Many people put their grills away after a final Labor Day cookout. However, with plenty of warm, sunny days ahead, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t keep yours out a bit longer. Save money on your utility bill and bid summer a fond farewell by enjoying the irresistibly smoky flavour of grilled meats, veggies and more. Add these simple recipes to your repertoire to whip up delicious weeknight meals in no time.
1. Grilled Pork Chops and Peaches
As summer turns into autumn, sweet and savoury dishes like pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole start showing up on menus. That means now’s the perfect time to try this grilled pork chops and peaches recipe. Grilled fruit and blue cheese punch up the flavour without adding too many calories. Plus, you can easily substitute with apricots, nectarines, goat cheese and feta.
First, season your pork loin and grill for four to five minutes on each side. Meanwhile, halve the peaches, drizzle them in oil and add them to the grill, cut side down. Grill for five minutes and make sure they’re soft before removing them. Toss in pine nuts, onion, cheese and vinegar. Then, top a few pork chop slices with the mixture and voila! You have a whole dinner in 10 minutes flat.
2. Greek Souvlaki Lamb Skewers
Enjoy classic Mediterranean flavour with these
souvlaki lamb skewers. The traditional Greek cuisine takes just 30 minutes to
throw together if you marinate the meat ahead of time. Plus, with a recipe that
yields enough food for six, you’re bound to have leftovers.
Marinate the cubed lamb in oil, lemon juice,
garlic and seasoning mix for 30 minutes or overnight. Then, thread the lamb
into skewers, brush with olive oil and grill for eight to 10 minutes on each
side. Serve with Greek salad, rice pilaf and pita bread for a well-rounded,
nutritious meal.
3. Teriyaki Grilled Salmon Rice Bowl
Teriyaki grilled salmon is delicious on its
own but, when you add it to a rice bowl, it becomes absolutely irresistible. Luckily,
these bowls are topped with plenty of healthy veggies, seaweed and homemade
sauce your whole family can dig in guilt-free.
Prepare the rice and corn first. Then, season
the salmon filets and leave them to sit at room temperature before grilling. Toss
them on the grates skin-side up and cook for three minutes. Turn them 45
degrees and cook for an additional two minutes. Finally, make the teriyaki
sauce and assemble your bowls. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!
4. Grilled King Crab Legs
Most people consider king crab legs a
delicacy, but that doesn’t mean they’re hard to make! In fact, they could
easily go from fridge to table in less than 10 minutes if you know how to make
them on the grill. Prep a salad and starch while they cook and dinner will be
ready in no time.
If you purchased crab meat already out of the shell, simply
wrap it in aluminium foil before tossing it on the grill. Otherwise, spritz the
legs in oil and cook for 14 minutes, turning once to ensure an even cook. Use a
sharp knife to cut slits along each one so everyone can easily remove the meat.
Add a squeeze of lemon and serve.
5. Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
Put a Greek spin on char-grilled burgers with
this delicious summertime recipe. Juicy and tender, these turkey burgers are
filled with tangy feta and fresh herbs like dill and oregano. They’re also
chock full of spinach, but you don’t have to tell the kids that. Serve with
fries or pasta salad for an easy, delicious meal.
Begin by making the patty mixture, using your
hands to evenly combine all the ingredients. Then, divide the mix by four and
shape each portion into a 4-inch patty. Cook them for a total of 10 minutes,
flipping halfway through. Top with tzatziki, lettuce, cucumber and red onion
and serve.
6. Grilled Romaine Caesar
Salad on the barbie? Yes, please! This grilled
romaine salad is everything you love about a classic Caesar — and then some.
Crisp croutons, juicy lemons, piles of parmesan and zesty dressing make this
salad one for the books. And, yes, you will be tossing that lettuce on the
grill. With a subtly smoky, slightly spicy taste, you simply can’t go wrong
with such an easy weeknight meal.
Make the pickled red onions, rye croutons and spicy caesar dressing from scratch in the days
leading up to cookout night. Then, spend as little as six minutes charing your
romaine heart the day of. Place it face down on the grill and cook for two to
four minutes. Use tongs to flip it over and heat for an additional two minutes.
Then, assemble the salad and serve. Top with steak or chicken to make this meal
more filling.
Simple Recipes, Easy Cleanup
Using your grill to cook simple recipes is a
great way to introduce new textures and flavours to your family. But the best
part of grilling out has to be the easy cleanup afterwards. With no pots or pans
to clean, all you have to do is brush the grill grates, load the dishwasher and
you’re good to go. Oh, summer, how we’ll miss you.
*This is a collaborative post*