Ready for summer cookouts? We've got the perfect Insta-worthy recipe; Grilled Veggie Skewers!
Cookout Time!
Less than one week out from June, the weather's warming up, and kids nationwide are slowly getting out of school to mark the beginning of summer break. Not to mention, things have been looking up a whole lot more in general compared to this time last year, thankfully. Do you know what that means?? The resumption of regular summer cookouts!!!
Today I'll be sharing one of my favorite summertime recipes you can make on the grill. It's simple, delicious, versatile, and if I do say so myself, really pretty to look at. If you're someone who loves to post pictures of pretty food to Instagram, this one's for you.
Learning to grill
Now I'm not someone who grew up with a grill at my disposal so I was pretty much lost on what to do with one once I got one for myself. I looked up some recipes and decided to go with something foolproof for my first shot at grilling.
Different variations of vegetable skewers were probably the #1 search that flooded my Pinterest board. And I won't lie, the overall aesthetic every variation was enticing. What can I say, I love seeing a rainbow of colors in my food.
I find that grilling veggies make almost every vegetable taste better, so maybe this could be the segue to your kid eating the vegetables they claim to hate.
Great way to add more veggies to your plate
This recipe is a great way to get yourself to eat a bunch of veggies at once as well as use up anything you don't know what to do with. Since a lot of veggies start coming into season during the summer months, you'll be eating the freshest picks too which is a bonus. This recipe might just end up in your summertime goodness rotation of recipes.
Which veggies to grill?
I knew corn would be lovely on a grill, but that was about it. But when I tell you this medley of veggies and some fruit are simply something else when grilled....
Your mouth will be treated to a burst of amazing flavors and textures; tenderized mushrooms giving off a meat-like texture, subtle sweetness from the bell peppers and a more caramelized flavor from the pineapple + mango, squash that just effortlessly melts in your mouth, and a whole lot of crunch thanks to the onions. Gosh, my mouth is watering just typing this out.
Green and red bell peppers are super common to use for grilled skewers, but I recommend using all colors of bell peppers if you don't have a problem with any of them. Not only will you reap the different health benefits of each one, but the more colors you use, the more appetizing your skewers will look!
Corn
Mushrooms
Bell peppers
Mango
Pineapple
Squash
Zucchini
Creamer potatoes
Onions
Cherry or grape tomatoes
Tips for the best skewers:
- Chop the ingredients into about the same size. This really helps with making sure everything cooks evenly.
- Use metal skewers. Wooden skewers burn more easily but if that's all you have on hand, try to soak them in water for 10-15 mins beforehand.
- Season your veggies before grilling. The great thing about the grill is that it does almost all of the work for you as far as giving flavor to your veggies. But if you want to take it to the next level, season your vegetables beforehand too. But do use a light hand. You can always season to taste once everything is cooked, but it's hard to go back if everything is overly seasoned in the first place. T
- Remember to turn your skewers over during the cooking process so every side gets some char to it. I know it sounds obvious but I didn't think of this when I used my grill for the first time, so this is just a reminder in case you're in the same boat. My first attempt didn't turn out terrible, but the veggies are truly at their optimal best when all sides get some cooking time.
Serving ideas!
Lastly, don't hesitate to get creative with how you serve these skewers. They're delicious consumed straight off the skewer, but there are so many other things you can do with it too.
If you're already making something like bean burgers for a full-on cookout, you could take the veggies off the skewer and stuff them into your burger. I promise you it'll be one of the most flavorful burgers you'll ever eat.
Grilled veggies also make a perfect side dish alongside salads like couscous, tabbouleh, potato salad, and various kinds of pasta.
You want to eat them alone? To really take it to the next level, dip it in some homemade or store-bought tzatziki sauce, herb dressing, hummus, or pesto!
Are you short on time but need a meal to fill you up? Easily turn it into a meal by mixing the veggies into some rice or quinoa!
You'll most likely have some left-over veggies from this recipe, both grilled and un-grilled. You get to save time on cutting up veggies for next time you cook, yay! As for what you can do with the grilled leftovers, you can use them in sandwiches you make later on to spice them up. Or you could even blend up some of the leftovers into sauces and marinades to use in other recipes.
Author: Shruti is a current intern and recent graduate from The University of North Texas holding a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing. She has a passion for digital marketing, with a focus on social media, and advertising. In her free time, she enjoys baking, watching movies, and going on hikes.
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