The return of sunny days means the return of barbecue season  !

In this article, find all our essentials for a spicy and flavorful barbecue, as well as our recipe ideas and tips from Albert Ménès.

OUR BBQ ESSENTIALS

Ready-to-use blends 

At Albert Ménès, we love making your life easier with ready-to-use blends that let you enjoy the flavors of our products in no time.

• Try our Albert Ménès barbecue spice blend: an exclusive recipe crafted with expertise and made in France. This blend, mainly composed of shallots, red peppers, mustard seeds, and coriander, offers a unique aromatic journey thanks to its perfectly balanced flavors. Convenient both at the table and in the kitchen, this mill with two openings (high and low) allows you to fully appreciate the quality of its spices. Freshly ground just before serving, it will enhance all your grilled dishes and elevate your vegetables.

• If you love bold flavors, you'll adore our grilling blend, specifically developed by Albert Ménès to enhance meats, fish, shellfish, and vegetables cooked on the barbecue. This slightly spicy blend is made of paprika, hot chili, cumin, coriander, caraway, garlic, ginger, and onions. Free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and other additives, our grilling blend releases all its aromas when used in a marinade. It can also be used to spice up vegetable dip sauces for appetizers.

• Indulge in our Oak-Smoked Paprika Barbecue Sauce, the star of weekend barbecues! Albert Ménès has revisited the classic barbecue sauce recipe by adding a twist of delicately oak-smoked paprika. A delicious recipe, carefully crafted to delight both young and old alike. The perfect balance of sweet softness between the cooked tomato and caramelized onion is perfectly complemented by the touch of smoked paprika added at the end of cooking. All made in France! Ready to use, this sauce pairs perfectly with all types of meats and can be used as is or as a marinade.

Spices and Peppers from Around the World  

Many spices from around the world are used in barbecue blends. You can also create your own barbecue mix according to your tastes with our foolproof recipe.

• Paprika is a very popular spice in cooking because it can be used with vegetables as well as with meat or fish. Also known as "sweet pepper," paprika is particularly appreciated for its taste and its intense red color, which adds a vibrant hue to your dishes. At Albert Ménès, we offer sweet paprika, ideal for your everyday recipes, as well as oak-smoked paprika, perfect for adding warm and smoky flavors to your recipes and grills. Both spices are also available in large formats, in a practical and economical kraft bag.

• Our Albert Ménès mild curry is often used in saucy dishes but will be an excellent ally for your barbecues. Mild, captivating, fragrant, and aromatic, this fine powder of a beautiful yellow-orange color will awaken your taste buds. The very spicy notes, where turmeric, coriander, cumin, and garlic are first felt, give way to fruity and floral notes reminiscent of the tangy side of exotic fruits. It's the perfect spice to season your vegetables or create sauces to accompany your meats or fish. For all curry lovers, you can pair the flavors of our mild curry with Thai green curry and spicy red curry. These spices are available in a 3-curry set.

• Let yourself be enchanted by the intense and fragrant aromas of our Tandoori. Used for centuries in Indian cuisine, this blend gives a spicy and aromatic flavor to meats, fish, and vegetables. This combination of spices typically includes cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper. Albert Ménès Tandoori is a premium version of this classic blend, made with carefully selected spices. It is perfect for seasoning or marinating chicken or lamb.

• Bring oriental flavors to your barbecue with a few pinches of Ras el Hanout. Ras el Hanout is a delicious traditional Moroccan spice blend. Ours is crafted from a specific recipe by Albert Ménès, Master Spice Merchant since 1921, to offer you a superior quality spice blend with slightly sweet undertones. There is no single recipe for Ras el Hanout, but commonly used ingredients include coriander, turmeric, caraway, cumin, black pepper, fenugreek, garlic powder, cardamom, and many more. So, don't hesitate to discover Albert Ménès Ras el Hanout, also available in a large format sachet, and use it in your culinary preparations for an explosion of authentic flavors and aromas.

• At Albert Ménès, we love the power that spices have to instantly elevate our recipes. We especially love experiencing all the flavors a spice can offer. That's why we also offer a wide range of peppers, essential for adding taste and heat to your meat and fish skewers. You can find our peppers in sachets with Jalapeño and Chipotle peppers: both are Jalapeño peppers harvested at different stages of maturity. Their intensity ranges from moderate to strong, making it easy to spice up your barbecue.

• Cayenne pepper and Espelette pepper will also be perfect allies to take your barbecue to the next level. With moderate strength, these peppers subtly enhance your grilled dishes without being overpowering or masking other flavors.

Discover our entire range of peppers and paprikas in bottles on our website.

Aromatic Herbs

A successful barbecue largely depends on the quality of the seasonings. Aromatic herbs play a crucial role in adding unique flavors and enhancing the taste of your grilled dishes. Here are our essential aromatic herbs for a perfect barbecue. Also, check out our TOP 10 list of aromatic herbs to have at home for fresh and flavorful everyday cooking.

• Rosemary: Rosemary is a robust herb with a strong, woody aroma, perfect for grilling. You can use it to season your marinades or add a touch of freshness at the end of cooking before serving.

• Add flavor with Albert Ménès Thyme, also available in a large-format kraft bag. Thyme is a versatile herb with a slightly lemony taste, ideal for seasoning a variety of meats and vegetables.

• Albert Ménès Oregano offers a spicy and slightly bitter touch. This herb is particularly appreciated for bringing Mediterranean flavors to your recipes and transporting you to the south during a barbecue.

• Our iconic Persaillotte is perfect for a summer barbecue. A signature creation of the Maison, it is composed of garlic, parsley, shallot, and salt, adding a fresh touch to your dishes.

• Finally, Herbes de Provence are a must if you want to bring southern flavors to your vegetable, fish, or meat skewers. Albert Ménès offers its own blend of Herbes de Provence, prepared from an exclusive recipe rich in basil, giving it a pleasant and pronounced taste.

ALBERT MÉNÈS' RECIPE IDEAS 

Indulge in our sweet and savory barbecue recipes, elevated by our spices!

• Our grilled vegetable skewers will be perfect to accompany your grilled dishes.

• Our delicious and tender recipe for smoked pork ribs with paprika, grilled on the barbecue, will delight all meat lovers.

• For a burst of flavors, try this chicken marinade with green curry paste.

• For those with a sweet tooth, indulge in our recipe for barbecued roasted peaches! A delicious combination of the sweetness of the peach and the warmth of barbecue cooking.

OUR TIPS FOR A PERFECT AND FLAVORFUL BARBECUE

Barbecues are a summer essential, a perfect opportunity to share a convivial meal outdoors. To ensure the success of your barbecue, we’re sharing some tips and tricks.

• A good marinade is essential for flavorful meats or fish. Opt for spice blends like smoked paprika or the grilling mix for a unique flavor. Marinate your meats for at least two hours, or if possible, overnight for maximum flavor infusion.

• Accompany your grills with seasonal vegetable skewers, composed salads, or a fine vegetable tart for a balanced and flavorful meal. You can enhance a simple green salad with our salad mix or add a punch to your tomato salad or tart with our salted basil tomato blend.

• Albert Ménès spices can also be used to concoct refreshing drinks to complement your barbecue, like our Ginger and Cardamom Lemonade or our passion fruit mocktail. Find all our ideas for drinks, cocktails, and mocktails for refreshing pleasures all summer long!

• Don't forget to season your skewers and marinades with our exceptional range of salts and peppers. Choose the one that suits you best from our wide selection: fruity, warm, cocoa notes, ... You'll find your favorite!

• For the sweet-toothed, enjoy the last embers of the barbecue to grill some fruits or marshmallows! Yes, fruits can also be barbecued. Grill pineapples, peaches, or bananas, for example. Serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of Albert Ménès acacia honey.

With all these tips at hand, your summer barbecue is sure to be a success. "Bon appétit" !