You’ve uncovered your grill for the season and have already eaten more chicken and burgers than you can count. You’ve even grilled some peppers and veggies as extra sides. But besides these basics, does the lack of diversity have you wondering what else can you make on the grill? Get the most out of your grill this summer by whipping up these unexpected recipes.
1. Mussels
Cooking mussels might be the easiest item to cook in the history of grilling. Just heat up the grill and set the mussels onto of the grill to cook. You know they’re done when they open (about 5 to 10 minutes). Garnish with a bit of parsley and black pepper. Serve with melted butter.
2. Oysters
Bring that vacation beach vibe to your backyard with grilled oysters. They take on a light, smoky flavor that’s sure to be your new favorite way of eating oysters. Grill for about 5 minutes, and remove from grates using tongs or mitts.
3. Tofu
Why should meat eaters have all the grilling fun? High-protein firm or extra-firm tofu is great as soaking up the smoky, grilled flavor. Tip: oil the grate before placing tofu on grill or else it will stick. Tofu also marinates well, so give yourself about 30 minutes prep time to let your tofu soak up the flavor. Brush tofu while cooking for extra flavor. Takes about 10 minutes to cook thoroughly.
4. Romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce is rugged enough to withstand the high heat of a grill without totally wilting. It’s long, slender leaves will shrivel slightly, but should stay mostly crispy. Chop a head of romaine in half and brush with olive oil and season with salt. Place the halves flat side down and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve whole with a bit of fresh-grated Parmesan cheese, or chop and use as traditional salad greens.
5. Angel food cake
Angel food cake is a summertime staple. When presented with strawberries and blueberries, the crisp cake makes for a stunning red, white, and blue dessert. But don’t let that patriotism stop you from putting grill marks across your gorgeous cake — if that, that sounds even more American! On a greased rack, grill your AFC, uncovered over medium heat until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes each side. Serve with berries and ice cream.
6. Grilled Guacamole
If you can’t get enough guacamole, try grilling the veggies for extra fun. Cut 1 medium red onion cut into slices. Halve and seed 2 plum tomatoes. Halve and seed 1 jalapeño pepper. Add ingredients to a large bowl and toss with olive oil until coated. Grill, covered, on medium-heat for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, or until lightly charred and tender. Brush avocados with oil and grill cut-side down for 4-6 minutes. Let veggies cool completely. Chop all veggies, mash avocado with fork. Transfer to large bowl and add a handful of cilantro, some lime juice, cumin and salt. Stir well. Serve immediately. (Guac will lose a little bit of its color during this process, but what you lose in color is made up for 100% in flavor.)
7. Meatballs
You can grill hamburgers, so why not meatballs? The easiest way is to skewer them (possibly adding some fresh pineapple slathered with teriyaki sauce or alternating chunk of bell peppers and onions). Grill for 10 minutes.
8. Quesadilla
You’ll have to grill your chicken and onions separately before chopping and filling your tortilla. Basically, you’re grilling a sandwich, but the results are better than restaurant quality. Place two tortillas on the grill. Add cheese, chicken, onions, and any other grilled fillings, and of course, more cheese. Cook over low heat on the grill until cheese is melty.
9. Grilled Hash Browns
Grilled hash browns are the perfect side dish to almost any grilled meal. They’re also an excuse to use the grill in the morning, if you’re up for it. Take 3 1/2 cups of cubed hash brown potatoes. Chop of 1 small onion. Spray heavy-duty foil (about 20″x 20″) with cooking spray or oil well before adding potatoes and onion. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of beef bouillon granules and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle 1 tbsp of butter over top. Fold foil around the potatoes and seal tightly. Grill, uncovered, on medium heat (indirect) for 10-15 minutes. Turn once.
10. Fruit
You may already know the joys of grilled pineapple, but did you know that you can grill watermelon, peaches, cantaloupe, bananas and more? Make fruit kabobs and brush with a bit of maple syrup and sprinkle with cinnamon for a healthy summertime treat.
Also see: Make sure no one gets sick this grilling season.
