We’ve been reading all your Kitchen Talk ideas and suggestions in our last giveaway post, and there are so many great ones there! Today’s topic comes from Jean, and she wants to know:
Do you have any summer grilling ideas?
I want to know, too. Now that summer is just around the corner, I’m looking forward to the prospect of eating outside, smelling that smell of meat (or vegetables) charring and listening to the sound of drippings sizzling on hot coals. And though burgers and hotdogs are usual summer grilling fare, I know you all have creative ideas and lovely recipes to share.
Betsy loves grilled veggies: eggplant, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, asparagus. She says, “I live for summer, because of grilled vegetables. And chimichurri is my sauce of choice with a steak and a big plate of veggies.” Nanci is a big batch cooker so she likes to get several pounds of chicken breasts marinated and grill them all at once for quick weeknight meals. She loves grilled veggies too, so skewers or a veggie grate/pan is a must-have for her.
For me, my favorite thing to do on the grill is a riff on chicken souvlaki. I like to make a tangy Greek dressing and marinate large chunks of veggies in some of the dressing, then mix the rest of the dressing with yogurt and use that to marinate chicken or lamb. Pop them on skewers and grill as desired, then serve with warm pita bread (brush the pitas with some dressing and grill slightly to make them extra special), fresh chopped tomatoes, onion, cucumber, cilantro, roasted corn, tzatziki sauce, and whatever else you like in your pita.
I’ve also seen some interesting and unconventional grilling recipes here in Tasty Kitchen, like grilled romaine hearts for a salad and a grilled breakfast pizza. I’ve been wanting to jump on the grilled pizza bandwagon for some time now, and I think I should make that happen this summer.
How about you? What do you love to put on the grill? Share your ideas with us below, and if you have a link to the recipe somewhere, we’d love to see that too!
18 Comments
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marina on 5.10.2014
Last summer was my first time to grill. I grilled a lot of fantastic veggies along with carne asade, ribs and burgers. I plan to branch out a lot more this summer and try butterflied marinated chicken weighted down with wrapped bricks. I’m also going to try steak-like fish like mahi mahi & maybe sea bass. It’s a little intimidating but I may even try to roast a tri tip over indirect heat.
Patricia @ ButterYum on 5.9.2014
I think one of my favorite things to grill is fresh corn on the cob. I peel back the husks without detaching them – pull off all the silk strands – drizzle on a little melted butter, salt, and pepper – pull the husks back over the cobs – then grill, turning often, until the corn is toasty and roasty and oh so good. Eat straight away or cut the kernels off the cob and use in salads.
Mariz on 5.8.2014
Oh this looks lovely! i can’t wait to try this out with paninis on the weekend!
Cathey on 5.8.2014
We try and grill all year even when it’s 20 degrees outside, we have a Weber charcoal and cheap gas grill.. Our favorites in good weather are butterflied leg of lamb, just made this twice in the last month, boy it was still cold outside.
Grilled shrimp (marinated) with grilled asparagus over a salad, beats the winter chill.
My favorite vegetables, sweet potato with red onion, chili powder, ketchup in foil packs. Also like baby Japanese eggplant with a drizzle of flavored oil, grilled then serve with goat cheese or feta and really good balsamic.
Lets face it everything is better Grilled.
Karen D. on 5.8.2014
* Balsamic marinated chicken breasts, top with fresh mozzarella and a tomato basil bruschetta topping. Serve with salad and homemade crusty bread (Artisan bread in five)
* Greek chicken thighs – marinate in homemade greek dressing, serve with greek salad, pita and tzatziki sauce
* Grilled steak – serve with brandy espresso peppercorn sauce. (basicly Ree’s brandy cream sauce, but add instant espresso.
Colette (Coco in the Kitchen) on 5.7.2014
PS-That pic is really great.
Colette (Coco in the Kitchen) on 5.7.2014
Slices of potatoes and whole poblano peppers.
YUM!
Beth on 5.7.2014
One of my favorite things to grill are tator tots. We thaw them a little and then put them on a pizza pan with holes and sprinkle with Lawry’s sault. We also do a lot of flatbread pizzas. The arugula, fig and prociutto one on this site is a favorite.
Donna Ol on 5.7.2014
1) Potato and onion. I slice a potato in 1/8″ slices leaving the bottom all connected, then I take onion slices and put it in each potato slice. I put salt, pepper and butter on top. Wrap in aluminum foil, put on grill and turn it a few times. Takes about 30 minutes.
2) White fish (flounder, haddock or cod) covered with lemon slices, salt, pepper, either olive oil or butter, wrap in aluminum foil and put on grill. Turn once. Takes about 15 minutes.
cougwife on 5.7.2014
Some of my favorites are:
Beer Can Chicken (with beautifully browned crispy skin)
Mixed veggies in a grill basket (usually zucchini, onion chunks, yellow squash, peppers of all colors, pineapple, cherry tomatos and mushrooms)
BBQ roasted red potatoes (we use disposable tin pans but you can also use foil
Cajun Grilled Shrimp (we usually use the U10 or U12 – depending on what I can find)
Grilled Pizzas
Can’t wait for summer – it’s still raining here)
christine on 5.7.2014
I finally became brave and put pizza dough on a grill last summer. It worked wonderfully! It didn’t stick, it bubbled up and was light and airy, and it was quick with a great grilled taste. Once the dough was done, I easily topped with cheese, sauce and let it melt. Perfect!
Eva D on 5.7.2014
Our family likes to make “Hobo” dinners in foil bundles. You can fill them with your favorite meat, cut into small pieces (we like to use ground beef ,chicken or sausage), veggies (potato ,carrot , onions etc. sliced thin so they are done when the meat is cooked through). Season with seasoned salt, pepper and a pat of butter. The kids like to make these because they can “customize” them to their own liking. Desserts in bundles are fun too! Get creative
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 5.7.2014
Greetings to All! We grill all year round in (Florida). I have a charcoal as well as dual gas grill. Depending on what I might be cooking and I do use the grill(s) a lot for almost anything. Recently, I did fruit ie; watermelon circles, honeydew melon with prosciutto (posted on TK) tonight, I am grilling Citrus chicken wings, red potatoes in foil with herbs and olive oil, corn wheels (posted on TK) and YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO JOIN ME…Best Regards, Cheryl.
Kris on 5.7.2014
My fave is smoked salmon. I soak a cedar plank and wood chips. After heating the soaked plank on the prepared coals, flip it over, lay out the salmon, sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, and a thin layer of dark brown sugar. Throw the soaked chips directly onto hot coals, put the plank over the heat, cover with the lid, and wait 20 minutes or so for the magic to happen. Divine!
Midwest Doug on 5.7.2014
Anyone out there in TK Land have any bread recipes for the grill ? To Karen in Seattle; grilled peaches are a must !
karen in seattle on 5.7.2014
Grilled peach halves! They go with everything.
Becky C on 5.7.2014
I just recently had grilled romaine lettuce leaves where they had drizzled them with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and fresh Parmesan. I fell in love with it.
Rina : I Thee Cook on 5.7.2014
I’m with you on the chicken souvlaki!