8 Unusual Veggies for the Grill

BBQ season is here!  But it's not all about the steak, there are plenty of tasty veggies you can grill that change the flavor or just make them even more delicious! I have been absolutely in love with Grilled Avocado in all my Buddha bowls and can't get enough of it.  Besides Grilled Avocado there are 7 other slightly unusual veggies that you might not have considered grilling that you can include in your summer dishes!  

Grilled Avocado

Avocados are spectacular fruits that lend themselves to all kinds of savory dishes (and sweet ones too!). But it’s not often we think of enjoying them grilled. Grilled in their skins, the avocados acquire a marvelous smoky flavor and their flesh becomes soft and warm. Fire up some coals and sear some ripe avocados for an unexpected grilled treat during a summer cookout. I add a grilled avocado to my rice bowls and stirfrys just to make them extra special and add a little healthy fat.  

Grilled Avocado Recipe

Ingredients

1. 2 large ripe-but-firm avocados
2. 1 teaspoon lime juice
3. 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
4. sea salt to taste

Directions

Preheat grill or griddle to high heat. Cut the avocados in half lengthwise and carefully remove the pits. Do not peel the avocados. In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice and oil. Brush the cut side of the avocados with the lime mixture and sprinkle with salt to taste. Place the avocados cut-side-down on the grill until grill marks appear. Turn the avocados over and continue to grill until the skin is charred and the flesh has softened. Transfer to a plate and let cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the avocados with salt again and spoon the tomato salsa in the center of each avocado half. 

Grilled Artichoke

If you love artichokes like me then you are going to want to try grilling them this summer! Grilling makes almost everything taste better, including artichokes! The trick to making a great grilled artichoke is doing most of the cooking before it ever hits the grill. The artichoke should be steamed and cooked till fully tender, but not overly soft. Brush them with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill till you char some grill marks into the stem. The result is a tender, flavorful artichoke – a nice change of pace from the steamed variety.

Here are a few recipes to try:

Grilled Artichokes and Easy Garlic Aioli

Grilled Artichokes with Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce

Romaine Lettuce

Why in the world would anyone want to grill lettuce? Lettuce just isn’t part of the grilling food group is it??? Anyone who loves salad and also loves grilled things, but hasn’t tried to put them together needs to try this STAT!  Then when you’re done with the grilling, you can either serve them whole (one romaine heart per person), or slice them crosswise, and toss them in a bowl for a grilled salad. I can just imagine a grilled romaine salad with grilled corn and all the fixins!  

Here are a few recipes you might want to try: 

Grilled Romaine with Lemon and Parmesan

Grilled Romaine Salad

And a tutorial on how to grill Romaine Hearts

Red, Orange & Yellow Peppers

Grilled peppers are one of easiest side dishes you can have have in your arsenal, these grilled bell peppers are fast, fresh, and flavorful.

Here are a few recipes to try:

The Easiest Grilled Peppers

Roasted Peppers with Garlic and Herbs

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are cooked in a variety of ways, but grilling isn't among the most common methods. Much of this relates to the structure of cucumbers. These vegetables are high in water content, which doesn't suit them well for grilling. One of the risks on a grill is that the cucumber's water will evaporate, causing the vegetable to shrivel and dry out quickly. Although you need to take care of the cucumber and watch it closely on a grill, you can still cook it and achieve a nice effect.

Here's how:

Step 1: Cut the cucumbers across its length and into thirds. Then cut along the length of the cucumber to produce four spears per third of the cucumber.

Step 2: Turn the grill to medium heat.

·         Step 3: Place the cucumbers on the grill with one of the cut sides touching the grate. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4: Flip to the other cut side and grill for 2 to 3 more minutes.

Step 5: Remove the cucumbers from the grill.

Recipe to try:  Grilled Cucumbers with Creamy Pickled Feta Dip

Kale

Who knew you could grill kale? I didn’t. The kale leaves actually hold up very well on the grill with the stems and all. Don’t walk away because it just takes one to two minutes per side. Grilling brings out a rich smokey flavor with a texture that is crunchy and chewy at the same time, and it looks quite unique on a platter, something you don’t see often.

A few recipes to try with Grilled Kale: 

Grilled Kale Salad

Grilled Kale with Parmesan Dressing

Grilled Kale & Veggie Kebabs

   

Portobello Mushrooms

I love my Portobello Pizza's and Portobello Tuna melts so grilling a portobello seems like second nature to me!  Marinating them with balsamic, soy sauce and Montreal steak seasoning gives them a more meaty flavour which works especially well if you are making portobello mushroom burgers!

Recipes to try:

Grilled Portobello Sandwiches

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Cheese

Watermelon

Grilling watermelon brings its natural sugars to the surface and caramelizes them slightly, making it a perfect light dessert for a hot summer night. Step up your game and provide a variety of spices, such as aleppo pepper, cayenne pepper or smoked sea salt, for your guests to garnish their watermelon as they please. Recipe Here

Recipes to try:

Grilled Watermelon Salad

Grilled Watermelon, mint and feta salad