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June and July are the official months for grilling! With all the fresh, local veggies coming in season, there’s no better way to eat them than grilled vegetables. Grilling fresh vegetables brings out the best in them, they caramelize and get that smoky char that frozen just can’t. Whether you’re a veggie lover, healthy eater or griller, grilled summer veggies are a must try.
The Seasonal Harvest
As summer starts our gardens and farmers’ markets are overflowing with fresh produce. In Maryland, especially on the eastern shore, we’re seeing a rainbow of veggies ready for the grill. Early summer brings asparagus, beets, mushrooms, turnips, kale, cabbage, and carrots. Farmers are also harvesting corn, tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, green beans, garlic, onions, potatoes and more.
I always try to grill firm, sturdy veggies and cut “fat” slices to avoid them falling through the grill and catching fire. One of the best veggies to grill is bell peppers—especially the sweet red ones. When grilled sweet red bell peppers get a natural sweetness and smoky flavor that adds to any summer dish. Try topping them with green olives, olive oil and capers. Yellow squash is also worth grilling; it adds a bright seasonal flavor to summer cookouts and is delicious with chimichurri sauce.
Why Local Grilled Vegetables
Whole Foods defines “local vegetables” as those that arrive at the market in under 10 hours of drive time. Buying local means fresher, more nutritious food and a smaller carbon footprint for your meals.
Local vegetables have vitamins and minerals you won’t get with store bought produce from far away farms. Plus, shopping local means you can find organic produce and farmer’s stands have a great selection. Don’t have a farmer’s market near you? Consider growing your own veggies at home! Even a small garden can produce a bunch of fresh produce. Check out this great post for a complete list of what’s in season in Maryland.
Get Kids Excited About Grilled Vegetables
Having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? Summer is the perfect time to find new ways to engage them! Drawing vegetables can be a fun way for kids to learn about different types of veggies and develop new skills. Here’s how you can do it:
How to Draw Veggies
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Choose Your Veggies: Pick a variety of colorful veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, eggplants and corn.
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Supplies: Give your kids paper, colored pencils or markers.
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Examples: Find images of the veggies online or use real ones as models.
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Let Them Create: Let them draw and color the veggies as they see them, encourage creativity and exploration.
Benefits of Drawing Veggies
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Educational: Kids learn to identify different veggies.
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Skill Development: Drawing helps develop fine motor skills.
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Increased Interest: Doing a fun activity may increase their interest in eating the veggies they draw.
Grilled Summer Veggies
Our grilled veggie recipe with Honey Balsamic Dressing is a quick and easy dinner! This simple and versatile method involves grilling hot to bring out the natural sweetness and flavor of the veggies. Grilled veggies are healthy, delicious and fast. Mix an oil-based seasoning with lemon juice to toss the veggies in and lay on the grill for a few minutes to cook. I make sure to coat my veggies before grilling and like to mix up different sauces for each veggie to add variety to the meal.
Except for denser veggies like sweet potatoes and beets, most veggies don’t need much time on the grill to heat through and get sweet and smoky. Using our Eastern Shore Honey in the dressing will bring out the sweetness in many veggies under the savory notes. Season liberally with salt and pepper before grilling. Serve on a white platter to make them pop. Fresh herbs are the perfect finish.
Grilled Summer Veggies with Honey Balsamic Dressing and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Go to the farmer’s market or local grocery store and pick up as much produce as you like. Each time, try something new. Grilled veggies are healthy, delicious and fast. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
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Assorted summer veggies (corn, carrots, bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus, eggplant, etc.)
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Extra Virgin Olive oil
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Salt and pepper to taste
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Balsamic vinegar
Instructions:
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Prepare the Veggies:
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Wash and slice the veggies into larger pieces to grill effectively, to get better charring and flavor.
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Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
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Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
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Place the veggies on the grill and turn occasionally until they are tender and have good grill marks. Most veggies only need a few minutes per side, except for the denser ones like sweet potatoes and beets.
These will make the best grilled veggies, bringing out their natural flavors and making them a great side dish for any meal.
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Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, mix together honey, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Drizzle over the grilled veggies. Garnish with freshly chopped herbs, salt and pepper.
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Serve: Arrange the grilled veggies on a white platter to make them pop. Eat immediately!
Grilled Summer Veggies Recipe Variations
Get creative with your grilled veggies. Eggplant, sweet corn and carrots are great additions. This recipe is all about ease and customization, perfect for summer cookouts. Before tossing the veggies, you can also mix honey into the oil for an extra sweetness. To make it a full meal, add grilled chicken or fish with your veggies.
- Serve up a signature summer cocktail to kick off the meal
- Try mixing honey into the oil you toss the veggies with.
- Use Italian seasoning and olive oil when preparing your veggies.
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Make a complete meal by adding your family’s favorite protein: grilled BBQ honey brisket, Grilled Honey Chicken Kebobs, or fish tacos with vegetables.
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Use a stovetop grill pan if you don’t have outdoor grilling.
Hang a kitchen sign related to the recipe for a cute touch. It’s a fun way to bring your love of grilling and fresh produce into your home.
Grill your summer veggies! That’s the best way to enjoy the season and be healthy. Whether from your garden or local market, grilling brings out the flavor in these fresh veggies.
