Halal BBQ Pitmasters out of Dallas Talk Food, Culture, and Eating Well

This is the BBQ Beat Podcast… I’m your host… Kevin Sandridge.

In this episode, I’m talking with Zahid Ahmad, Rehan Jaffrey, and Neghae Mawla from Halal BBQ Pitmasters out of the Dallas, TX area.

I came across their Instagram feed, located @halalbbqpitmasters, sometime back and was immediately intrigued by what they have going on. Similar to some of the rules and parameters set forth by the Kosher traditions of the Jewish Faith, Halal meats must be harvested in a manner prescribed by Muslim tradition. We’ll talk more about some of the particulars of this tradition later in the podcast.

View this post on Instagram

Dry brine, dry rub and smoke. The hardest part was waiting. But worth the wait. #beefribs #shortribs #shortribplate #beefribplate #dinoribs #dinobones #bgenation #biggreenegg #biggreeneggnation #bge #manmeatbbq #egghead4life #kamadojoe #kamadojoenation #certifiedgrilllover #kamadocooking #kamadocookers #pitmasters #grillmasters #grillingmasters #grillnation #halalpitmasters #halalbbqpitmasters #halalbbq

A post shared by Halal Pitmasters (@halalbbqpitmasters) on Dec 29, 2019 at 3:02pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Have you had bbq ramen? Great fusion of flavors. Recipe is on the site. #halalbbqpitmasters #halalpitmasters #halal #halalfoodie #zabiha #ramennoodles #ramen #ramenlover #ramennoodle #halalramen #noodles #noodlesoup #japanesefood #halaljapan #halalramen ##soupseason #souprecipe #soupoftheday #bbqlovers #bbqfamily #bbqfriends #fusionfood #ribeyesteak #beefribeye

A post shared by Halal Pitmasters (@halalbbqpitmasters) on Jan 22, 2020 at 7:25pm PST

View this post on Instagram

This has to be the best way to make wings. Ever. 400-450 indirect, 18-20 minutes. Super crispy, super juicy. And no turning, flipping or manipulating individual wings. What’s your favorite way to wing it? #biggreentandoor #tandoor #tandooristyle #halalpitmasters #halalbbqpitmasters #halalbbq #halaleats #halalfood #halalfoodie #halalgrill #halalgrilling #chickenwings #smokedwings #chicken #wings #bgenation #biggreenegg #biggreeneggnation #bge #manmeatbbq #egghead4life #kamadojoe #kamadojoenation #certifiedgrilllover #kamadocooking #kamadocookers #pitmasters #grillmasters #grillingmasters

A post shared by Halal Pitmasters (@halalbbqpitmasters) on Sep 7, 2019 at 7:32am PDT

What I love here is this… food, in all of its awesome and delicious forms, connects us across cultural and religious traditions, and this country is one where we’re free to celebrate this fact.

One of my favorite lines from Daniel Vaughn’s book The Prophets of Smoked Meats: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue is where Vaughn talks about exploring traditional food traditions in New Orleans during his days at Tulane… he states: “Lessons in food are lessons in culture, so the more food discoveries I made, the more at home I felt.”

These statements echo some of the sentiments many of us learned to appreciate from the late Anthony Bourdain as he took us on amazing culinary journeys that often led us into the homes and hearths of people across the globe.

If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.
– Anthony Bourdain

It’s in this spirit that the guys at Halal BBQ Pitmasters bring their love of food to the masses.

If you truly love food, I think you’re going to love getting to know these three gentlemen.