Healthy and Tasty: The Best Recipes for Summertime Grilled Vegetables

As the sun beats down, signaling the arrival of grilling season, it's time to heat your barbecue and lavish some love on an often-overlooked star of the cookout: vegetables. You're missing out on a world of flavors if you've never tasted charred and caramelized veggies from the grill. Whether you are a seasoned vegan, trying to add more greens to your diet, or simply seeking inventive ways to dress up your meals, these delightful grilled vegetable recipes will redefine your summer gatherings forever. Prepare yourself for a flavor-packed journey that satisfies your taste buds and keeps you healthy!

Signature Vegetable Grilling Recipes

Summer is synonymous with vibrant and colorful cuisine, with grilled vegetables taking center stage. As previously discussed, grilled veggies are a delightful and healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner option. Here, we'll highlight two signature vegetable grilling recipes that will have your taste buds dancing joyfully.

Grilled Lemon Zucchini

Zucchini is one of the most popular veggies for grilling since it cooks quickly and is full of flavor. Combine that with the tangy flavors from fresh lemon juice and garlic, and you have a winning recipe.

1. To start, set your grill on medium-high heat.
2. Next, slice the zucchini lengthwise, brush some olive oil on each side, then sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides.
3. Place the seasoned zucchini slices on the grill and cook for three minutes on each side.
4. While the zucchini is cooking, take a small bowl and whisk together fresh lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
5. After removing the zucchini from the grill, drizzle this mixture over them while they're still warm.

The smoky flavor from grilling with tangy flavors from lemon makes this dish an instant hit among families and guests alike. Plus, it's versatile enough to work alongside almost any main dish.

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Smoky Portobello Skewers

Portobello mushroom caps are a popular choice for vegetarian grilling and make an excellent meat alternative. They have a meaty texture that can hold up well on the grill, absorbing smoky flavors while retaining their natural umami taste.

1. Simply clean and destem your mushrooms, then marinate them in olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
2. Skewer and grill until charred and delicious.

Want to take your skewers up a notch?

• Add cherry tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, or jalapeños. These veggies complement and boost the flavors of the Portobello mushrooms, making every bite an explosion of taste.

Learn More: Top 5 Vegan Wrap Recipes: Healthy Bites With Global Flavors

Unlocking Flavors with Marinades

Marinating vegetables before grilling enhances their natural flavor profile while keeping them tender and moist. It's all about finding the right balance of acidic ingredients – vinegar or citrus juice –together with herbs and spices to complement the vegetables' profiles.

Take our Portobello skewers recipe above; we used a garlic-soy marinade, bringing out earthy undertones ideal for mushrooms. While sweet or starchy vegetables benefit from more acidic marinades like lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

Here are some examples:

It's important to note that marinating times vary depending on the type of vegetable you're working with. Delicate vegetables like asparagus only need a brief 10-minute soak, while denser options like eggplants need hours to absorb flavors.

Citrus-Herb Marinade

This citrus-herb marinade is the perfect option for those who prefer a tangy and flavorful blend. It contains fresh lemon juice, orange juice, Dijon mustard, herbs like thyme, basil, rosemary, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. The bright citrus flavor combined with fragrant herbs elevates the taste of grilled vegetables to a whole new level.

Suppose you want to take it up a notch with your dish; mix some honey with the marinade for added sweetness. Or opt for different herb variations like cilantro or parsley instead of thyme and rosemary. For an extra dose of protein, marinate some tofu or tempeh in the same sauce as other vegetables.

Garlic-Infused Olive Oil Marinade

Few things can go wrong when garlic-infused olive oil marinade is involved (unless you're not fond of garlic). The base of this marinade is minced garlic cloves infused with extra-virgin olive oil. Adding balsamic vinegar balances out the richness of olive oil and provides a subtle tang.

The key to mastering this marinade is allowing enough time for infusion, as infusing garlic to create a rich flavor takes time. However, if you don't have time for infusion but still want to enjoy a similar flavor profile, use garlic powder instead of minced garlic (though it will be less potent).

You could also utilize other combinations, like substituting half olive oil with sesame oil or adding a teaspoon of mirin or soy sauce for Asian-style grilled veggies.

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Spicing Up Grilled Veggies

Grilled vegetables are a brilliant alternative to the more meat-heavy options during summer cookouts. However, often, they can taste a little bland and uninspiring. Fear not - many ways to add flavor to your grilled veggies.

• One way is to spice them up with different herbs and spices. Dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, or basil have earthy notes that work well with grilled veggies.
• Alternatively, use seasoning blends like curry or jerk seasoning for a kick.
• Remember to drizzle olive oil over your vegetables for added moisture and texture.

Grilled Veggies Pairings and Combinations

Grilled veggies are a delightful addition to any backyard BBQ menu. They pair well with many other dishes, adding varying textures and flavors. Here are some ideas to get started:

• Serve alongside veggie burgers or black bean burgers for an all-around vegetarian meal.
• Grilled vegetables work wonders over quinoa or farro with tzatziki sauce and pita.
• Use leftover grilled vegetables as fillings in wraps, sandwiches, or salads throughout the week.
• Top your favorite pizza with fresh grilled veggies.
• Make grilled vegetable skewers and shrimp or chicken for a delicious protein-rich meal.

My favorite pairing combination is BBQ jackfruit sandwiches paired with grilled vegetables. Jackfruit is an excellent meat substitute that's hearty, flavorful, and packed with proteins. Slathering in BBQ sauce creates an excellent pairing alongside caramelized charred vegetables.

Veggie and BBQ Jackfruit Pairing

One of our favorite pairings for grilled vegetables is with BBQ jackfruit. While it's not a vegetable per se, it's a perfect meatless alternative that pairs exceptionally well with smoky flavors. BBQ jackfruit has become an increasingly popular vegan protein option, especially as an alternative to pulled pork. It's also incredibly versatile, making it a great addition to many dishes.

But how does one prepare BBQ jackfruit?

1. Firstly, remove the fruit's core after draining and rinsing your canned jackfruit, and shred the remaining flesh into small strands using your fingers or a fork.
2. That way, it’ll have a stringy texture similar to pulled pork.
3. Heat some oil over medium heat and sauté finely chopped onions and garlic until translucent.
4. Add the shredded jackfruit into the pan, then stir it with the onion and garlic mixture.
5. Pour bottled BBQ sauce over the top of the mixture before stirring occasionally until heated through.

For meal prep, consider preparing large batches of veggies and BBQ jackfruit ahead of time for busy weeknights or office lunches throughout the week. Another idea is to build your bowls with these ingredients for any social event or fetch-and-go meals on the go!

Like vegetables, there are several jackfruit-based recipes out there. Examples include vegan burgers with BBQ pulled “pork” using jackfruit, vegan tacos with jackfruit-based carnitas-style filling, or just serving the BBQ jackfruit over rice or quinoa.

Pairing veggies and BBQ jackfruit delivers distinctly delicious yet surprisingly easy-to-make meals that can be made in advance for quick and easy meal prepping. With the right tools, knowledge in preparing the BBQ jackfruit recipe, and grill recipes to match perfectly with your veggies, this pairing will delight your taste buds and elevate your everyday meal routine!