Fruit + Veggie Grilling Guide
Giving fresh vegetables, stone fruit, and even lettuce a turn on the grill will intensify their flavor, with delicious results.
While most people think of grilling burgers, hot dogs, and steaks (find recipe inspiration here!), the grill imparts big flavors to fruits and veggies too. A wide array of produce paired with spice rubs, marinades and sauces galore will keep your patio table overflowing with delicious additions to your grilling repertoire.
Seasonal summer vegetables just happen to be perfect for grilling: zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers are naturally tender and become even sweeter on the grill. Slice these vegetables about 1/4-inch thick and toss them in an easy marinade for 30 minutes (or better yet, overnight) before grilling for a few minutes per side.
A simple combination of wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped garlic and herbs, and salt and pepper are all you need for a tasty marinade. This easy mix will turn grilled vegetables into Italian antipasti to serve with bread, olives, and cheese. Or change the blend to vegetable oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chopped garlic and ginger for Asian-flavored vegetables that are delicious with rice. Store-bought dressings with a vinegar base make wonderful marinades as well.
Summertime peaches, apricots, nectarines, and figs are delicious grilled. Cut fruit in half and remove any pits, then coat lightly with oil. For a sweet-savory side dish to grilled pork, chicken, or lamb, sprinkle on a little salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar, then grill for a few minutes per side. And for dessert, dust with brown sugar, then place the halves on a clean part of the grill for a few minutes per side before serving with ice cream or pound cake (or both).
Grilled Pluots
Grilled pluots (or really any stone fruit) topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of granola make a simple and delicious dessert.
Ingredients
4 pluots
2 teaspoons water
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup cinnamon-flavored granola (optional)
Serving Suggestions
Grill extra fruit, since chopped pluots mixed with yogurt and a drizzle of marmalade are a delicious breakfast treat. Or dice them into a summer fruit salsa, with sweet onions and fresh chilies, and serve with chicken or fish.
DirectioNS
Preheat grill to high.
Slice the pluots in half, lengthwise, then twist to open and remove the pit. Set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together the water, cinnamon and marmalade until well blended, then brush the mixture onto each pluot half.
Place the pluots, flesh side down, on the hot grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, brushing occasionally with more marmalade. Turn the pluots skin side down, brush the flesh with marmalade and grill 2 more minutes until tender and caramelized.
Remove from the heat, place the grilled pluots on a dessert plate, top with ice cream!
Grilling Tips
Use moderate heat (not high); if it’s a charcoal grill, move the charcoal to one side and grill your fruits and veggies on the other side, over indirect heat.
Be sure to oil your grill thoroughly—fruits and vegetables are high in natural sugars, which means they can easily burn and stick to the grill. Before you begin cooking, clean the grill well, preheat it, and then use several layers of paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to grease it.
Cut vegetables into the largest possible pieces to prevent them from falling through the grill grate and avoid extra time spent flipping more pieces. For example, cut zucchini in slices along the length of the vegetable, rather than slicing into small rounds.
Corn doesn’t always cook through on the grill. Blanch it in boiling water for a few minutes, then grill for 5 to 10 minutes to finish cooking and add smoky flavor.