Grilled Veggies

Serves…. number is set by how many veggies you cook; more guests, more veggies. A selection of Grilled Veggies and Rosemary Chicken make a great summer company dinner.  Since all veggies are not in season and the same time, the mix will vary accordingly.

Asparagus
Portabella mushrooms
Red sweet peppers, cored, seeded and sliced in 4 quarters (strips)*
Green sweet peppers, cored, seeded and sliced in 4 quarters (strips)
Yellow sweet peppers, cored, seeded and sliced in 4 quarters (strips)
Oriental eggplant, cut in half lengthwise
Miniature eggplant, cut in half lengthwise
Zucchini and/or yellow summer squash, cut in half lengthwise
Patty Pan squash, cut in half horizontally
Red, Vidalia or other sweet onions cut in slices**
Whole scallions, roots removed
Spring onions, cut in half lengthwise
Small new potatoes, parboiled for 3 minutes, then dried.
Whatever else strikes your fancy or you have on hand

Brush veggies on both sides with:

Good Seasons Italian Dressing made with balsamic vinegar, or a dressing made from olive oil and balsamic vinegar with herbs to taste

Marinate for about an hour.

If desired for ease of cooking, put potatoes on skeweres, as well as peppers and/or onions if cut into smaller square pieces.

Grill over medium heat, turning frequently just until veggies are tender - some will take much longer than others (asparagus takes very little time and must be turned constantly) - do not char or burn! Remove from grill and cut any large pieces into smaller serving size  pieces.

* If peppers are long and skinny cut in half lenghtwise.  If cooking on skewers is preferred, cut peppers into 3/4-inch to 1-inch square pieces.
** Alternatively onions may be quartered,  then quarters halved and cooked on skewers after marinating.


VARIATION: WEEDS WITH GRILLED VEGGIES

Serves…. number is set by the size bowl you fill; more guests, bigger bowl

When Alex and especially Christopher were younger they were not fond of mescaline or “spring mix” and hence called these greens “weeds”. They like them now, but the term “weeds” has stuck.

Cover bottom of a ~2” deep serving dish or large platter with:

Weeds (mescaline or other small spring greens)

Arrange some/all of the following on top of the weeds keeping each ingredient in separate area:

Grilled asparagus

Grilled Portabella mushrooms, sliced

Grilled red sweet peppers, sliced in strips

Grilled red or Vidalia onions, sliced in rings

Dress with (or allow guests to dress their own salad):

Good Seasons Italian Dressing made with balsamic vinegar or your favorite oil and vinegar

dressing.  Since veggies have already been marinated, salad will require minimum, if any, dressing.

January 2015: VARIATION:

When grilling oriental eggplant and sometimes asparagus, instead of marinating in a balsamic dressing, I brush these veggies with sesame oil or toasted sesame oil just before grilling.

QUICK VERSION  

August 2017: For a simple dinner for just Ed and me, we often do a single veggie or just a couple. Ed sprays/brushes the veggies with olive oil (or sesame oil) before and while cooking.   After years of cooking potatoes on skewers, we now parboil til tender, dry and toss with olive oil and cook directly (without skewers) on the grill

Reviewed 8/30/2017