Alik Mkrtchyan shared his author's recipe for barbecue and named the spices that should not be added to the marinade. Exclusive

Famous Ukrainian chef and MasterChef Professionals finalist Alik Mkrtchyan shared his author's recipe for barbecue, which was cooked by all the men in his family. These are the last warm days, so you need to seize the moment and grill a barbecue in nature.

In an exclusive interview with OBOZREVATEL, the expert shared his unique meat roasting technology and talked about the peculiarities of marinating, the choice of spices, modern shish kebab serving, and drinks that should not be combined with the dish.

Alik Mkrtchyan's original recipe for "Caucasian-style" barbecue

Ingredients.

• Meat neck - 1 kg
• Onions - 200 g
• Salt - a pinch
• Ground black pepper - 1 g
• Coriander - 1 g
• Allspice - 1 g
• Fresh thyme - 10 g

• Fresh basil - 10 g
• Fresh cilantro - 10 g

How to properly prepare meat for marinating

Trim the neck from excess fat, films, and veins. Marinate the meat for at least three hours.

The technology of barbecue roasting

The chef notes that the meat should be cut into fairly large pieces – 3 centimeters each. They should be square in shape. For a delicious crust to form on the kebab, it needs to be fried evenly on all sides. The heat should be strong enough - 250 degrees.

What vegetables can be combined on one skewer with meat

It is in the autumn that kebabs can be combined with a variety of seasonal vegetables. The expert notes that bell peppers, eggplant, and onions are best. Tomatoes should not be added, because they will cook very quickly, while meat needs more time.

Spices that are better not to add to barbecue

There are a few spices that are not suitable for grilling kebabs and can simply ruin them. Paprika – it burns and gives bitterness, as well as garlic and cumin.

Marinade for poultry meat

The chef notes that the marinade according to his author's recipe is most suitable for pork and veal.

Ingredients:

• Tomatoes
• Fresh onions
• Dijon mustard

• Salt, pepper, nutmeg
• Olive oil.

Method of preparation:

Chop the onions and tomatoes and mix all the ingredients. If it's a kebab, marinate according to the usual principle. But this marinade can also be used for baking meat in the oven. Onions give a wonderful flavor, and tomatoes add a spicy taste and sourness.

What not to drink with barbecue

Aggressive alcoholic beverages, such as:

• Gin and tonic
• Chacha
• Vodka

All of them emphasize the smell of smoke and add an unpleasant aftertaste in combination with barbecue

You can also include a variety of sweet drinks made from exotic fruits and wine.

How Alik Mkrtchan serves barbecue

1. Put whole pieces of meat on a large plate or board.
2. Sprinkle with plenty of herbs and fresh onions.
3. Serve the sauce in a separate dish. The chef has two favorites: satsebeli and tomato.