Recipes to Grill this Summer

Barbecuing during the summer season allows you to enjoy the fresh air and outdoors with your friends and family while using your grill to cook a wide variety of foods. It doesn’t just have to be pork and beef that you’re grilling- vegetable medleys and corn on the cob are great too. Grilling gives you the feel of going out to eat while being a much healthier option! The process causes excess fats in the meat to drip away, which results in much leaner foods and minimal fats. Grilling is also usually a quicker option for cooking foods, meaning less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying and eating!

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS

Grilled skewers are a delicious and versatile dish that you can make. You can choose any sort of meat or veggie to add in, but this recipe calls for chicken. It can be enjoyed as an appetizer, a main course, or just as part of an overall spread for a barbecue dinner.

Ingredients

• Boneless or skinless chicken breasts/thighs (cut into cubes)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of paprika, cumin, and dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt and black pepper
• Skewers

1. In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and salt to make the marinade to coat the chicken in
2. Place the chicken cubes in a separate bowl or resealable bag and pour the marinade over it, making sure each piece is coated
3. Allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes but up to 4 hours
4. Preheat your grill to medium high
5. If you are using wooden skewers, thread the marinated chicken onto the skewers after soaking them in water for 30 minutes to prevent it from burning. If you are using metal skewers, you can thread the chicken on after.
6. Leave a small gap between the chicken on the wooden skewers
7. Lightly oil the grill itself to prevent the chicken from sticking and place the chicken skewers on the preheated grill
8. Grill the chicken skewers for 8-10 minutes and turn them occasionally until the chicken is fully cooked and slightly charred
9. Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and let them cool
10. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces or any sort of garnishes

GRILLED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

Grilled vegetable medley is a great option for those vegetarians and vegans in your life. Clean your grill thoroughly and roast up some vegetables for a healthy side dish that tastes delicious and is healthy!

Ingredients

• 8-10 mushrooms (cleaned with trimmed stems)
• 2 zucchinis (sliced into rounds)
• 2 bell peppers (sliced into thick strips)
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 1 eggplant (sliced into rounds)
• 1 red onion (cut into wedges)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of dried herbs (italian seasoning, rosemary, etc)
• Fresh herbs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

1. Preheat the grill to medium/high
2. In a big bowl, combine olive oil, the minced garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper and mix them well to make a marinade
3. Place all of the sliced veggies in the bowl and mix them together. Toss them to make sure that they are all evenly coated
4. Be sure to lightly oil the grill to ensure the veggies don’t stick to the grates
5. Be sure to spread the veggies out into a single layer and don’t overcrowd the grill
6. Grill the veggies for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly charred. Turn them occasionally to ensure that that they are cooking evenly
7. Once the veggies are grilled, remove them and move them to a larger plate or a serving platter
8. Garnish with fresh herbs or any sort of dressings

GRILLED FISH TACOS

Grilled fish tacos are a very flavorful and refreshing dish that combines the smoky taste of grilled fish with many different toppings and sauces. Below is an easy and simple recipe for grilled fish tacos.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of firm white fish filets (tilapia, cod, mahi-mahi, etc)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin and paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 8 small tortillas (flour or corn)
• Toppings: shredded cabbage/lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocados/guacamole, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, etc.

Instructions 

1. Preheat your grill to medium/high heat
2. In a small bowl, mix together your olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and salt and pepper to make a marinade to coat the fish in
3. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and place them in a shallow dish and coat them with the marinade. Ensure that the fish is well-coated and let them sit for 15-20 minutes
4. Meanwhile, prep any of the desired toppings or sauces for your tacos
5. Lightly oil the grill and place the fish on the hot grill
6. Grill the fish for 3-4 minutes and then flip it and grill it again for another 3-4 minutes. Keep cooking until the fish becomes a little flaky
7. Warm up the tortillas on the grill for about 30 seconds per side until they are warm and slightly charred
8. Assemble the tacos. Place a spoonful of grilled fish on each tortilla and add toppings
9. Serve the grilled tacos with the toppings and any additional sauces or salsas