You’re an expert and you can prep and grill the usual suspects – burgers, dogs, and maybe an ear of corn – to the satisfaction of your family.
The real test of a great grillmaster is whether or not you can take advantage of the versatility of the open flame. Whether steaming, baking, or direct grilling, you have many methods to cook outdoors this summer using a lot of the same ingredients that mostly stay in your kitchen during barbecue season.
Here are some surprising foods you can grill, if you’re looking to change it up this year:
#1 – Veggies
Sure, potatoes and corn are great to roast for the summer. But other seasonal vegetables like summer squash can become intensely flavorful when grilled.
Stuffed and/or grilled zucchini, artichokes, or mini peppers make great side dishes (and of course wrapping anything in bacon makes it a meal.) Brussel sprouts, asparagus, even romaine lettuce can retain some crunch while being deliciously crunchy when charred hot from the grill.
#2 – Fruits
Not only veggies like squash transform great on the grill. Fruits like peaches, pears, apples, and even pineapple are great on their own or can be baked on your grill as part of a dessert.
Watermelon is another surprisingly tasty addition to your meal, especially if you coat it with something like lime and honey first. A literal bunch of grapes tossed on a hot grill rack for four or five minutes will produce a very nice fruit side for a grilled pork chop. Eggplant and avocado are fruits, and grilling them brings out a rich, creamy, smoky flavor as well.
#3 – Cheese
When you’re preparing to grill a cheese – and no, we don’t mean in a sandwich, though obviously you can do that on your grill, too – it’s important to know what sorts of cheese will hold up to intense heat.
Throw a hunk of parmesan or provolone on the grill directly – no oil, no butter, no bread coating – and you’ll get a nutty, crunchy treat.
Semi-hard cheeses like halloumi and kasseri might not char up quite as nicely as parmesan because it melts quickly, but it can pair well with your grilled summer squash. And of course a grilled wheel of brie is great paired with your grilled fruits.
#4 – Dessert
The next late summer evening when the grill is still hot, try making a banana split s’mores: Split the banana, fill with marshmallow and chocolate, wrap in foil, and bake on the grill for five minutes until the marshmallows look toasted.
Cereal and frozen berries in a foil-wrapped pouch will take about an hour to grill up into granola for fresh ice cream or yogurt. And in addition to foil-wrapped desserts, if you own a cast iron skillet, you probably know you can bake any number of skillet desserts on your grill, as well (as long as it’s on indirect heat.)
Don’t forget to enter the #WhatsGrillin contest!
This year there’s no photo needed, no purchase required—just some good old-fashioned summer fun! All it takes is a quick entry with a few fun questions and you’re in the running to win big from Porter’s and Weber Grills. Winners will be drawn on Saturday, July 14 during Porter’s GRILLED Event in Riverton (but don’t worry, you don’t have to be there to win!).
