Thanks to its bustling street food scene and punchy staple ingredients (think lemongrass, soy, ginger, garlic, coconut, fish sauce and plenty of spices), Southeast Asia is home to a fantastic array of dishes to inspire your next barbecue spread.
From Malaysian satay to Filipino chicken to Vietnamese tofu, we’ve rounded up the best grill-ready recipes by Melissa Hemsley, Rukmini Iyer and more.
Melissa Hemsley’s Mum’s Filipino Chicken with Mango-Tomato Salsa
Drawing from the sweet, sour and savoury flavours of the Philippines, this versatile recipe turns chicken thighs into a barbecue showstopper, complete with a zippy chilli-packed salsa on the side.
Crispy Barbecue Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Cashews, Carrots and Nuoc Cham
Smoky cubes of barbecued firm tofu pair perfectly with Nuoc Cham, a highly moreish Vietnamese dipping sauce that combines garlic, ginger, chilli and soy to create the perfect balance of freshness and complexity.
Chicken Satay Skewers (Sate Ayam)
No Southeast Asian-inspired barbecue would be complete without satay, commonly found in the street food hubs of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Marinated in a mix of lemongrass and spices, these juicy skewers of chicken thigh meat are perfect for cooking on an open barbecue or charcoal grill.
Barbecued Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a staple of Singapore’s outdoor hawker centres, often served hot off the grill with a robust chilli sauce and squeeze of lime. This recipe combines sweet, salty and spicy flavours to create the perfect marinade and a charred-yet-juicy finish.
Spicy Pork Satay
Paired with an authentic spicy peanut sauce, these pork fillet skewers are another great take on satay.
Chargrilled Salmon with Ginger, Black Pepper and Fish Sauce
This Vietnamese dish celebrates the freshness of salmon with an aromatic marinade comprising garlic, ginger, lemon, fish sauce and pepper.
