Heat & Eat: Turn up the heat on your cooking and dining

Craving heat? Nothing matches those delicious flavours forged through exciting cooking methods – the kind holiday meal memories are made of. Here’s how to bring the heat to your cooking and dining, so you can make your table a feel-good destination and serve up exotic, atmospheric feasts that hit the spot.

In times long ago, communities would gather around an open fire to cook and, ever since, heat, food and togetherness have been closely connected across cultures all around the world..

We can harness the magic of these timeless ‘ingredients’ to create meaningful, flavourful meals at home. With a dash of inspiration from cuisines around the world, it’s easy to unlock the transformative potential of grilling, frying and oven-cooking, and experience the endless feasting opportunities these techniques bring us. To fire up your imagination, we’ve adapted traditional recipes from different cultures so you can make unique dishes your own. Let’s heat and eat!

Try a sizzling South African tradition

In South Africa, family and friends love to get together for “Braai”, meaning barbeque, partying and simply being together. The technique involves grilling meats and other foods over hot coals or wood. With Braai, the grill is centre stage and lamb chops are a tried and tested favourite.

To make this sizzling tradition yours, try our Lamb Chops with Peppermint, teamed with zingy Chakalaka Coleslaw on the side. The results are delicious, but the steps are simple. Marinate your meat then let the grill work its magic!

Lamb Chops with Peppermint Recipe

Love Turkish foods? Make our reimagined Lamb Courgette Koftas and Fish Kebabs, served up with a fresh, simply dressed salad. Or look to the USA and make classic (but mini) burgers, sizzled on the grill. Go for gold and even try baking Homemade Burger Buns in the oven using your muffin tin to create a standout spread.

Lamb zucchini koftas Recipe

Make Hawaiian Kalua Pork in your casserole

Hawaii isn’t just known for its breathtaking landscapes and sought-after surfing spots, it’s also where “Luau” hails from. People gather together to feast, dance and celebrate. Whether you’re cooking for two or twenty, this tradition brings rich inspiration. A special highlight is the preparation of legendary Kalua Pork. The pig is wrapped in banana leaves the day before and buried in a sandpit filled with hot stones. It’s cooked very slowly overnight, to keep everything super-juicy. The smoke and spices lend a unique, heady aroma.

You can achieve similar results in your trusty oven, with the transformative power of casserole cooking. Our Kalua Pork recipe is all about taking your time to create great results. Marinate the meat overnight in the barbeque seasoning, including the beautiful red Hawaiian salt, then cook for 5-6 hours ‘low and slow’ in the oven in your classic Le Creuset cast iron casserole.

Team with a lively cocktail, made with spiced rum. Meet Blue Hawaiian Cocktail with Grilled Pineapple – your new favourite tipple.

Kalua Pork Recipe

Gather frying ideas from far and wide

You might think of your frying pan as an everyday tool for everyday flavours, but there’s far more to the art of frying. A classic Korean dish, “Bulgogi” means fire meat. Traditionally created with beef, this BBQ dish is flavoured with the most delicious marinade and served with fresh pear slaw. Love Asian flavours? You can make Beef Bulgogi and Asian Papaya & Pear Slaw in your frying pan at home and unleash that ‘fire effect’.

If you’re looking for a light, healthy bite for a snack, appetiser or main, try Coriander, Lime and Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa. Sizzled to perfection in your Le Creuset toughened non-stick pan, the aromas, taste and party atmosphere will transport you to Mexico. Or make Red Curry Salad Wraps with Chicken, another bright, light idea – this time from Indonesia. Both are much more than a ‘flash in the pan’. They’re the ultimate in healthy-yet-exciting suppers.

Coriander, Lime and Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Set the scene, for added atmosphere

All these recipes turn up the heat on the cooking experience, helping you create refreshingly new experiences with the cooking methods you already rely on. That’s what bringing the heat is all about. Why not go a step further and bring the same spirit and inspiration to the moment itself – the ritual of sharing food with others? When you’re cooking at home, you can inject new excitement by making a meal of it and setting the scene with intention, artistry and atmosphere, whether you’re eating indoors or are lucky to have a balcony or garden.

Heard of bringing the outside in? Bring the indoors out! Treat your outside space as a room, with comfy seating and bright cushions. Set the table with candles, napkins and vibrant Le Creuset dinnerware. Make the most of the heat on warm days, or cosy up with textured blankets if it’s chillier. You can even match your space to your menu, with bright flowers and colourful stoneware for a Hawaiian feast or a subtle nod to stars and stripes for an all American buffet.

Ready to feel the heat? When you embrace the new, you can enjoy exciting flavours and a true sense of occasion, whether it’s a weekend feast or a mid-week supper made special. You’ll never look at a seemingly simple grill or frying pan in the same way again...