Written by adam on May 28, 2007
3 Great Books for Barbeque Beginners
If you are new to grilling and barbeque, I recommend you take a look at these books. They are a treasure trove of grilling information. Who knows, there may be something in there to inspire you to go for grilling greatness.
Dr. BBQ's Big Time Barbecue Cookbook
by Ray Lampe
If you are looking to get into real barbeque, this book is a must-read. Even if you consider yourself fairly well educated in the barbeque arts, the Big Time Book of Barbeque can help you hone your skills as well as provide some exciting recipes.
The book itself is pretty plain, but the content inside is first rate. Ray Lampe is an excellent teacher when it comes to making quality barbeque. The recipes and instructions are spot on. There's plenty of ideas and recipes for rubs, sauces, marinades, and brines, plus the front half of the book is divided into sections by competition meat: pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, whole hog. It's all there.
Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs by Steven Raichlen
This is not Raichlen's first book, but I think it's a good one for the beginning bbq enthusiast. Raichlen is most well known for his Barbecue Bible, but it's such a giant tome of information, it might overwhelm a newcomer to grilling.
Ribs tend to be a perennial favorite for people. There's just something about the carnivorous activity of tearing meat from a bone that folks really enjoy. Compound that with the sweet meat and sauce of baby back ribs, and they are pretty much irresistible. Ribs Ribs Ribs is a great book to read and get some awesome recipes to increase your knowledge and repertoire of barbeque ribs. Raichlen also covers the gamut of all types of ribs and where they come from. From baby backs to spares and ribs tips to St. Louis style, you'll find a wealth of rib information here.
I'm Just Here For the Food by Alton Brown
Even though this book is not specifically about grilling and barbeque, Brown covers many cooking principles that come in handy when grilling. Concepts like searing and braising are integral to grilling and barbeque. The book contains instructions and explanation that the layperson can understand as well as color illustrations to help enforce the point. I'm Just Here For the Food does have a chapter on grilling and there's even a great recipe for "No Backyard Baby Back Ribs." This book is a must-read and a great resource for the kitchen.
This list is my personal list that has helped me along the way. If you have your own list, please leave a comment or send an email. I'd love to hear what's in your set.
Responses to "3 Great Books for Barbeque Beginners" ...
Adam, Raichlen's "How To Grill" is also a great first timer type book, with good photos of every step, including how to set up your grill for each recipe. From there, his BBQ USA is also good for a variety of barbecue styles from across the country.
Since winter of 2004, I have been exploring the world of cooking and helping out my fellow men in their quests to better themselves in the kitchen. My name is Adam Byrd, you can learn more about me and my mission on my