Hiiligrillin

Hiiligrillin is a Finnish term that translates to charcoal grilling. It refers to the method of cooking food over charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. This cooking technique is popular in Finland, especially during the summer months, and is often associated with outdoor activities like picnics and barbecues.

The process of hiiligrillin involves arranging charcoal in a grill, igniting it, and allowing it to burn until it is covered in a layer of gray ash, indicating the coals are at the optimal temperature for cooking. Food is then placed on a grill grate above the coals and cooked using radiant heat. The type of fuel used, charcoal, imparts a distinct smoky flavor to the food that is often sought after in this method of cooking.

Various foods can be prepared using hiiligrillin, including meats like sausages, burgers, and chicken, as well as fish and vegetables. The intensity of the heat can be controlled by adjusting the distance between the food and the coals or by managing the airflow to the grill. This allows for a range of cooking styles, from direct searing to slower indirect cooking. Hiiligrillin is a fundamental part of Finnish outdoor culinary traditions.