Grilling Fruits and Vegetables to Perfection

summer bbq recipes
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By Katie Hurley

summer bbq recipesAs the weather warms up, the produce department fills with the freshest and juiciest fruits and vegetables of the season.  There is no shortage of produce choices, and no shortage of different ways to prepare them.  Since this bountiful produce season is also prime grilling season, it’s the perfect time to throw some fruits and veggies on the grill.  And the perfect places to pick out your produce are locally-owned Bayview Thriftway and Ralph’s Thriftway.

Whether grilled vegetables are your side dish or your main dish, the smoky flavor boost that comes from caramelized grill marks can’t be beat.  A grilled whole portabella mushroom makes a great vegetarian burger, or for a beautiful side dish fill it with Toasted Israeli Couscous Salad with Grilled Summer Vegetables.  This colorful, hearty salad is filled with grilled peppers, zucchini, asparagus and cherry tomatoes (yes, you can grill cherry tomatoes!)  Israeli couscous is available in the bulk foods section at both Bayview and Ralph’s.  The nutty flavor of the couscous is a perfect match for the smoky, grilled vegetables.

For a quicker grilled vegetable side dish, toss asparagus spears with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and grill over medium heat until they begin to brown and soften up.  Grilled corn is great too.  Gently peel the husks back, remove the silk and then slide the husk back up over the corn.  Grill over medium, indirect heat, turning occasionally, until the kernels are tender when pierced with a knife – about 15-20 minutes.

summer bbq recipesDepending on your grill grates, smaller mushrooms and cherry tomatoes might need to be threaded on skewers before grilling so they don’t fall between the grates. Soak bamboo skewers in water for 20 minutes before threading the vegetables on the skewer.  This will keep the exposed parts of the skewer from catching fire and burning your food.

Many fruits are wonderful grilled, as well.  In this Grilled Watermelon Salad, grilled watermelon chunks with feta cheese and fresh mint in a citrus vinaigrette dressing make a bright and refreshing salad that is perfect for hot summer evenings along side some grilled salmon or halibut.

Caesar salad can be taken to a whole new level on the grill.  First, choose hearts of romaine lettuce that aren’t too large.  Split them lengthwise down the middle, and carefully wash each half.  Let them rest cut-side down on towels to dry for a few minutes.  Heat the grill to medium, brush the cut side of the romaine lightly with olive oil and place the romaine face down on the grill.  Grill until char marks appear and the edges just begin to turn brown and wilt.  Remove from the grill and place the romaine on a platter with the cut side up.  Drizzle with your favorite Caesar dressing and sprinkle with small crouton pieces.

summer bbq recipesThe flavors in figs and peaches come alive when they are cooked on the grill.  Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Pole Beans features some of summer’s best produce.  With beans that can be cooked ahead and pork and peaches that are grilled together, dinner comes together quickly.  Half of the marinade is used to dress the beans and the rest tenderizes the pork chops and keeps them juicy on the grill.  The combination of juicy, sweet, warm peaches and the herby, smoky pork chops is hard to beat.

And while the grill is still hot, why not grill up dessert?  Toss hulled strawberries in a little bit of balsamic vinegar, sprinkle lightly with sugar and grill them briefly on high heat, removing them from the grill before they get so soft that they collapse.  Spoon them over vanilla ice cream for a cool, tasty treat.  Grilled banana slices change up the standard banana split.  Halve bananas lengthwise, sprinkle with brown sugar and grill over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, then turn them gently and grill for another 2-3 minutes.

Check out all of the season’s bounty in the produce departments at Bayview Thriftway and Ralph’s Thriftway, where you’ll find something great to put on your grill tonight.

summer bbq recipesBayview Thriftway

516 W. 4th Ave., Olympia

360-352-4897

 

Ralph’s Thriftway

1908 E. 4th Ave., Olympia

360-357-8011

 

www.olythriftway.com

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