Surprise your guests with unique menu options during summer grilling season

Surprise your guests with unique menu options during summer grilling season

July is National Grilling Month, and what better way to celebrate than to invite friends and family over for a low-key backyard barbecue this summer. Grilling makes food preparation easy and clean-up a snap. But how can you make your menu flavorful yet unexpected? Think beyond hamburgers, hot dogs and filets this month and prepare some not-so-typical foods that are sure to please tastebuds of all ages.

Salad. Yes, that’s right – mixed greens are great slightly grilled when prepared as a delicious grilled salad. This is a very quick grilling session – simply quarter bibb lettuce and grill each side for one minute each. Remove from the heat and set aside. Experiment with your favorite vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, squash, or even Portobello mushrooms. The key is to just grill long enough so there are grill marks and they are slightly warm. Serve on a chilled plate. You can even grill small pieces of bread that in turn can be cut into homemade croutons.

Pizza.  You can use frozen or fresh pizza dough and roll your own out, or you can buy flatbread at your local bakery or grocery store.  If you use fresh dough, grill first, then top with marinara sauce, or olive oil and cheese, roasted artichokes, or tapenade. Any ingredients your heart desires.  If using flatbread, heat grill, toast crust then put to side of grill not under direct heat and close lid to finish cooking toppings and/or melt cheese.

Delicate vegetables. When grilling smaller vegetables such as mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, small squash blossoms and asparagus, place a cooling rack onto the grates of the grill, heat for five minutes and then rub with olive oil. Small grates keep these small vegetables from falling through the grates and into the coals.

Onions. These delicious vegetables should be grilled slightly differently. Cut your onion into one-half inch sections, then skewer them all the way through with a bamboo skewer. The skewered onion slices remain intact and can be flipped easily with tongs.

Shrimp. Crustaceans are delicious and easy to prepare. It’s best to butterfly the shrimp as it helps the marinade to penetrate the meat. Skewering the shrimp head to tail on a skewer makes a more compact mass, which allows the shrimp to stay on the grill longer without drying it out. This method allows for a decent grill mark on the shrimp as well. A flat, metal skewer works the best with shrimp, however, if you do use bamboo skewers, be sure to soak the skewers in water for at least two hours.

Steaks. So if you do decide to go traditional and prepare steaks for your guests, finish them over indirect heat prevent charring. Place coals on one half of the grill, and leave the other side empty to create two heat levels. Sear your steak on the hot side. Finish steaks on the cool side and close the lid to trap heat.

Dessert. What better way to continue grilling into the final course? Choose items that are not only tasty, but will do well over an open flame. There are variations of s’more recipes or even fruit desserts that can be adapted for the grill.

Grilling unique food items for your next summer bash is a great way to expand your repertoire and give your guests something to remember this summer as memories are made for a lifetime with friends and family.