34 Mouth-Watering Barbecue Styles from Around the World
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Published: 27 Feb 2023
34 Mouth-Watering Barbecue Styles from Around the World
Barbecue is a way of cooking and flavoring food that has been around for centuries. From the smoky flavor of Texas-style brisket to the tangy sweetness of Carolina pulled pork, there are a variety of popular barbecue styles all around the world.
Each region has its own unique spin on traditional methods, creating an array of flavors and dishes that every barbecue enthusiast should explore. In this blog post, we will look at some of the popular styles of barbecuing around the world and what makes them so special.
So get ready to fire up your grills and explore the flavorful world of barbecue!
1. Texas Style Barbecue
Texas is well known for its mouthwatering beef barbecue. Brisket, sausage, and ribs are the most popular options in this region. The sauces used for Texas-style barbecue tend to be spicy with smoky flavors from ingredients like chili powder and cumin.
2. Kansas City Style Barbecue
When it comes to regional barbecue in Kansas City, the meats of choice are pork and beef brisket. They use a tomato-based sauce that is often sweet and tangy. Kansas City barbecue also includes burnt ends, which are pieces of crispy pork or beef that have been slow smoked until they become caramelized.
3. Memphis Style Barbecue
Memphis-style barbecue is all about the pork! Pork ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and whole hog roasts are popular dishes in this region. The sauces used for Memphis-style barbecue are typically tomato-based with added sweetness and some spice from ingredients like paprika, cumin, and garlic powder.
4. North Carolina Style Barbecue
In North Carolina, the two primary styles of barbecue are Eastern and Lexington-style. Eastern North Carolina is known for its vinegar-based sauces made from apple cider and other ingredients, while Lexington-style barbecue has a tomato based sauce that includes ketchup and spices. The meats used for both styles include pork shoulder, ribs, and chicken.
5. St Louis Style Barbecue
St Louis is all about pork steaks! These steaks are cut thicker than traditional steak cuts and they’re slow cooked over charcoal or wood. The sauce used for St Louis-style barbecue is usually sweet and tangy, made from ketchup, brown sugar, molasses and more. 6. Hawaiian Style Barbecue
In Hawaii, the most common type of barbecue is Kalua pork. This dish involves slow-cooking a whole pig in an underground oven (called an imu). The pork is then shredded and served with a variety of sauces like soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and chili pepper water.
7. Chicago Style Barbecue
Chicago style barbecue is renowned for its mouthwatering, smoky flavors and unique blend of spices. Slow-cooked over an open flame with a variety of hardwoods such as hickory, oak, and cherry, each bite of Chicago-style barbecue packs a punch. From the classic pulled pork sandwich to delectable ribs slatheredwith tangy sauces, the options are endless when it comes to this time-honored cuisine. Rib tips, hot links, and beef brisket round out the menu of savory delights.
8. South Carolina Style Barbecue
South Carolina is known for its distinctive mustard-based barbecue sauce, often referred to as Carolina Gold. This type of sauce is made from yellow or Dijon mustard, vinegar, sugar and spices like black pepper and cayenne pepper. Common meats used in this region include pork shoulder and ribs, as well as chicken.9. Alabama Style Barbecue
Alabama-style barbecue takes its cues from both Southern and Tennessee traditions. Meats like pulled pork, ribs, chicken and turkey are slow cooked low-and-slow over hickory wood before being served with a mayonnaise based white BBQ sauce that typically contains lemon juice, cider vinegar and horseradish.
10. Florida Style Barbecue
In Florida, the most popular type of barbecue is smoked pork. This meat is cooked low-and-slow over oak wood for a smoky flavor and then served with a tomato-based sauce that’s sweet and tangy from ingredients like molasses or honey.
11. Kentucky Style Barbecue
Kentucky is known for its mutton barbecue which involves slow cooking the meat in an open pit filled with hickory wood until it reaches a tender consistency. The resulting meat has a bold smoky flavor and can be served with either a sweet tomato based BBQ sauce or white vinegar based sauce.
12. Argentinian Style Barbecue - Asado
Asado is the traditional style of barbecuing in Argentina and involves grilling meats such as beef, lamb and pork over a wood-fired open fire. The meats are typically seasoned with oregano, garlic and chili flakes for a smoky flavor and served with chimichurri sauce, which is made from parsley, garlic, vinegar and olive oil.
13. Brazilian Style Barbecue - Churrasco
Churrasco is the traditional type of barbecue in Brazil which involves grilling large chunks of meat over an open flame. These meats can include beef, lamb, chicken or fish and they’re usually cooked to medium rare and then served with either a vinaigrette style sauce or spicy hot pepper based sauces like piri piri.
14. Jamaican Style Barbecue
Jerk seasoning is used in many Jamaican barbecues and is made from a blend of spices like allspice, thyme, ginger and garlic. The meats used in Jamaican barbecue typically include pork, chicken or fish which are marinated in the jerk seasoning and then cooked over charcoal for a smoky flavor.
15. Mexican Style Barbecue - Carne Asada
Carne Asada style barbecue is an amazing way to enjoy a delicious meal. This style of barbecuing involves marinating cuts of beef, such as flank steak and skirt steak, in flavorful spices and then grilling over high heat for a smoky, charred flavor. The marinade typically includes flavorful ingredients such as garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and many more.
Mexico is also known for its barbacoa-style cooking which involves slow-cooking meats such as beef, lamb or goat in an underground oven (known as a pit). The resulting meat is tender and flavorful and served with salsas, guacamole, tortillas and other accompaniments.
16. Thai Style Barbecue
In Thailand, grilled meats like pork or chicken are often served with a sweet chili dipping sauce called nam jim. This sauce is made from a blend of chili peppers, fish sauce and sugar and gives the meats a sweet and spicy flavor.
17. Vietnam Style Barbecue
Grilled pork (called thit nuong) is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine and is served with rice paper wraps, lettuce, herbs and pickled vegetables. This pork is marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce and pepper before being grilled over charcoal for a smoky taste.
18. Korean Style Barbecue - Gogigui
Korean barbecue typically consists of grilled meats like beef short ribs (kalbi), marinated chicken (dak galbi), spicy pork (bossam) and bulgogi beef. These are often served alongside lettuce leaves to wrap the meat in and a variety of sauces, such as gochujang.
19. India Style Barbecue – Tandoori
Tandoori barbecue is a delicious and unique cooking style that has been around for centuries. It uses a traditional clay oven known as a tandoor to cook meats, vegetables, and other dishes over hot charcoal or wood fire.
Indian barbecue typically involves grilling meats like chicken or lamb on skewers over charcoal or wood fires. The meat is often marinated in yogurt or spices such as cumin, coriander and turmeric for additional flavor before it’s cooked.
20. Mediterranean Style Barbecue
The Mediterranean region has many different types of barbecue depending on the country. In Greece, souvlaki skewers are popular while in Turkey you’ll find shish kebabs made with ground lamb and spices like cumin and paprika. Other countries in the region will often use grilled vegetables such as eggplant or zucchini to create tasty dishes.
21. South African Style Barbecue - Braai
South African barbecue is known as "braai" and typically utilizes grilled meat, such as boerewors (sausage), steaks, chops and chicken. The meats are usually seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices before being served with pap (a maize-based dish) and chakalaka (a spicy tomato-based condiment). The braai is usually accompanied by a variety of sauces, such as garlic or chili mayo.
22. Filipino Style Barbecue - Lechon
In the Philippines, barbecue typically consists of pork or chicken marinated in soy sauce and spices. Popular accompaniments include banana ketchup, vinegar-based dipping sauces and pineapple slices. Grilling is the most common cooking method, but some barbecues include flattop grilling, roasting or even smoking.
23. Lebanese Style Barbecue – Shish Tawook
Lebanese barbecue consists of meats such as lamb, chicken and beef, skewers of vegetables and halloumi cheese cooked on a long skewer over charcoal. The meats are marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs. Sauces such as tahini or tzatziki are often served with the barbecued meats.
24. Australian Style Barbecue
In Australia, barbecue is generally referred to as "barbie". Popular cuts of meat include steak, sausages, chicken and seafood. Australian BBQs typically involve a variety of marinades, sauces and seasonings. Popular accompaniments include potato salad, coleslaw and beetroot.
25. Mongolian Style Barbecue
Mongolian barbecue is a stir-fry style of cooking where the meats are cooked over high heat on large iron griddles. The meats are usually marinated in soy sauce and garlic before being cooked, and the dish is generally served with a selection of vegetables.
26. Japanese Style Barbecue – Yaki Style
Japanese barbecue typically utilizes thinly sliced pieces of pork, beef or chicken marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and sake. Seasonings such as ginger and garlic are also used to give the meat extra flavor. The most popular accompaniment to Japanese BBQ is rice and pickles.
27. Chinese Style Barbecue – Char Siu
Chinese barbecue typically involves marinating the meat in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, rice wine and garlic, before being grilled over charcoal or a gas grill. Popular meats used in Chinese BBQ include pork, beef and chicken. The dish is often served with steamed vegetables or noodles.
28. Turkish Style Barbecue
In Turkey, barbecue is typically referred to as "kebab". Popular meats used in Turkish BBQ include lamb, chicken and beef, which are marinated in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and spices. Kebabs are usually served with flatbreads or pilaf rice.
29. Cuban Style Barbecue
Cuban barbecue often features pork or chicken, marinated in juice from oranges, garlic and oregano. The meat is often grilled over charcoal and served with a variety of sides such as black beans, plantains and yuca.
30. Taiwanese Style Barbecue
Taiwan’s style of barbecue typically features pork belly marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, rice wine and garlic. The meat is often cooked over hot coals or a gas grill, and served with “gua bao”, steamed buns stuffed with pork belly slices and pickled vegetables.
31. Caribbean Style Barbecue
Caribbean barbecue typically involves marinating chicken, pork or beef in jerk seasoning before grilling it over hot coals. Jerk seasoning is a mixture of spices such as allspice, thyme and scotch bonnet peppers. The meats are usually served with sides such as rice and peas, plantains or coleslaw.
32. German Style Barbecue
German barbecue typically involves grilling sausages and pork or beef steak over charcoal. The meats are often marinated in a mixture of beer, onions and garlic, before being served with a variety of side dishes such as potato salad or sauerkraut.
33. Indonesian Style Barbecue - Ikan Bakar & Ayam Bakar
Indonesian style barbecue is a unique and delicious way to enjoy the flavor of traditional Indonesian cooking. Popular dishes such as Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) and Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken) are marinated in spicy sauces, coconut milk, and herbs before being grilled over hot coals. The marinade imparts a rich, smoky flavor to the food that is impossible to replicate in any other way.
34. Israel Al Haesh Style Barbecue
Israeli Al Haesh style barbecue is a traditional grilled meat dish that has been enjoyed for centuries in the region. The dish consists of marinated meats, such as lamb, beef, and chicken, cooked over an open flame or charcoal grill. Onions and other vegetables are also cooked on the fire alongside the meat to create a flavorful meal.