Grilling fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to enhance a meal or for creating a low-fat, vegan version of your favorite meals. Grilling brings out the sweetness in most fruits. Onions and peppers are commonly slid onto kabob skewers at cookouts. Grilled mushrooms make a great addition to any plate. If you are looking for healthy food options prepared in different ways, grilling can be a wonderful way to cook your fresh produce. Grilled fruit can make an excellent dessert. Paired with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar or some ice cream, grilled fruit is almost irresistible.
Eggplant, asparagus, and zucchini are all delicious vegetables for the grill. Many vegetables are simply brushed with oil, seasoned, and placed on the grill. They can also be wrapped in foil to cook as well. Vegetables will steam more than they actually grill when they’ve been wrapped in foil, yet still, have that smoky grilled flavor to them. They can be used as a garnish for meat dishes, burgers, pasta, and salads. Grilled veggies can also be used as flavorful pizza toppings. They can make a nice addition to any hummus or dip that needs flavor.
To prepare fresh produce for the grill, you must first trim, wash, and slice everything. Leave yourself as much surface area as possible while you cut to make the pieces easier to grab and turn on the grill. Next, brush the pieces with olive oil. Brushing your portions with oil will give them a nice flavor and prevent them from sticking and burning as they cook on the grate. Allow your vegetables to cook for a few minutes untouched at first if possible. This will help create some nice char marks on the outside before you finish cooking them. Almost any produce item can be grilled.
How long to cook each vegetable depends on its size, shape, and composition. Items like peppers and onions can be grilled with high heat. They usually need to be cooked for about 8-10 minutes. Squash, zucchini, and more fragile vegetables like mushrooms don’t need as much heat to grill. These veggies can be ready to eat after just 7-8 minutes on the grill. Quick-cooking vegetables like asparagus, tomatoes, and green onions can be grilled in as little as four minutes. If the vegetables aren’t cooking, move them to the rear of the grill where it’s hotter. If they are browning too quickly, move the veggies to a spot with less heat.
Sweet onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, and squash are all excellent veggies for the grill. Fruits like pineapple, peaches, nectarines, and plums can also be grilled to sweet perfection. You can unlock new flavors and aromas in your favorite produce items. Families love to get together and cook on the barbecue. Having some meatless options that are delicious for everyone is important. Some family members may be looking for healthy or vegan options. Slices of cauliflower can be grilled and seasoned in place of ground burger patties. Try grilling some delicious summer produce from The Farmers on Wheels at your next cookout.