of reviewing bikes and kit, she’s ridden and rated nearly every women’s road and mountain bike available on the market. She enjoys putting the latest products through their paces, helping riders find the right kit for them and sharing the best advice, hints and tips to help them get the most out of riding.