Summer is finally here! If there’s one thing that gets me excited in the summer months (other than sunshine, sandals and patios), it’s the ease of making a delicious meal using the BBQ. Of course, if you’re brave, you can use the grill all year round, but lighting up the BBQ really is a true summer staple! It’s just so easy — AND you can make just about anything! We’re talking meats, fish, vegetables, and even desserts! Here are some of our picks for the best recipes to grill up this summer.
Appetizers
Honey Glazed Halloumi (via Cooking with Ayeh)
Who doesn’t love halloumi? This is the perfect appetizer to serve to friends and family. The combination of sweet honey, acidic lemon and salty cheese make it an instant crowd-pleaser! You can make this on the pan, but halloumi is a great grilling cheese since it has a high melting point.
Cajun Chicken Wings (via Delish)
Everyone needs a staple wing recipe. And to be honest, this might be it! Lemon, paprika, garlic, thyme and a kick of cayenne — this cajun spice blend will have you reaching for more. Although chicken wings are what the recipe calls for, you can easily substitute the chicken for cauliflower florets and you’ll have yourself a spicy, unique, vegetarian appetizer!
Mains
Grilled Spicy Miso Portobello Burgers (via Feasting at Home)
You simply can’t light up your BBQ this summer without making burgers. Let’s ditch the classic beef patties and try these spicy portobello burgers instead! They’re vegan, juicy and packed with umami flavour. The secret to this recipe is the “Asian guacamole” — avocado, fresh ginger, sesame oil and a splash of rice vinegar. I dare you to serve this to even your biggest carnivore friends!
Hawaiian-Style Chicken Brochettes (via Home with Gabby)
Grilled pineapple is pretty much always a hit. Combine it with sriracha, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic and you have a perfect blend of savoury and sweet. Once the mixture’s been marinating all night, all that’s left to do is skewer the pieces! Super simple and full of flavour — this is the epitome of a fresh and original summer meal!
Sides
Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant (via Delish)
Eggplant is one of those vegetables that are one hundred times better grilled and it’s so easy to do! Within 6 minutes, you’ll have delicious, perfectly cooked eggplant and you’ll be feeling like you’re vacationing on the Mediterranean coast. Oregano, chill flakes, fresh parsley and feta are the highlights of this recipe, along with a creamy tahini dressing. Just typing this out is making me salivate…
Grilled Corn (via Food52)
Have you ever had Mexican street corn, otherwise known as elote? It is absolutely to die for! This recipe has been slightly remixed to make it more eater friendly. Instead of keeping the corn cob whole, the kernels are taken off the cob and turned into a salad of sorts. You can even serve it with tortilla chips as a chunky dip. This recipe is classic comfort food without compromising on flavour. Throw your corn directly on the grill, let it get nice and charred and brush some crema, cilantro, cotija cheese and lime juice all over it. A major upgrade to that can of corn you usually just heat up on the stove…
Desserts
Grilled Apples a la Mode (via A Couple Cooks)
Who said the grill is just for savoury dishes?! Think apple pie without all the work — slice up some apples, sprinkle some sugar and spices and wrap them in aluminum foil. The grill turns them tender and velvety, with a subtle nuance of smoke. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and voila! It doesn’t get any better than that!
Chocolate Marshmallow Banana (via Delish)
This recipe is truly as simple as it sounds — we’ve all got *questionable* bananas lying around in the fruit basket, at least a handful of chocolate chips and maybe even a bag of marshmallows. If you have these three ingredients, you’re all set for a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth-delicious dessert! Slice the bananas in half, stuff them with marshmallows and chocolate and grill them in aluminum foil. If you want to get a little fancier, try adding other toppings like peanut butter, coconut flakes or cookie crumbs. Simple, but oh so decadent!
Written by: Sacha Vincent-Toskin
Comments are closed.