A Vegetable Lover’s Guide to Grilling

Here at Harvest Green, we’re all about the veggies. (We have approximately 1,500 pounds of butternut squash if anyone’s interested!) So, it’s not surprising that our farm fresh produce often takes center stage at summer barbecues. We love grilling everything from asparagus to zucchini then using them in salads, side dishes and desserts.

It’s safe to say that over the years we’ve learned a thing or two about grilling vegetables and fruits, so here are a few tips and recipes we’d like to share with you.

Choose Your Veggie

You can pretty much grill any vegetable — even romaine lettuce. Hearty veggies like potatoes, winter squash or eggplant will take the longest to grill, as will thicker-cut vegetables. Thinly sliced onions and zucchini will be done in minutes. Most other vegetables take five to 10 minutes. 

Prep for Grilling

Grilling veggies brings out their flavors, so there is no need for marinades or rubs. Jut brush on a little olive oil, add some salt and you are good to go. When cutting your vegetables, make sure they are all the same size so they cook evenly. If your recipe calls for thin cut veggies, just toss them in a grill basket or wrap them in foil. For more information on veggie preparation and grill times, take a look at The Kitchn’s Ultimate Guide to Grilling Vegetables.

What’s the Best Way to Serve Them?

We like them straight off the grill, but you can use them in any number of dishes. Salsas are a fun way to grill a lot of veggies and wow your guests. For an appetizer, why not try out Guy Fieri’s Roasted Pineapple and Pepper Salsa or Balsamic-Grilled Radicchio with Shaved Pecorino?

For dinner, grilled pizza is super simple and everyone can choose their own toppings. If there’s a vegetarian in your family, turn to this recipe for Balsamic-Glazed Veggie Kebabs.

Grilling veggies is so easy that you can prepare an entire meal including protein and dessert right on the grill.

Dessert?

We’ve been concentrating on veggies but you can grill a variety of fruits for a sweet and healthy ending to your meal. One of our favorites is this Alton Brown Stone Fruit Pouch recipe. Kids will love these grilled banana and Nutella paninis almost as much as they love s’mores. For an elegant evening, nothing beats these grilled peaches with marscapone cheese.

 Photo by Dragne Marius