Bell peppers, mushrooms, pears, they all taste great when cooked on the grill or barbecue. Grilling or smoking intensifies the natural sweetness of these and other fruits and vegetables, while retaining the flavor. That is why they are a good alternative to meat. Here are nine tips for barbecuing your products:
1. Know your vegetables.
Some products, such as asparagus and tomatoes, only take a few minutes to grill, while potatoes, for example, take longer to grill. To prevent your veggies from burning, sear them over high heat, then move them to the top rack of the grill to finish cooking. Or, pre-cook them before popping them on the grill for a few minutes to get some color on the outside and that fresh-off-the-barbecue smoky flavor.
2. Use the correct accessories.
Smaller vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, are delicious fresh off the grill, but they can be a little challenging to work with. Place them in a grill basket so they don't roll away or fall through the grid.
3. Make a stick of it.
A good way to shorten barbecue time is to cook small pieces of vegetables, fruit and meat, poultry or seafood on a stainless steel skewer. It's easy to get kids to eat their vegetables when they make their own special grilled kebab.
4. Leave meat.
When grilling, make room on the grill for at least one piece of fruit or vegetable. Or omit the meat while emphasizing vegetables.
5. Oil or not.
Before grilling vegetables, brush them with a light coat of oil, marinade, or melted butter. Plus, the liquid helps your herbs keep better. However, some fruits, such as pears and pineapple, can be grilled without oil or seasonings.
6. Bring out the flavor.
There's no better way to bring out the flavor of produce like pineapple and broccoli than by barbecuing them. When grilled over charcoal or gas, the heat from the flame intensifies the flavor components while adding a smoky flavour.
7. Become vegan.
Skip the meat and go straight to the veggies on a Meatless Monday. Grilling vegetables or fruits such as Portabella mushrooms or watermelon slices, which have a thick and meaty texture just like a steak, are not only good for you, but also delicious.
8. Grill the best of the season.
Select some freshly picked local produce for barbecuing. Challenge yourself to see if you can grill the recommended five daily servings of produce!
9. Grill the dessert.
Since grilling brings out the natural sweetness of fruits, they make for healthy and fun desserts. Sprinkle some cinnamon over grilled peaches or mangoes or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
