Americans love their barbecue favorites – especially the classics: barbecue hot dogs and hamburgers, barbecue chicken and steak. But if you have been looking for something new to cook while enjoying the great outdoors, you might consider grilling everything from vegetables to pizza. Sound good? Get inspired by these ideas from around the Web:
The KRRB Blog offers not one, not two, but thirty-seven “weird things to grill.” Their list includes some delectable – and thoroughly surprising – ideas. Have you ever considered grilling clams, for example? According to this blog, you can place scrubbed clams directly on the grill, cover them for two minutes, and remove them when they’ve popped open. The blog also offers some delicious ideas regarding what to soak the grilled clams in before serving them.
Vegetable kabobs are a favorite of many grill masters, and this site’s take includes some interesting varieties, such as: “The Caprese: Mozzarella, tomato, and bread, garnished with chopped basil and olive oil.” Their advice: don’t leave these kabobs on the grill for too long or the cheese will melt all over the grill. And if you love your grilled vegetables, try their idea for grilling romaine lettuce.
Grilled fruit? Why not? Try their grilled pineapple skewers, or one of the other sweet suggestions. And if you’re a pizza lover, the blog suggests that you throw some flattened pizza dough on the grill, flip it and coat it with olive oil, and when both sides are grilled, add your toppings.
BrightNest’s list of “9 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Grill” includes plain old cheese. According to the site, “Throwing cheese on the grill enhances the richness of flavor and creates a chewy, melted texture. Cheeses that come in thicker slices like halloumi or aged provolone work best.” Drizzle olive oil on the cheese before grilling.
Now here’s a strange but intriguing idea: BrightNest suggests you grill your cake. Noting that thick cakes such as Angel Food Cake work best, the site says that buttering a cake slice and grilling it on both sides creates a tasty caramelized crust. And if sweet potatoes are your thing, they say throw them on the grill! Cut the potato into slices, butter the whole thing, and place over medium-high heat for 40 minutes to an hour.
An article on DailyXY.com offers a number of grilling ideas, including a delicious sounding Blue Cheese-Crusted Tomato. “Stuff large tomatoes (halved, with seeds removed) with blue cheese and top with a Parmesan and breadcrumb mix. Drizzle with olive oil and grill, away from flame, for 12-15 minutes.”
FineCooking.com, meanwhile, has published its own list of “13 Things You Didn´t Know You Could Grill.” The site suggests, for example, that you grill sprigs of certain hearty herbs, such as thyme and rosemary, before adding them to your favorite cocktail. According to the site, preparing herbs this way “coaxes out the floral aromas.” And if you’re a bacon lover, you can grill slab bacon or try their recipe for Pancetta and Pineapple Skewers. Another idea is grilled avocado, which will be a delicious addition to your guacamole or add flavor to your favorite sandwich. And a grilled skewer of olives can serve as a unique snack or add a smoky flavor to that martini you love.
Don’t forget fish – LifeMadeDelicious.com offers a great recipe for Grilled Lemon and Herb Salmon Packs.
These are just a few of the ideas from cooking, food, and recipe sites around the Web. The possibilities for grilling seem endless. So if you’re tired of those same old hamburgers, give something new a try. You might find yourself falling in love with your grill all over again!
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