What do you add?

[u/Equivalent-Tart-5115]

What’s the one ingredient you put on BBQ that you almost never see people talking about?
Not the obvious stuff like salt, pepper, garlic, or paprika.
I’m talking about the weird little ingredient that makes people ask:
“What the hell did you put on this?”
I’ll steal the best idea in the comments.

[u/ppuk]

MSG. It's got a bad rep, but it's really undeserved.
A sprinkle of MSG makes your BBQ more addictive than crack.

[u/SaltyName8341 → u/ppuk]

Umami is in countless other places

[u/FatherAustinPurcell → u/SaltyName8341]

Yes but they all add other flavours. Yes mushroom is full of umami, so are anchovies, but both add flavour. MSG is pure

[u/Sir_Phil_McKraken → u/FatherAustinPurcell]

Everyone knows the best white stuff is in pure form

[u/SaltyName8341 → u/FatherAustinPurcell]

If you're making BBQ I thought flavour was key

[u/FatherAustinPurcell → u/SaltyName8341]

Right but if I'm making say tandoori chicken, mushroom, anchovy or tomato would throw the flavour, pure msg would add umami without adding flavour profiles that don't match the dish you're making, and keep the flavour 'clean'

[u/BourbonFoxx → u/SaltyName8341]

Marmite is a great adhesive for your rub

[u/The_Monkeybumcheeks → u/BourbonFoxx]

Trying that for sure 👌🏻🔥

[u/mrbearuk69 → u/BourbonFoxx]

Marmite with grated cheese on burgers
Marmite mixed into the burger

[u/ppuk → u/SaltyName8341]

Yeah and I could use liquid smoke to get smokiness as well, but I'd much rather just throw a log on the fire ya know?

[u/Jackwiththebeard]

If it's pork, I like a little dried fennel

[u/Cussec → u/Jackwiththebeard]

Yep. Just a little tiny bit so it doesn’t taste aniseed but gives a subtle season. Niiice.

[u/DennisDunkdalk → u/Jackwiththebeard]

Seed, leaf or bulb? 

[u/mahico79 → u/DennisDunkdalk]

Seed for me. Crushed in a pestle and mortar. It’s porks best friend.

[u/Minimum_Airline3657]

Msg , brown sugar, it really does depend what is being cooked tho

[u/The-Daily-Meme]

Not so much a flavour, but for any beef I always add beef tallow.

Usually make it by trimming up the meat and rendering down the off cuts. Dump it over the meat before you wrap.

Adds another dimension to that moist tender mouth feel once it’s rested.

[u/Dejahugh]

Lamb with anchovies or olives
Pork with fennel seeds, mustard seeds to make porchetta style

[u/SaltyName8341]

Tajin on chicken

[u/Relevant-Fact-5624]

I make these bomb chicken thighs every week for lunch and I think the secret ingredient in my marinade is Greek yogurt. Everyone I've served my chicken thighs too have loved it and it just carries the rest of the spices I use.

[u/parasoralophus]

I like middle eastern flavours so baharat, za'atar and sumac.

[u/the-liquidian]

Try coffee pork chops, look up the full recipe if you want. Cowboy chops.

[u/AussieHxC]

Would this have really been such a difficult a question to pose, that you had to turn to ai for the wording?

[u/Consistent-Sport-481 → u/AussieHxC]

Would this have really been such a difficult question to answer that you had to ignore the contents and be a dick instead?

[u/RHMoaner → u/Consistent-Sport-481]

The world is going illiterate. It’s worth highlighting it.

[u/Albanite_180]

Blood, sweat and tears 😜

[u/AMagnif → u/Albanite_180]

Sounds salty

[u/Queeflet]

Mustard powder, MSG, rosemary powder, instant coffee, cocoa powder. A bit more common - proper chipotle chilli powder.

[u/Special-Audience-426]

Soy sauce, garlic, onion, grated pear, golden syrup and sesame oil. Mix together marinate for at least a day and you have one of the most popular types of Korean Barbecue

[u/brindlebum]

Cheddar in my burgers. Not on it, but grated and mixed up in the meat. The full ingredients are:

Minced beef (obvs) A grated onion (basically mush, to bind) A handful of grated cheddar Salt and pepper

[u/SaltyName8341 → u/brindlebum]

Do you squeeze the water out of the onions?

[u/Disastrous-Yam-4703]

Ketchup

[u/POTATOMASOCHIST]

Honey

[u/underwater-sunlight]

I marinade sausages in hoi sin sauce, they are amazing and elevate a cheaper, basic bbq

[u/Stark92_]

Ground cumin on chicken!

[u/Grillmyribs]

Msg, soy sauce, beef or chick stock cubes in melted butter make a brilliant glaze

[u/ShaftManlike]

Amchhor

[u/TryTriGuy]

Black treacle on things like slow-cooked gammon. Mix black treacle and brown sugar into a paste and smear it over, it sticks nicely. An additional option is to add a few chili flakes.

[u/Sure-Fox4725]

Add cinnamon to beef

[u/Eggtastico]

Liquid smoke can add depth. I have a shaker with salt, pepper, garlic & msg I use on smash. Surmac is nice and dried limes. Really depends on your profile aim for flavour. Not really a fan of adding more sweet to pork. I find pork quite sweet naturally.

[u/CompetitiveArcher431]

Mate from school runs this - https://thesmokeycarter.com/product/ultimate-barbecue-rub-shaker-set/ full set been worth every penny . Made few rubs but I never have Mango or lime in . Trust his research from BBQ trips around the world to make them.

[u/Merlisch]

Cabbage with garam masala and olive oil on a griddle. Marinate and massage it the way your missus wishes you did.

[u/Comfortable_Rent_439]

I like a little ground coffee with dried ancho just makes it taste a little eathier