Grilled Corn Salad with Sweet Peppers
This warm salad is crisp and crunchy, boasting a wonderful smoky flavor from the perfectly-charred corn and peppers.
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
2 sweet peppers, halved and seeded
2 ½-inch-thick onion slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon chopped oregano
1 tablespoon finely-chopped chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place corn on the grill rack; grill 20 minutes or until charred here-and-there, turning occasionally. Place in a large bowl; cover with foil. Leave in a warm location 10 minutes, then cut corn kernels off cobs, encouraging clusters to stay intact, if possible.
2. Meanwhile, place the peppers and onions on grill rack, and grill 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop both the peppers and onions.
3. Combine the chives, cream, oregano, vinegar and garlic with a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add peppers, onions and corn; toss gently to coat. Serve warm.
Grilled Salad Onions with Lemon & Oregano
This recipe elevates spring salad onions from garnish to stunning side dish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch salad onions, trimmed of root ends
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat grill to high. Place onions on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
2. Grill onions until the white flesh is soft and just beginning to char. Remove from grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with chopped oregano.
Charred Green Bean Salad
This simple, satisfying salad courtesy of chef Michael Symon always gets rave reviews!
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
⅓ cup olive oil
⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup sliced toasted almonds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook at a rapid boil until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the green beans to an ice bath, then dry on a kitchen towel.
3. Add the green beans to a grill basket and place over indirect heat to char them slightly, about 5 minutes. You do not have to cover the grill. When they reach the char level you are looking for, transfer them to a serving platter.
4. Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard and oregano in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly, then season with salt and pepper. Pour the oregano vinaigrette over the green beans while still warm, then sprinkle with the feta and almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Grilled Halloumi & Vegetable Kabobs
These kabobs are incredibly colorful, accented by halloumi cheese and fresh oregano.
Ingredients:
8 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 Corne di Tori sweet peppers, seeded and cut into large slices
½ purple eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 zucchini, sliced in half and then cut into 1-inch slices
1 onion, peeled and sliced in half, then cut into 1-inch slices
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons oregano leaves
1 lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Wood or metal skewers
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high. (If using wooden skewers, place in a sheet pan and cover with water; allow to soak while prepping the other ingredients.)
2. Thread the chopped ingredients onto skewers, alternating between cheese and vegetables (peppers, eggplant, zucchini and onion pieces).
3. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil with a dash of salt and pepper, then brush each skewer kabob on both sides with the mixture. Additionally, slice lemon in half.
4. Grill each kabob, flipping occasionally, until vegetables are tender and slightly charred, and the cheese is golden. While kabobs are cooking, also grill the lemon halves, flesh side down until slightly charred.
5. Remove kabobs and lemon from grill and transfer kabobs to a platter. Drizzle with additional 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with oregano. Squeeze juice from the grilled lemon over top.
Grilled Halloumi Salad
This simply-perfect salad is tossed with ripe heirloom tomatoes and topped with grilled halloumi and bright herbs.
Ingredients:
5 ounces baby arugula greens or Romaine lettuce, torn in small pieces
1-2 cups heirloom tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoons good quality olive oil
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, thinly sliced
8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced into 1-inch strips
⅓ cup freshly-chopped mint, basil, mint or oregano, or a combination thereof
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the arugula or lettuce greens in a medium-sized bowl. Add olive oil, tomatoes and sweet onion and toss very gently to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium heat, then grill the halloumi cheese strips, browning on both sides. (This should take about 2 minutes per side.)
3. Place cheese strips over greens, then sprinkle the salad with fresh herbs.
Grilled Fig Salad
These warm grilled figs are the perfect complement for summer salad greens.
Ingredients:
8 cups salad greens, such as this week’s Little Gem Romaine lettuce
4 figs
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Snip the tiny stem end off each fig and cut in half lengthwise. Mix vinegar, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Add figs and gently toss to coat. Let marinate while you preheat a grill (indoor or outdoor).
2. If necessary, coat your grill with a little olive oil. When ready, grill the figs, reserving all of the marinade in the bowl, for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until grill marks appear. Do not overcook as the figs will become too mushy. Remove figs to a plate.
3. To the reserved marinade, add olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper, whisking well to completely incorporate.
4. Place greens in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, then divide among 4 individual serving plates. Place 2 fig halves on each plate of greens and serve.
Grilled Spring Onions with Lemon & Thyme
This recipe elevates green onions from garnish to a stunning side dish.
Ingredients:
4-6 spring onions, trimmed of roots and tough outer ends, and rinsed
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Heat the grill to high. Place onions on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
Grill onions until the whites are soft and the tops go brown. Remove from the grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with the thyme.
Heirloom Tomato & Grilled Focaccia Bread Salad
The beauty of this summery salad is in its simplicity: Be sure to use good-quality olive oil and season generously!
Ingredients:
4 cups focaccia bread, cut into large cubes
2-3 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
½ cup basil-infused olive oil
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
¼ cup freshly-crumbled chevre cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Toss the focaccia cubes with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Grill the bread cubes until lightly charred, turning frequently with tongs. (A grill basket works well for this if you have it; otherwise watch that you don’t lose the croutons down the grate!) Remove from the grill and reserve.
2. On a large platter, arrange the heirloom tomato slices and drizzle with the remaining olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Garnish with the chopped basil, feta and grilled bread croutons and drizzle with another swirl of olive oil and, if desired, balsamic vinegar as well.
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Honey & Meyer Lemon
Break out the barbecue for these flavorful cauliflower “steaks”!
Ingredients:
2 large heads cauliflower
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 Meyer lemons, zested and juiced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts
Lemon wedges, for serving
Method:
1. Remove the outer leaves from each cauliflower head, then cut off the bottom stem end so that you create a flat base and can stand the cauliflower up on a cutting board. Resting the cauliflower on the stem, use a large, sharp knife to trim away the sides, then cut the remaining head into 2 very thick or 3 more moderate “steaks.”. In a small bowl, stir together the lemon zest and lemon juice, garlic, and honey.
2. Heat a grill to medium (about 350°). Brush one side of each cauliflower steak with the lemon–olive oil mixture and then sprinkle the brushed sides with half of the salt. Place the salted side down on the hot grill, then brush the tops of the steaks with the olive oil mixture and season with the remaining salt.
3. Cover the grill and let cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the bottom is beginning to char. Flip the cauliflower, then re-cover the grill and cook 5 additional minutes, until the cauliflower is tender. Remove from the grill. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, parsley, and walnuts. Serve hot with lemon wedges.
Grilled Garlic Scapes with Lemon & Thyme
Bright yet smoky from their time on the grill, these grilled garlic scapes are a lovely side dish.
Ingredients:
6-8 garlic scapes, trimmed of roots and tough outer ends, and rinsed
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh herbs, such as oregano, parsley or thyme
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat grill to high. Place the scapes on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
2. Grill the scapes until the root ends are soft and the tops are just brown. Remove from grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with the fresh herbs.