Summer grilling success with pure honey

Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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Kick off this grilling season with the ultimate barbeque by adding pure honey to your grill glazes. Beyond adding flavor, pure honey has many beneficial characteristics that improve the look and taste of grilled food. Honey is hygroscopic, so a rich honey glaze helps lock in moisture during grilling, resulting in sweet moist foods.

Creating a honey grilling glaze is simple. The following glazes can be made from ingredients often found in your cupboard or refrigerator.

Make your own honey-mustard sauce by combining 1/2 cup prepared mustard with 1/2 cup honey and a zesty seasoning, such as vinegar or hot sauce. Brush the glaze over meat or poultry several times during grilling.

Softened dried fruits combined with honey make a rich and highly flavored glaze. Create your own by simmering one cup of dried fruit with one cup honey and two cups liquid (wine, juice or water). Leave the glaze chunky or purée in a food processor until smooth, and then brush over your choice of meat and grill as normal.

Cooks reduce wine or beer to make marinades and glazes. The addition of honey enhances flavor and texture. Combine 1/2 cup honey with three cups of beer or wine and one tablespoon of dry mustard powder. Simmer for about 20 minutes and brush over meat or poultry during grilling.

Here’s some tasty recipes you may want to try:

Grilled Ahi Tuna

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pure honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon wasabi paste
3 tuna steaks, 3/4 inch thick
1/2 cup sesame seeds

Directions: Mix honey, soy sauce and wasabi together in a bowl. Marinate tuna steaks in sauce for one hour. Remove steaks and roll in sesame seeds until coated. Cook on very hot grill one minute per side. When done, meat should be pink in the middle.

Honey Ginger Five-Spice Glaze

Ingredients:
1 cup pure honey
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger or prepared ginger*
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
2 teaspoons smooth mustard, such as Dijon

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat gently and whisk to combine. Remove from the heat and let cool. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

*If fresh ginger is not available, prepared ginger may be substituted. Look for prepared (pre-chopped) ginger in a jar in the produce section alongside jars of chopped garlic.

For additional grilling recipes and tips, visit www.honey.com, or to find a locally produced or specialty honey, visit www.honeylocator.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent