Which cooking technique uses indirect heat to cook food, often used in barbecue?

The correct answer is smoking, as this technique specifically utilizes indirect heat to cook food and is often associated with barbecue. In smoking, the food is placed in a separate chamber away from direct flames, allowing it to be infused with the flavors of wood smoke while cooking slowly at a lower temperature. This method enhances the taste and tenderness of the meat, distinguishing it from other cooking techniques.

Roasting, while it also uses indirect heat, typically occurs in an oven where the food is surrounded by hot air, leading to different results in flavor and texture compared to smoking. Grilling primarily involves direct heat from below, which is not suitable for the low-and-slow cooking method used in barbecue. Baking, like roasting, involves heating the food through hot air in an oven rather than using smoke, making it distinct from the smoking process. Thus, smoking is the most accurate answer for a barbecue technique utilizing indirect heat.