How to Grill Vegetables

by Tes N.

Most people think that the only things they can grill outside on a grill are steaks chicken, and fish, the main course items. You can cook everything on a grill. I’m going to tell you how to cook the vegetables, the side dishes, even the dessert on the grill.

Vegetables are outstanding on a grill. Nothing is better than a roasted vegetable with a grilled steak. The key is nice firm fresh vegetables. I put a little olive oil on the grill. Then I put on some jumbo asparagus and some yellow squash, split down the middle with a little seasoning, salt, and a little olive oil on the grill. Zucchini squash, red bell pepper, nice beef steak tomatoes, and everybody's favorite corn on the cob are all vegetables that are great on a grill. Now, there are many ways you can do corn on the cob. You can wrap in aluminum foil or let it sit down on the coals and let it steam itself. I like it with just a little olive oil, salt, and pepper on top of the grill roasted.

Now with your vegetables, this is a chance to give your marinating skills a try. Try some Portobello mushroom caps that have been marinated in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Because of the way that mushrooms are, they're going to soak up the vinegar and the olive oil, leaving you with a nice meaty mushroom. Now, if you're a vegetarian, you could make a burger just out of Portobello mushroom.

Most people wouldn't think about grilling salad, and actually probably wouldn't, but try splitting some Belgian endives in half and grill with soy sauce, garlic, and a little bit of olive oil on the grill. The soy sauce and garlic really adds a nice compliment to the slightly bitter taste of the endive.

Grill most of those like you would sea food. You don't want it to be as hot as you do with the beef. You want to grill them over a moderate heat. Allow the vegetables to get slightly sop and still firm.

If you’re grilling a nice, big, juicy porterhouse steak and you want a little grilled onion on it, you don't need to go in the kitchen to do that, just lay it right on the grill. Once they have got grill marks on them, use your spatula to flip them. Let them cook for another minute on the high heat. Let them mellow out and roast a little bit. Now vegetables are one thing you can eat raw. So, don't worry about undercooking the vegetables. Once you get good grill management, make sure you know which area you set the grill hottest, which area you use a little cooler if you need to slow down the cooking process.

Now, how about dessert? Grilled fruit is a great treat. Pineapple is naturally sweet, and is an excellent grilled dessert. Sprinkle a little sugar as it’s finishing to caramelize it. Another idea is to use a nice, firm banana. Now, if you grill the banana a little bit, sprinkle a little brown sugar on there, then it will be outstanding with ice cream and a little chocolate syrup on top.

If you’d like to try some more grilling ideas and get some great tips for steak, chicken, or sea food, as well as wine pairing, marinades, and some general tips and tricks, be sure to check out the grilling video series from Bob Kiebler, a chef at Morton's The Steakhouse.