How to Set Up the Perfect Argentinian Asado in the UAE

An Argentinian asado is not a quick weeknight grill. It's a slow, social event built around fire, good meat, and patience. If you're setting one up in the UAE for the first time, here's what you need to know.

What makes an asado different

In a conventional BBQ, you cook over direct heat. In an asado, you cook over embers — not flame. The fire burns separately, usually in an offset firebox or to the side of the cooking area, and you move hot coals under the grill as needed. This gives you indirect, consistent radiant heat that cooks meat slowly and evenly without burning the outside.

The other difference is time. A proper asado is a two to three hour event minimum. You're not in a rush.

Setting up the fire

Start with hardwood if you can find it — quebracho or mesquite are ideal. In the UAE, acacia wood works well. If you're using charcoal, use good quality lump charcoal rather than briquettes.

Light the fire at least 45 minutes before you want to start cooking. You're waiting for the wood to break down into glowing embers with no visible flame. Flame burns meat. Embers cook it.

On a Santa María parrilla, light your fire in the firebox on the side. On the Santino, use the offset firebox. On La Poderosa, build a small coal bed directly in the base.

Getting the heat right

Hold your hand about 15cm above the grate. If you can hold it there for 4 to 5 seconds, you have medium heat — good for most cuts. If you can only hold it for 2 seconds, it's high heat, suitable for thin cuts like chorizo or skirt steak.

On the Santa María, use the gear-wheel to raise the grate for lower heat and lower it for higher heat. This is the most important tool in live-fire cooking.

What to cook

A classic asado starts with chorizo and morcilla while the main cuts are cooking. Then comes the larger cuts — tira de asado (short ribs), vacío (flank), or a whole chicken butterflied flat. Vegetables go on at the end when the heat has dropped.

Season simply — good salt applied generously before cooking, nothing else needed.

The UAE setup

Outdoor cooking is a natural fit for the UAE climate from October through April. A rooftop, garden, or desert camp all work well. All DD Grills products are designed for outdoor use and built to handle the conditions.

If you're setting up an asado for a group and want advice on the right grill or setup, message us directly on WhatsApp.