Grilling on Meatless Monday
It’s that time of year again, when we fire up the grill and take our dinners outside! Usually, meat is in the spotlight for a cookout, but if you’re looking for a lighter spread for the hot weather, seek out the produce section! Many seasonal vegetables turn out great after some time on the grill – sometimes they even produce some unexpected flavors!
This Monday, follow these tips for great vegetables on the grill!
Think outside the box. When it comes to grilling vegetables, you can’t go wrong with the usual suspects – peppers, eggplant, onions, and zucchini. But many more vegetables – and fruits – are delicious after being grilled. Try artichokes and romaine lettuce or avocados and cucumbers!
Experiment with seasonings. While the combination of olive oil, salt, and pepper is a classic way to bring out the flavor of grilled veggies, seasonings provide flavor options from around the globe! You can go as mild, savory, or spicy as you want with Caribbean-style jerk seasoning, Italian seasoning, Mexican-style, Indian-style… be creative!
Use stand-ins for meat. Sometimes people will still miss burgers and hot dogs despite the best veggie platter, but those cravings can still be satisfied with meatless options. Swap out burgers for portabello mushrooms, or use vegetarian versions of hot dogs, meat crumbles, and bacon to add a savory flavor. Grilling firm tofu or tempeh will not only provide protein but also absorb the flavor from the veggies and smoke. Download our Meatless Monday Burger Cookbook for even more ideas.
Try different delivery systems. Veggies are great on their own, but they can be even better when served as part of a meal. Grilled veggies are perfect for tacos – fajitas, anyone? – and don’t rule out grilling pizza! Try skewers for shish kabobs or throw grilled veggies in a salad.
Don’t forget dessert! Vegetables don’t own the grilling game. Several fruits take on great new flavors after being grilled when the heat makes them caramelize. Pineapples and stone fruits, like peaches, plums and apricots, are perfect for grilling. But less expected choices like watermelons, grapes, apples, strawberries, and bananas also work great on the grill. Just be careful – fruits will cook a lot faster, so keep an eye on them and let them rest a bit before eating!