The most exciting grilling styles from around the world

Today, grilling is not just a way you prepare your meat; it’s an eclectic tradition of its own, tying together different cultures and flavours to create a delicious feast. 

Beyond just bringing you mouth-watering dishes that leave you sated and satisfied, however, grilling is also very much about celebrating diverse communities and local cultures. 

Across the globe, different countries and far-flung regions grill their meat with unique twists and flavours of their own. Here are a few of our favourites!

Gogigui – South Korea

Korean gogigui is a grilling style that’s more frequent in restaurants than at home, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a hands-off process—once it’s served, you’re very much part of the grilling process. 

The meat is generally prepared on high-top tables with a charcoal or gas grill in the middle, giving guests a chance to prepare the meat to their own liking. 

To add a smorgasbord of flavours to the dish, sauces with ingredients like gochujang (a sweet and spicy condiment), doenjang (fermented bean paste), and ssamjang (gochujang and doenjang with sesame oil and onion) are popular toppings.

Braai – South Africa

Making braai is almost a community event in South Africa. At these gatherings, you will generally find meat like lamb, beef, and pork cooked over a grill called a braai stand, which is fueled by wood. 

As per tradition, the host is always in charge of the fire although everyone is welcome to pitch in with ingredients.

South Africans even have a designated date for braai. On the 24th of September, friends and family gather around plates of smoked meat seasoned with a simple but delicious salt and pepper marinade.

If you’re keen on trying it out, pair it with beer or a South African wine for an authentic experience!

Churrasco – Brazil

The Brazilian churrasco has an interesting history; what once started off as the preferred meal of gaúchos (the cowboys or skilled horsemen of Southern Brazil) centuries ago, it is now a fan favourite in the South American region.

Back in the day, gaúchos favoured thinly sliced, boneless slivers of beef grilled over hot coals or on a very hot skillet. Modern churrasco is made of meat—usually beef— cooked on an open flame, spit-style grill. Pork, sausage or chicken are popular alternatives.

Today, churrasco is loved outside Brazil in neighbouring countries like Argentina and Uruguay as well.

Tandoor – Central and South Asia

Most people are very familiar with tandoori meat, a popular dish that’s made with hearty amounts of meat marinated with yoghurt, spices like ginger, coriander, cayenne, and garam masala, and salt and pepper. 

This mouthwatering meal is unique to Asian cuisines and is part of the Asian grilling culture, where marinated meats are lowered onto a clay tandoor oven using iron skewers. 

In countries like India, you can even find the tandoor oven dug into the ground or built into an enclosure where the heat can escape from the top. 

Yakiniku – Japan

Yakiniku, which is sometimes called Japanese barbecue, is a popular player in Japan’s street food market. Here, meat is smoked in a hibachi—a traditional heating device that comes in the shape of a cylinder or a box. 

When it comes to Japanese barbecue, Yakitori, in which chicken slices on bamboo or metal skewers are grilled over charcoal, is one of the most popular selections.

If you can’t find it among the throngs of street food vendors (which is a rarity), you’ll find it in specialty restaurants called yakitori-ya and izakaya. 

For an authentic Yakiniku experience, savour your share of yakitori with a mug of cold beer!

Treat your tastebuds to grilling styles from around the world!

Grilling is not a new tradition, and cultures from around the world have enriched it with techniques and flavours that make this practice a beloved community event. 

When you decide to give a new recipe a shot, or even better, visit a new country, try new grilling styles that will help you enjoy amazing gastronomic experiences!

Churrasco – Brazil

The Brazilian churrasco has an interesting history; what once started off as the preferred meal of gaúchos (the cowboys or skilled horsemen of Southern Brazil) centuries ago, it is now a fan favourite in the South American region.

Back in the day, gaúchos favoured thinly sliced, boneless slivers of beef grilled over hot coals or on a very hot skillet. Modern churrasco is made of meat—usually beef— cooked on an open flame, spit-style grill. Pork, sausage or chicken are popular alternatives.

Today, churrasco is loved outside Brazil in neighbouring countries like Argentina and Uruguay as well.

Tandoor – Central and South Asia

Most people are very familiar with tandoori meat, a popular dish that’s made with hearty amounts of meat marinated with yoghurt, spices like ginger, coriander, cayenne, and garam masala, and salt and pepper. 

This mouthwatering meal is unique to Asian cuisines and is part of the Asian grilling culture, where marinated meats are lowered onto a clay tandoor oven using iron skewers. 

In countries like India, you can even find the tandoor oven dug into the ground or built into an enclosure where the heat can escape from the top. 

Yakiniku – Japan

Yakiniku, which is sometimes called Japanese barbecue, is a popular player in Japan’s street food market. Here, meat is smoked in a hibachi—a traditional heating device that comes in the shape of a cylinder or a box. 

When it comes to Japanese barbecue, Yakitori, in which chicken slices on bamboo or metal skewers are grilled over charcoal, is one of the most popular selections.

If you can’t find it among the throngs of street food vendors (which is a rarity), you’ll find it in specialty restaurants called yakitori-ya and izakaya. 

For an authentic Yakiniku experience, savour your share of yakitori with a mug of cold beer!

Treat your tastebuds to grilling styles from around the world!

Grilling is not a new tradition, and cultures from around the world have enriched it with techniques and flavours that make this practice a beloved community event. 

When you decide to give a new recipe a shot, or even better, visit a new country, try new grilling styles that will help you enjoy amazing gastronomic experiences!