Over the past few years, we’ve seen something interesting happening in the world of live-fire cooking.
More chefs — and increasingly serious home cooks — are moving towards plancha cooking.
At first glance a plancha can look like a simple flat BBQ plate. But once you cook one, you quickly realize it’s something quite different.
Recently we spoke with Horatiu Morar from Plancha BBQ UK, who specializes in high-quality European Plancha's. He shared some insights into why this style of cooking is gaining momentum — and why the fuel underneath the plate matters more than many people realize.
What Is Plancha?
The word plancha simply means “metal plate” in Spanish.
Traditionally used in Spanish tapas cooking, a plancha allows food to be cooked directly on a thick steel plate heated from beneath by fire.
Unlike a traditional grill where food sits over open flames or grates, plancha cooking offers several advantages:
- Even heat distribution
- Excellent caramelisation (Maillard reaction)
- No flare-ups
- No food falling through grates
It’s a simple concept, but very effective. Once hot, the steel becomes an incredibly versatile cooking surface.
As Horatiu explains:
“A lot of people expect a flat BBQ plate. What they don’t expect is the speed and control you get once the steel plate is properly heated.”
Why We Love Plancha Cooking
One of the biggest surprises for people using a plancha for the first time is just how versatile it is.
You can cook:
- Prawns and seafood
- Smash burgers
- Steaks
- Vegetables
- Flatbreads
- Eggs and breakfast dishes
- Stir-fry style meals
- Teppanyaki-style cooking
There’s also a strong social aspect to plancha cooking. At Firemasters we love shooting the breeze around an open fire around the plancha and sharing a cooking experience.
As Horatiu puts it:
“It’s performance cooking and fun too.”
Why Fuel Matters in Plancha Cooking
If the fire is weak or inconsistent, the plate never reaches the temperatures needed for proper searing.
From our experience supplying fuel to live-fire kitchens across the UK, proper fuel is key to a good cook.
Horatiu agrees:
“For plancha cooking you need strong, stable heat to bring the steel plate up to temperature. Dense hardwood performs far better than softer woods.”
Dense hardwood such as sekelbos or kameeldoring provide:
- Higher heat output
- Longer burn time
- Cleaner combustion
- Stable cooking temperatures
Once the steel plate reaches temperature, that consistency allows you to cook quickly and precisely.
A Simple Plancha Recipe: Garlic Butter Prawns with Chilli & Lemon
One of the best ways to experience plancha cooking is with seafood. This garlic butter prawns plancha recipe is simple, fast and perfect for cooking over live fire.
Ingredients
- Large raw king prawns (shell on works best)
- Garlic (chopped)
- Fresh chili (sliced)
- Unsalted butter
- Olive oil
- Fresh parsley (chopped)
- Lemon wedges
- Sea salt & cracked black pepper
Method
Heat the plancha until the steel plate is properly hot.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and place the prawns directly onto the hot steel. When the prawns hit the surface, they should sizzle immediately.
Leave them undisturbed for about a minute, so they develop good color and caramelisation.
Turn the prawns once, then add a knob of butter followed by the chopped garlic and chili.
As the butter melts, move the prawns gently through it, so the flavors combine on the hot plate without the garlic burning.
Cook for another minute or so, then finish with lemon juice, chopped parsley, sea salt, and cracked black pepper.
Serve immediately.
Signs the Prawns Are Done
Prawns cook very quickly on a hot plancha. A few simple signs tell you they’re ready:
- The flesh turns opaque white and pink
- They curl slightly into a “C” shape
- You’ll see light caramelization on the edges
If the prawns curl into a tight “O” shape, they’re usually overcooked. Prawns overcook very quickly, especially if they are peeled.
Where can you find the Plancha BBQ in the UK
If you want o find out more about plancha cooking, you can explore the range from Plancha BBQ UK online, or increasingly at garden centres across the UK such as at the Monkton Elm Garden Centre in Taunton.
For those that are interested, here is their best seller BBQ Plancha Grill Compañero XXL Corten steel
