Grilling vegetables may be one of the easiest and tastiest ways to prepare them. Summer lends itself well to this style of cooking, but it is also a great way to make them all year round. Grilling doesn’t take much time, but it will yield a dish that anyone will enjoy. If you are looking for an easy way to impress your company, this is it.
Prepare the Grill
Start with a clean grill in order to ensure that your veggies will hold the best flavor and that old food tastes will not leach off of the grill while cooking. A fast and effective way to clean it is to cut an onion in half, and then rub the cut side all over the grill swiftly and with pressure. This will help disinfect the grill, as well as adding just a hint of mild flavor to your vegetables.
Choose Your Veggies
Many veggies work well when grilled. You can choose a combo that goes well with your main dish, or else just use whatever is in the fridge. Either way will do. Some vegetables that are known especially for their delicious flavor when grilled are bell peppers, onions, asparagus, tomatoes, squash, mushrooms, eggplant and corn on the cob.
Prepare the Veggies
Next, you will need to prepare the vegetables. Cut them to approximately equal size as this will ensure that they all cook at about the same speed, and will prevent undercooking and overcooking alike. If you are cooking a variety of vegetables together, begin the dense ones first as they will take longer to cook through. If you are cooking a larger vegetable that remains whole, such as corn on the cob, then skip this step, as you will place them directly on the grill when ready.
Brush the pieces lightly with the oil of your choosing – many people use olive oil. You can add salt if you enjoy a more intense taste. You can leave it at that, or else add any other spices of your choice, depending on the particular vegetable and the style of your meal. A few ideas are black pepper, basil, rosemary, or thyme. For an extra kick, you can add balsamic vinegar as this will deepen in intensity on the grill and provide a subtly sweet flavor.
Time to Grill
If you have prepared your grill to the correct temperature, it should be on medium heat. Place small vegetables or vegetable pieces in either a basket or on a skewer, to keep them from slipping between the slats on the grill. For larger pieces, place them directly on the grill. Check them often and flip them if in a basket, and turn them repeatedly if they are on a skewer. If necessary, brush them again with oil to prevent them from drying out.
You will know they are done when the skin begins to brown and they are soft throughout. Be sure to sample one of each type of vegetable to be sure that all are done correctly. At this point, you can take them off the grill and serve them alongside the rest of the meal.
Grilling is easy and delicious. If you have never cooked your vegetables this way, you will surely be hooked when you try it for the first time. Follow these easy steps and create a delicious side dish to impress your guests today.
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