Emilee Unterkoefler
People love juicy cheeseburgers fresh off the grill, but plenty of other foods taste amazing with a touch of flame and some char marks. Here’s are 10 foods you can grill up this summer.
Romaine Lettuce
Because of romaine’s durability, this type of lettuce can withstand the heat of the grill, and it creates a depth of flavor like nothing else. The char flavor amps things up a notch.
Cut the romaine in half lengthwise, and then lightly brush the cut side with some olive oil. Place the hearts on a hot, clean, oiled grill, with the cut side down. Let the romaine hearts sit for only a few minutes or until grill marks appear, and then remove them immediately.
You can make a fancy wedge salad with some bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese, and red onion. Or, keep it classic with some freshly made Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, and homemade croutons.
Lemons
Next time you plan to grill up some swordfish steaks or salmon filets, be sure to throw a few lemons on the grates, as well. When you grill lemons and other citrus fruits, it reduces their bitter flavors and adds a depth of sweetness. Not only that, but the char marks add some character and quality, as well.
Cut your lemons in half, and then place them on the grill grates. Be sure to check them often so they don’t burn. You can either put them in the fridge for later or serve them hot with your fish or seafood entrée.
Pineapples
Marinated, grilled pineapple is the perfect way to add some pizazz to a multitude of dishes. Bite-sized cubes threaded on skewers will nicely accompany shrimp or chicken.
Or, you can grill up a few juicy steaks and top them with some warm, flavorful pineapple salsa. You can also store grilled salsa cold and top a few fish tacos with it, if that’s more your thing.
Regardless of what you plan to make, grilled pineapple is a sure way to jazz up your next meal.
Avocados
What’s not to love about avocados? They’re healthy fat you can eat with a spoon—no bowl required, as this tasty green machine provides one for you. If you’ve never tried grilling these bad boys, then now’s the time!
Cut your avocados in half and remove the large seeds from the center. Brush some olive oil on the sliced sides and place them cut-side down on the grill. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper, and a pinch of cayenne for a kick of piquancy.
Peaches
Grilled peaches are all the rage, and once you give them a try, you’ll understand why. Slice your peaches in half, remove the stones, and then lightly brush some olive oil on the cut sides.
Place them cut-side down, and then grill for about five minutes or until grill marks appear. You can dice your grilled goodness and create a peach salsa, or serve them warm with a single scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a dash of cinnamon. The possibilities are endless!
Quesadillas
Grilled quesadillas are always fun to make, if only to keep the heat out of the kitchen during those scorching summer days. Corn tortillas work well, but if you plan to use flour, don’t walk away from your grill!
Place your tortillas directly on the oiled grill grates over medium heat. Add your cheese and, when it starts to melt, add your additional fillings. Fold your tortillas over and serve them with guacamole or sour cream, and a side of tortilla chips.
Oysters
Here’s a mighty odd, yet tasty, way to cook up oysters in under 10 minutes. Once your grill is hot, simply place the oysters right on the grates and close the lid. In about five minutes, the shells will open up.
Carefully remove the top shells, drizzle some garlic butter over the meat, and then enjoy them hot.
Bacon
Grilled bacon the perfect excuse for whipping up some bacon cheeseburgers. No need for a greasy mess indoors—the flames will eat that mess up for you.
Preheat your grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. When it reaches this temperature, lay your strips of bacon directly on the grates. Then, close the lid and turn off your grill. This indirect method of cooking will prevent the bacon from burning to a crisp.
Alternatively, you can cook your bacon in a cast-iron skillet on the grill at the same temperature.
Pizza
Grilled pizza is a fun way to get the kids involved because they can design their own pizzas! You can use ready-made pizza dough, make some from scratch, or keep things even simpler with naan or pita bread.
If you want to make your dough from scratch, check out this excellent recipe that grills nicely over an open flame.
Pound Cake
Make a loaf of pound cake or purchase some to create this easy, delicious dessert option. Simply place your slices on moderately hot grill grates and turn them over after about two minutes.
Serve these with grilled peaches and a homemade cinnamon maple whipped cream. Alternatively, you can toss a few berries on top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Your favorite outdoor cooking appliance can do so much more than you might think! Try these out, and then get creative—see what else tastes amazing cooked over an open flame
