Broiling

Broiling is a fast and efficient cooking technique that uses high heat from above to cook food quickly. It gives it a crispy, caramelized exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. It’s similar to grilling but with the heat source located above rather than below. Typically done in an oven, broiling is perfect for cooking meats, fish, vegetables, and even some fruits. It provides a charred, flavorful finish in a short amount of time.

How It Works:

When you broil food, it is placed on a broiler pan or a rack, and the heat source is set to a high temperature. The food cooks quickly, as the intense heat sears the surface, creating that desirable crispiness and rich browning. Broiling is often done with the oven door slightly ajar to allow air circulation, preventing the food from steaming and ensuring even cooking.

Ah, summer—the season when the days stretch long and lazy, the grill becomes an altar, and the air is thick with the scent of sunscreen, fresh basil, and someone else’s barbecue. It’s the time of year when appetites grow bold, drinks get colder, and every meal seems to demand to be eaten outdoors, preferably under twinkle lights with good company and a second helping. Summer is when the farmer’s market transforms into a parade of juicy abundance: tomatoes so ripe they barely hold themselves together, corn sweet enough to eat raw, and peaches that drip down your wrist and don’t care who sees. It’s a time when cooking often means not cooking—just slicing, sprinkling, and assembling, because why mess with perfection? This is the season of rosé in sweating glasses, of smoky ribs and chilled melon, of big leafy salads that crunch like applause. It’s when even the most devout homebodies suddenly rediscover the pleasures of the picnic, and when dessert somehow always seems to include berries or a scoop of something frozen. But summer is more than just a menu—it’s a mood. It’s the clink of ice in a tall glass, the flutter of a linen napkin in a breeze, and the sound of laughter drifting over a garden wall. It’s the sweet ache of nostalgia mixed with sunscreen and sea salt, and the knowledge that some of life’s best moments are the simplest ones. Here on The Amiable Gourmand, summer means celebrating all that: the flavors, the feelings, and the stories we tell around the table. So pull up a chair, pour something fizzy, and let’s savor the season together.