Smoking Vegetables (properly)

Smoked Cauliflower with harissa butter, new YouTube out today

Vegetables take on smoke beautifully — if you give them time.

There’s a tendency to treat vegetables on the barbecue as an afterthought. Something to cook quickly while the main event gets the attention.

This film is about doing the opposite.

Taking a whole cauliflower and cooking it gently over indirect heat, so it has time to absorb a light, balanced smoke — not too much, just enough.

Vegetables behave differently to meat. They absorb smoke more quickly, and can be overwhelmed if you’re heavy-handed with it. So the approach here is lighter, more restrained.

A quick blanch helps open up the structure, making it more receptive to smoke. Then it’s just time, gentle heat, and a single piece of wood.

From there, it’s about building flavour in layers.

Butter for richness.
Yogurt for acidity.
Nuts and herbs for texture and freshness.

Nothing complicated — just thoughtful cooking.

Thanks for watching. Please think about sharing my channel with someone who’ll find these films helpful, appreciate your support!

Big love, GT x