The weather is heating up and so is our grill. The ways to apply pure maple syrup to cooking are abundant and this couldn’t be more apparent when preparing for a barbecue. From salad dressings to douse garden greens in to sauces slathering ribs, pure maple syrup has the delicious ability to grace numerous recipes this summer.
Maple’s sweetness is the result of sap from sugar maple tree’s being boiled into syrup during sugaring season. Absent of additives, pure maple becomes an essentially wild ingredient that enhances dishes. And so naturally it’s become as common as ketchup in our barbecue caddy.
When it comes to incorporating this natural sweetener into your soiree spread, don’t stop at pure maple syrup. Maple sugar and pure maple butter are also quality additions to the menu. Here is how we include pure maple at the barbecue:
Pure Maple Syrup
The only ingredient you’ll find on a bottle of pure maple syrup is maple syrup. No preservatives. No flavorings. Nothing added. Pure maple syrup’s flavor is all natural, and the grades of maple all have their own, unique taste. Grade A Golden Delicate is buttery and light. Grade A Amber Rich offers a classic maple flavor. And, Grade A Dark Robust brings caramel notes forward.
We suggest using maple syrup as a seasoning ingredient for your grill’s greatest hits. Maple plays well with other flavors, pairing particularly well with soy sauce and miso. Blend these flavors together for a marinade that will earn your salmon and ribs a blue ribbon.
For sides, maple syrup works wonders in a salad dressing. The sweetness melds harmoniously with vinegar and oil for a well-rounded dressing. Beyond salads, stir maple syrup into softened butter to smear across grilled corn for an electrifying bite. Have this maple enriched butter on the table to add to toasted hot dog buns or to dip crunchy, fresh radish halves into.
Pro tip: use our chef-friendly squeeze bottle for precision purposes!
Maple Sugar
In many culinary cases, sugar is an essential component to a balanced recipe. Sweetness supports other flavors, taming what might be too acidic or enriching what might be too flat. You’ll find cane or brown sugar called for in many recipes written for the grill, but you can use maple sugar instead at a 1:1 ratio.
For a dry rub that requests brown sugar, try maple sugar in its place. Beyond the obvious sweetness it imparts, maple sugar also adds a touch of character with its subtly caramelized and toasty notes.
When it comes to barbecue refreshments, a tart lemonade or iced tea will effectively quench thirst. If you’re mixing a batch yourself, use maple sugar as a sweetener.
Pure Maple Butter
Despite its ‘butter’ title, pure maple butter does not contain dairy. Pure maple butter is made only from pure maple syrup. The process of making pure maple butter involves whipping hot maple syrup until a creamy consistency forms. This creates a delectable texture and is perfect for spreading purposes.
In terms of incorporating into the barbecue, consider adding pure maple butter into a “secret” burger sauce. It offers a creamy, caramel-y essence to all the condiment concoctions you can dream of. On the sweeter side of the menu, we suggest enjoying as is with a plate full of fresh fruit.
Here are some recipe suggestions to get the party started: