Who says that grilling is for meat only? Aside from the sumptuous briskets, BBQs, and ribs, you can also cook vegetables on your best gas grill under $500. It’s a delicious way of cooking vegetable, not to mention that it’s even faster to grill and prepare. For newbies, it’s easy to tell if a vegetable is thoroughly grilled by merely looking on its color.
So for this post, we will discuss how to grill vegetables on gas grill. We also included a mouth-watering grilled vegetables marinade for added flavor.
Preparing the veggies
Before you preheat the grill, make sure that you’ve prepared the vegetables properly. This will ensure that each one will be cooked perfectly and not burned. As you know, veggies are softer than meat and it can wither quickly once you toss it to the grill. So for a simple guide, here’s what your veggies should look like:
- Tomatoes – small and still on the vine
- Bell peppers – seeds are removed and chopped in four parts
- Asparagus – the wood ends removed
- Onions – just peel it and chop it in four parts
- Mushrooms – remove the stems and chop it in half if the pieces are large
- Zucchini – chop it in steak-like angles, length-wise
- Eggplant and squash – same with zucchini
For other vegetables, you’d want to cut it in smaller (not too tiny, though) portions for easy cooking. Also, it will prevent burning while making it easy to eat later on.
How to marinate vegetables for barbecue?
Now, we’re going to the delicious part: the marinade. Some grillers just oil their veggies and grill it as-is. However, if you want to add more flavors to your vegetables, you can make use of this marinade recipe.
This works for grilled vegetables skewers or any typically grilled veggies.
Marinade ingredients:
-1/2 cup of olive oil
-1/2 cup of soy sauce
-1/2 crushed garlic clove
-1/2 cup of lemon juice
-Salt and black pepper
-Optional Worcestershire sauce
Procedure:
Mix all of the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Make sure that it’s large enough to hold all the veggies that you plan to marinade.
Once thoroughly mixed, toss all the veggies into the marinade bowl and gently mixed it so all the pieces would be slathered with the mixture. Take note that you can add more of the ingredients above depending on how much gas grill vegetables you’re planning to cook.
Let the veggies marinate for at least 30 minutes inside the fridge before grilling it. You must chill the veggies so it will stay fresh and juicy while on the grill.
How to make grilled vegetables on gas grill
Now that your veggies are fully marinated, it’s time to turn the grill on and start cooking. Here are the simple steps.
Step 1. Pre-heat the grill
For gas grills, pre-heat it for about 350F to 400F. Some veggies like eggplants and asparagus need up to 425F but should be cooked faster than other veggies.
Step 2. Oil the grill
Before putting the veggie on the grill, apply some olive or vegetable oil on the grates. This way, the veggies won’t stick to the iron. There’s no need to oil the veggies since you already used some on the marinade.
Step 3. Place the veggies on the grill
After that, toss the veggies on the grill. Take note that you can’t put everything on the grates, especially softer and small pieces. Here are a few reminders:
-Use a skewer or grill basket for tomatoes and other bits. This way, you can flip the pieces easily and remove it to prevent burning.
-For large amounts of potatoes and other small bits, you can also cook them in packets. Just wrap the veggies with foil sheets and place it on the grill. This is also an advisable method for those who don’t want to ‘babysit’ their veggies on the grill.
Step 4. Watch the time
Each vegetable will cook at different speeds. Here’s a quick guide on how long you should grill each one – from how long to grill sliced zucchini and more:
*Bell peppers – 1 to 10 minutes on the skin side and another 3 to 4 minutes for the non-skin side.
*Onions – 8 to 10 minutes while flipping it once in a while
*Eggplant – 4 to 5 minutes per side
*Asparagus – 5 to 10 minutes while flipping once in a while until the stalks become tender
*Zucchini and squash – 5 to 8 minutes per side
*Mushrooms – 8 to 10 minutes for each side
*Artichoke – 15 to 20 minutes for each side or until the base becomes tender
*Small tomatoes – 3 minutes or until it becomes blistered and charred. Flip the skewers from time to time.
TIP: It’s ideal if you have a multi-burner gas grill. Just set each burner in different temperatures so you can cook the veggies all at the same time. Some gas grills also have a separate side burner where you can grill softer veggies like tomato skewers.
Step 5. Sprinkle some salt and pepper
A minute or two before the veggies come off the grill, sprinkle some salt and pepper. You can also use cayenne and other herbs that suit your taste. Unlike meat, you don’t have to rest veggies. In fact, letting it turn cold will make it soggy and less appealing.
For leftovers, you can chop it in small parts and make a grilled vegetable salad instead. You can also chill it and reheat it for the next day.
Additional tips
*Always pair like with like
If you’re making kebabs or veggie skewers, make sure that you match the veggies that go well with each other. For example, if you’re grilling bell peppers, you’re going to pair it with softer veggies like mushrooms and zucchinis. Dry veggies are also paired with succulents to balance the taste.
*Consider pre-cooking
Some veggies like carrots and asparagus are better pre-cooked before tossing it to the grill. This means you’re going to boil it a bit until it softens. Since carrots and asparagus can be chewy and tough, it’s best to soften it up a bit but to not to the point of being soggy.
*Always oil it up
Regardless if you’re marinating the vegetables or not, you must oil it first before grilling. This way, the veggies won’t stick to the grill and the skin will remain intact.
*Keep watch
Although you don’t want to babysit the veggies while on the grill, it’s also not a good idea to leave it for too long. If you do so, you’ll arrive at burning and over-charred food. Take note that veggies cook fast and you have to flip it multiple times to achieve even cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What vegetables can you BBQ?
A: The likes of eggplants, zucchinis, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and asparagus are some of the favorites on the grill. You can also grill other vegetables that you like since there’s no limit to it.
Q: Are grilled vegetables healthy?
A: Well, if you grill it right, the veggies will remain healthy. Also, you have to understand that not all veggies are fit on the grill. Just choose some that will hold up well on intense heat without burning easily.
Q: What temperature should vegetables be grilled at?
A: Veggies are usually grilled at temperatures between 350F to 425F. The softer the veggie is, the lower the temp should be.
Conclusion
Grilled vegetables are delicious and healthy. Just make sure that you cook it right to enjoy juicy and flavorful bites.
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