Mix it Up With Something New on the Grill This Summer
Now that it’s July, the relentless Texas heat is upon us. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with an excuse note for making dinners. You have to eat, and chances are, you may have another person or two (or four) to help feed, too. Forget cooking in the kitchen! Your grill is calling—and it’s got more potential than you might guess.
Sure, hamburgers and barbecued chicken are backyard grill staples. But for a special side dish—or even an unexpected main course—you can put your gas or charcoal grill to work! From a crispy sandwich to “grilled guacamole,” we’ve got a bunch of unique grilling ideas to help you make the most of your next cookout.
Flatbread
By now you probably know you can cook a pizza on your grill. (Seriously—it’s so good!) But have you ever made a flatbread? Try a fresh Basil and Tomato Flatbread that brings together the best of smoky grilled pizza with creamy cheese and bright garden-fresh tomatoes. Keep your eyes on your flatbread at all times. It will go from lightly browned to burned faster than you can say “Parmesan.”
Did you know you can make grilled cheese, literally on the grill? (It’s called a “grilled” cheese after all!) Simply build your sandwich, and place it directly on the grill grate to toast, the same way you’d toast a hamburger bun. Be sure to use thick slices of bread and plenty of butter.
As with flatbread, this dish browns up rapidly. Keep your eyes on the grill; don’t let it cook for more than a minute before lifting it up with a spatula to check on it. You might even want to consider using a copper grill mat since the cheese gets good and drippy.
Quesadillas
If you think about it, what are quesadillas but a Mexican-style grilled cheese? It stands to reason that you can grill up a classic quesadilla just like you would a traditional grilled cheese sandwich. Once you get the hang of grilling quesadillas, you can improvise with any ingredients you can think of!
You can place the quesadilla directly on the grates, but might consider using a copper grill mat. You could also consider using a parchment paper sheet. Just make sure the temperature on the grill doesn’t go higher than 400° F.
Literally anything you can make in a cast-iron skillet can be made in that same cast-iron skillet on your outdoor grill. For example, how about this Southwestern Spaghetti? Or a tangy Lemon Pepper Tilapia? It’s also easy to use your grill for baking, especially when it has a temperature gauge. Both a Fudge Brownie Pie and German Apple Pancake are real crowd-pleasers!
When using your cast-iron skillet on the grill, you’re getting the best of both your oven and your stove. When a recipe calls for pre-heating your cast-iron, simply do so on the grill with the cover closed (as if it were your oven).
Maybe you’ve tried grilled peaches and realized how wonderfully sweet the fruit gets on the grill. Just about any summer fruit can benefit from a little heat. Start by grilling pineapple with brown sugar (it’s heaven!) or mangoes for a Grilled Mango & Avocado Salad.
Fruit is another great opportunity for using a cooling rack or grill basket. Be sure to spray it lightly with oil to keep things from sticking.
Avocado
But wait…there’s more! Why stop at the grilled mango for your Mango & Avocado Salad? Go ahead and grill up that avocado, too. Just cut them in half, remove the seed, brush with fresh lemon or lime juice and olive oil and grill them cut-side down for two to three minutes. For anyone who loves avocados, you’ll want to give Grilled Guacamole a whirl.
Let us know in the comments what you decide to try! Have a great summer, and stay safe out there.