James Whetlor’s Grilled Little Gem Lettuce With Za’atar, Pistachio And Garlic Yoghurt

“This is another dish that you might not associate with the BBQ but it’s so easy to cook and makes a lovely light summer lunch. If entertaining, I suggest serving this with the green bean salad or the pork, coriander, and leek kofta from the book, with a nicely chilled, crisp white wine.” – James Whetlor

SUITABLE FOR: All BBQs

SERVES: 4

Ingredients:

4 little gem lettuce, cut in half lengthways
3 tablespoons olive oil
150g/5 ½ oz plain yoghurt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly crushed
1 lemon, cut into wedges
50g/1 ¾ oz pistachio or pine nuts, lightly toasted
1 tablespoon za’atar
1 x 400g/14oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and patted dry
a small handful of chopped oregano
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Preheat the BBQ to a medium heat.

Toss the lettuces with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place on the BBQ and grill, cut side down, for 3 minutes, then turn and cook for a couple more minutes on the other side until nicely charred all over.

Place the yoghurt in a bowl and mix with the garlic, cumin, the juice of ½ lemon and a pinch of salt.

Spread the yoghurt over a platter, drizzle with olive oil, and scatter over the nuts and za’atar. Toss the grilled lettuce with the chickpeas in a bowl. Arrange the mix on the yoghurt, nuts and za’atar and serve with a squeeze of lemon and the chopped oregano.

Reprinted with permission from The DIY BBQ Cookbook; How to Build You Own BBQ and Cook up a Feast by James Whetlor  (Quadrille, £20), 2023, Photography by Sam Folan

Check out our interview with James Whetlor to learn more about DIY BBQs. 

About The DIY BBQ Cookbook

Whether you want to cook a BBQ on the beach, at a campsite, in your garden or even on your balcony, James Whetlor showcases over ten different BBQs you can actually build yourself.

You’ll never use a store-bought instant BBQ tray again, as James guides you through the DIY BBQ section with illustrations, photographs, tips and techniques. BBQs include a konro (a small portable Japanese grill), a washing machine drum BBQ, a tandoor oven made from a flowerpot, and an open-faced grill made from bricks or breeze blocks. Once you’ve mastered the art of barbecue building, there are 50 stunning recipes that you will turn to time and time again.