You can grill your entire dinner this weekend on the BBQ including your greens and dessert. Here are 5 things you can grill this weekend that you might not have thought of doing.
This is the time of year that the BBQ/Grill in your backyard has gone from the fun, new, party friend, to the boring, predictable, hanger-on you’re completely sick of.
You’ve done it all together again and again and again. Steak, baked potatoes, hamburgers, hot dogs. Steak, baked potatoes, hamburgers, hot dogs. Over and over again. You might get wild and add chicken to the rotation once in a while but you get the idea.
Over the past few years I’ve taken to throwing everything on the BBQ: shrimp, beef skewers, sweet potatoes and leafy greens. Yes. You can grill a green.
I will grill my entire dinner on the BBQ including the meat, the vegetables, the greens and the dessert. I started doing this because I’m the only one in the house which means I can’t be outside taking care of the stuff on the BBQ while someone else is inside dealing with whatever is in the oven or on the stove. There is only me and only me doesn’t like running in and out of the house trying to keep stuff from burning in not one but TWO areas of my home.
5 things are in constant rotation. And I would like for you to try them too. At least one of them. And I don’t want any excuses. No BBQ? Not a good enough excuse. Light a fire on the road and throw a hub cap over it. Just do what you have to do to try something new.
5 Things You Can Grill
- GREENS
Oh yes you can. I grilled kale just last night and it turned out fantastic. I splashed some olive oil and lemon juice on the kale first, smushed it with my hands a bit to tenderize the kale and then piled it on the BBQ turning it a few times until it started to soften but not go limp.
You can do the same thing with chard.
If you leave the stalks on the leafy portion of the greens will get dry, crispy and charred which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
FANCIFY THEM: Toss the greens with a bit of Thai peanut sauce before serving. I usually just use store bought sauce but if i have time I make this spicy peanut sauce from scratch.
2. SLICED POTATOES
A baked potato takes forever on the BBQ. Cutting a potato into 1/4″ slices speeds up the cooking time. You can either put them directly on the grill, or what I do – throw them in an aluminum pan (which I use over and over again) with a blob of duck fat and Herb de Provence. They’ll get crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.
If you don’t have duck fat use a half and half mixture of olive oil and butter to cook them in.
FANCIFY THEM: As soon as they’re cooked, dress them with this grainy mustard, dill and mayo sauce.
3. CORN
There are still a few of you out there that don’t grill your corn. You don’t need a pot of boiling water to get delicious corn, just throw it on the BBQ next to everything else and turn it when the kernels start to char.
Serve it with butter and salt. Squeeze a bit of lime on top if you’re wanting to feel like you’re really “cooking”.
FANCIFY THEM: Make this grilled Indian Street corn with cilantro, Indian spices and lime.
4. BEETS
Take a bunch of beets, wrap them in a double layer of aluminum foil and put the whole package on the grill to cook for 40 minutes.
When they’re cooked the skin will just slide off.
FANCIFY THEM: Slice the beets and top with goat cheese, pecans or walnuts, honey and balsamic vinegar.
5. PEACHES
Grilled peaches are DELICIOUS and all you have to do is stick them on the BBQ on medium/low for about 10 minutes on each side. The sugars caramelize and get sticky and it’s heavenly. Sprinkle them with a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg before cooking.
FANCIFY THEM: Serve grilled peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with maple syrup or honey and roasted nuts. Maybe another sprinkle of cinnamon for good measure.
Don’t get me wrong … for all of you who only do steaks, burgers and hot dogs on the BBQ and only WANT to do those things, that’s O.K. by me. I smell your standard fare as I walk or run around the neighbourhood at dinner time and it all smells fantastic. It makes me run faster so I can get home and throw something on my own BBQ.
When I run in the winter it’s the scent of airborne fabric softener that I smell as I run. It never makes me want to hurry home to do laundry.
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“Kick it up a notch”! let me guess…being married sucked so you played the Sims…now that you are single real life is better?
Inspired.
Well, I don’t actually know what the Sims is, so nope. Didn’t play it. And being married didn’t suck at all. Loved it. Love single too, but loved married as well. ~ karen!
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My aunt makes cheesecake on the grill.
Some great ideas, thanks! For me summer is just beginning on my side of the world. Time to dust off the old BBQ (or “braai”, where I come from) :)
Happy days!!!!
Where do you come from that a BBQ is called a braai? Just curious. And congratulations on moving into summer! ~ karen
Thats us in South Africa – we BBQ most of the way into winter too!
Unless it’s a blizzard outside, I’ll still BBQ. The only issue is it takes a long longer for the BBQ to warm up. ~ karen!
Our kitchen has been torn up all summer, so I’ve become quite the BBQ master, but I’ve yet to try beets. I’m all over ’em….
I am doing pickled beets this weekend as I am chicken sitting in my new chicken daycare (KFC) for my travelling neighbors (It`s finally done) and figured the chickens would like some beet tops. I am definitely going to try your beet recipe. Pinning!! :)
You people will grill anything – stay off my land.
LOL
I love the charred chard, lol. I want to serve that and then laugh like the nerd I am when they ask what it is. :p I’ve never done potatoes on the grill but that sounds goooooood…
Oohhh, you didn’t say it, but I can spot goat cheese a mile away. I have to try the beets!
I have no idea why we don’t bbq more. Well, I do actually. The bbq freaks me out a little (but I love food from the grill) And hubby is a chef & can do great things, but doesn’t understand what the big deal is with bbq’s. So unless I ask him – he does not bbq! Sigh…
Tip for cleaning the BBQ:
Before you turn the flame on use a can piercer type can opener and run the V part between the grate openings. This clears all the old burnt food off and it drops down. Now turn the flame on and everything vanishes, eventually.
I just got a bottle of very yummy chocolate balsamic vinegar. I see some grilled peaches in my future, drizzled with that!!
Very yummy. We love to grill corn on the bbq as well. Want to kick it up another notch? Make it Mexican style (called Elote) by slathering on a mixture of butter, mayonnaise, cilantro and lime juice, then sprinkling with cotija (pronounced ko-tee-ha) cheese (you could use grated parmesan if you can’t find cotija in your neck of the woods). Sprinkle on top of that some chili powder or paprika. DEEEEELICIOUS!
I’m embarassed to say I thought you were grilling rhubarb.:S
I’m sure you could Bre! It would be great with chicken. ~ karen!
Gosh, Karen, you make my day! I’m going to try thr greens this weekend. Keep the laughs coming,
We always grill asparagus, it’s so good with that smokey, charred flavor! And we’ve grilled the potatoes (and sweet potatoes!) like that before and they are delicious! We usually drizzle corn (unhusked) with olive oil and salt and pepper, then wrap in tin foil to cook. mmmm I’m hungry now and it’s not even lunch time!
Yup. Asparagus is one of my favourites on the grill. I top it with shaved parmesan cheese after! ~ karen
Trying the corn tonight!
I have a grill skillet that I use a lot in winter to feel a little summery. I’ve grilled squash (both winter and summer) on it with great results. I grill anything I can on it. When I grill outside I use the wood grill and the SO uses the gas grill. I won’t part with my little wood grill. Somehow it makes things taste a little more summery.
It absolutely does Nancy! ~ karen
We grilled an Avacado the other night and it was really delicious!!!
Cut it in half, remove the seed, drizzle with olive oil and cook, skin side up, on low heat for 15 – 20 minutes. Let cool a bit, scoop out of skin. Yummy with lemon juice and salt :)
OK..I was going to try grilled corn with the soak in husk method but I will try it your way instead..How can the corn get any flavor if it is still all wrapped up in the husk..Wish I could have been there to watch you BBQ those “personal effects”..I have a few I would have enjoyed tossing on the fire..lol
Grilled brocolli – my kids will eat this before anything else on their plate. They even fought over the last piece one time. That was when I knew I had done something right – who fights over vegetables?
Grilled broccoli is GREAT! I don’t even cut it up. I just take about 1/4 of a head, brush it with olive oil all over and put it right on the grill! ~ karen
Mmmmmm YES, grilled broccoli. And tomatoes, and eggplant, zucchini, peppers, ……LOVE LOVE LOVE my BBQ!!!
great ideas and simple! will try.
I have found that work boots and exercise equipment bbq better if you tenderize them first with blunt instruments.
Marinating them in lighter fluid first helps too Randi..
But how do you clean your grill. Mine just gets burned off which I doubt cleans it and probably adds way too many carcinogens. I read somewhere that laying the hot grill on wet newspaper then topping with more wet newspaper steamed it clean. Never tried it but sure sounds easy. But did I mention I don’t grill? My son-in-law does and I just wanted to see how to properly clean it. So I can say I told you so.
Mary – “Burning off” your grill is fine. Once surface temperatures reach 600 degrees, not only the food burns off, but the soot and creosote type stuff as well. (not really creosote on a bbq, but you know what I mean). You can try t his method too … https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/quickly-clean-your-bbq-grill/ Just be careful to stay by the BBQ cause it can burst into flames. Seriously, LOL. ~ karen!
I bought my brother a ‘Grill Daddy” last year and he loved it so much he gifted his friends with one each so I bought myself one. It steams the grill while you brush the the metal brush. Easy and fast.
When I was a young pup in the 70s, a gourmand I knew grilled green onions. They are exquisite!
Last night’s dinner – Steak, sliced potatoes, and peaches for dessert – all done on the grill!
Salad and scalloped corn were done indoors though.
I love grilled peaches! I also love grilled EGGPLANT!
Asparagus tossed in olive oil and minced garlic, that’s grilled till just tender-crisp tastes almost like candy. Ditto for grilled pineapple and mango slices (but skip the olive oil and garlic!). You can buy them in a clamshell all grill-ready at Costco. Our lake grilling fave is what we call “packet potatoes” – roughly diced regular or sweet potatoes or a combo of both, with diced onion, drizzled in olive oil and all wrapped up in tin foil and grilled for about 25 – 30 minutes, turning over every 10 minutes. No salt or pepper needed. They become caramelized and so delicious.
Looking forward to trying the chard and peaches.
Mmmmm. Grilled peaches. It’s really magic what some grilling can do for them.
I first had grilled peaches several years ago – a local french bistro (now sadly defunct) served them for dessert with their prix fixée menu one summer. Half a peach with a dollop of good quality vanilla ice cream is a thing of beauty.
Zucchini! When you miss harvesting a zucchini and it grows to an impossible size, slice it in thick rounds and smear with your favourite oil. Grill, flip, and when the second side is grilling, slather it with homemade pesto (basil, olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts (but we use almonds) and garlic, salt and pepper). It is DELICIOUS!
Beets? Swiss Chard? The potato idea is also intriguing. Not too much exciting grilling goes on around here! We do grill year round though, snow and all. Will be trying these ideas. Thanks! Sure could have used those piggies….
These are excellent suggestions Karen. I saw a cooking show the other day and they did grilled avocado!
Grilled avocado – Brilliant idea! I had never had the idea of getting smoke flavor into an avocado before. Smoked avocado guacamole – yum. I am on a diet and this food porn is not what I needed. I come here for my chicken cam decompression, and then read everything else.
I’ve been on a Grilled Watermelon kick all summer! It completely takes on a more squash-like flavour. If you slice it about 1″ thick and leave the rind on it’s easier to flip (5min-ish each side). If I’m feeling “all-fancy” I’ll drizzle balsamic vinegar on it while grilling and use funky cookie cutters to cut shapes that I’ll then lay on a bed of fresh spinach and feta cheese. Always impresses and super yummy!
Have you grilled any of the possessions left by the former boyfriend? Is one of them the motorcycle you mentioned? Or, are you saving them for the big neighborhood autumn bonfire?
Gonna try the peaches tonight! Yum.
This is has nothing to do with grilling but
if you want a single serving of corn on the cob the microwave does a GREAT job. It is unreal how good! Have you try it Karen? You tube Shucking Corn — Clean Ears Every time. An adorable Grandpop shows you how. Best of all you don’t need to husk. Check it out Karen.
How bout wrapping the corn in bacon?
Pineapple. I grill just to do pineapple. So I throw on some fish just so it doesn’t get lonely out over the coals. But honestly, I would stand out in 20 degree weather to grill my lovely pineapple
Sounds loverly! My grill is electric, hence I haven’t pulled it out even once this summer. Electric grills are just not anywhere near as fun as real fire!
But I have a small grill drawer in my stove top, (which isn’t nearly as fun as a BBQ, but things turn out tasting more or less the same), so I might be trying some of these ideas soon!
Did you ever doing any smoking on your grill? With apple wood or mesquite? We have done a turkey and pork loin – it takes a few hours so we only do this when we know we are going to be home most of the afternoon on the weekend. The smells coming out of that grill – ohhhh yum.
Mary Kay – Before I got my smoker I did do some smoking on my grill. It’s great! The only trouble I had was keeping the temp. of the BBQ low enough. :( ~ karen!
You’re right, the grill is the most delicious method for corn. Two of my other favorites are zucchini and pizza. Pizza on the grill is heavenly. Slathered with lots of olive oil, some cornmeal on the bottom, plenty of sauce and cheese, and that fire toasted crust is nearly impossible to beat.
The only thing that might beat it is grilled well done work boots…but only in concept. ;)
We’re actually awaiting getting to use our grill. Something about standing next to a fire in 100 plus degree temps makes us lose our appetite for anything cooked and get cravings for cereal and delivery.
I love corn grilled in the husk, but now I’m eager to try your method. So much quicker. And the potatoes, too. And we loooooove beets. Never done those on the grill either. Once again, you drag us out of a rut.
I wonder what the smell of burning exercise equipment would inspire a passing runner to do. Stop? Turn around and go home and lie on the couch? Stop for donuts on the way?
Hubcap? brilliant idea, if I hadn’t given away the 3 hubcaps I had in my driveway. Seriously. just 3 weeks ago!
peaches also lovely if you put a little ball of marzipan in the groove when you turn them over, yummy! Also some chopped white choc mixed with the nuts on top: what a way to eat fruit!
OMG, yum to the peaches, corn and potatoes! I guess I’ll have to try the chard and beets. If they are as good as the others, it will be a real winner.
Yum! Grilled Peaches were one of the many ways I consumed my weight in peaches on the daily this summer.
Yes, the potatoes almost, kinda taste like fries without the grease! My husband cuts them lengthwise and brushes with oil, etc. We do cauliflower, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and the usual corn on the cob, fish and meats. Love, love the grilled vegs. If you can do swiss chard I bet you could do kale the same way?
Never thought of grilling potatoes! Thanks Karen!
BTW…ever tried grilling a whole onion? Wrap in foil with butter and grill for about an hour…sooooo hummy
Mmmmm….some mushrooms with garlic are nice done like this, too!
We grilled our used check registers one year before we got our paper shredder…
Large field mushrooms, skin side down, with the top filled with danish feta & basil pesto – vegie-porn! Serious omm-nommy food. I also love grilled beans, zucchini & baby eggplant.
Do you ever cook lamb chops on the BBQ? I’m wondering if lamb is more of an Aussie thing…
I can’t wait for Summer; the husband slow cooks ribs, rabbit & duck in the Webber then chars them on the BBQ. Sooooo good!
and what about romaine???
I personally have never grilled Romaine, but yes, you can grill romaine. Not like the swiss chard though. The chard you want to go a bit limp. The romaine you would probably just want a nice char on. ~ karen!
I’ve grilled Romaine lettuce exactly like you do the swiss chard pretty much, and it is amazing. First time I did that, my husband thought I’d lost it, but he sure changed his tune when he tasted it. I cut the whole romaine in 1/2, lengthwise, brush with olive oil, and salt/pepper. Grill 1 to 1-1/2min. per side, just until charred. When done, I drizzle a little more olive oil and some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Yeah, but can you grill Brussels sprouts?
You certainly can! Cut in half, with some of the stem on each half. Oil coating (make sure cut face is oiled well), sprinkle with salt, grill cut-side down.
Obviously you need large brussels sprouts and/or a narrow grill or flattop.
No bbq’d Cheez Whiz?
How about bbq’d Cuddles?
Where are the Girls while you’re doing all this grilling? Do they keep you company? Or do they think that wandering too close to the grill might be tempting fate?