Fire is a primal element. For millennia, it has kept humans captivated by warmth and ambience. Not anymore; the allure of cooking over an open fire pit is coming back because it offers a unique way to prepare food and gather with loved ones. Grilling is a familiar approach, but a fire pit also exposes you to a world of culinary possibilities—ideal for casual gatherings and adventurous experiments.
One simple and satisfying way to use a fire pit is with classic skewer cooking. Thread chunks of marinated chicken, vegetables, or seafood onto skewers, ensuring they are pre-cooked a little, if necessary, for thicker cuts. The open flames impart a smoky char and caramelize the edges, infusing each bite with a delightful woody flavour. Vegetarians can try marinated tofu or tempeh skewers, which readily absorb the smoky goodness.
Fire pit cooking opens doors to a wide range of dishes besides skewers. Cast iron cookware becomes your sous chef. A well-designed Dutch oven lets you bake cobblers, simmer stews, and even pizzas. With the right heat management, you can cook fluffy, golden brown crust infused with a hint of smoke right in your backyard.
Pizza lovers can consider investing in a Gozney Arc XL. The gas burner arcs a yellow rolling flame across the entire oven and looks like the flames coming out of a wood fire pit. The consistent heat allows you to create gourmet pizzas with perfectly blistered crust. You can watch the dough rise!
Fire pit recipe ideas
Smoky Chipotle Chicken
Marinate the chicken thighs in a mixture of Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and chilli powder. Thread onto skewers and cook over the firepit until the chicken is cooked through and looks juicy.
Cast iron skillet fajitas
Take a cast iron skillet to sauté chicken strips, bell peppers, and onions over the fire. Serve this on warm tortillas with your favourite fajita toppings like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
Dutch oven apple crisp
Layer sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and sprinkle with flour in a Dutch oven. Top with a crumbly oat and butter topping. Bake over the fire pit coals until the apples are tender and the topping looks golden brown.
Fire-roasted vegetables
Add salt, herbs and olive oil to your favourite veggies like eggplant, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Toss and arrange them within a grill basket. Now, roast them over the fire pit until the veggies turn tender-crisp and a little charred.
Seared tuna steaks with chimichurri
Sear sesame-seared tuna steaks over the fire pit for a perfectly cooked centre. Drizzle this flavorful chimchurri sauce over the seared tuna steak and enjoy!
For a more unique experience consider using a Kadai Firebowl. These round-bottomed bowls originated from India and offer a versatile cooking surface. The bowls are deep and allow even heating, perfect for slow-cooking stir-fries, curries, and deep fry. You can get them at competitive rates on BBQs 2U online store.
When you cook around open fire flames, safety is paramount. Always have a fire pit ou in the open grounds. Make sure there are no flammable things or elements lying nearby. Always keep a bucket of sand or fire extinguisher within reach.
Fire pit cooking is an experience!
