Nothing says “summer” quite like grilling. The weather’s beautiful, and you just don’t want to heat up your home by using the oven. Most people think of steaks, burgers, and hot dogs when they plan a cookout. If they serve any vegetables, it’s usually some potato salad or cole slaw from the store. But grilling is an excellent way to prepare healthy vegetables as well!

The Ingredients

Many vegetables lend themselves to grilling, but the best ones are those that are in season during the summer. You’ll want veggies that are neither too heat-sensitive (save those for salads) nor too sturdy (you may need to roast them).

Here’s a list of some great vegetables that are excellent grilled:

• Peppers
• Onions
• Mushrooms
• Summer squash
• Eggplant
• Asparagus

The Recipe

When you are grilling vegetables you have two options: cut the veggies into large pieces and grill as-is or cut them into smaller pieces and skewer for shish kebabs. Personally, I prefer the latter. It makes the grilling process much easier if you can flip everything at once. To do shish kebabs, you’ll need to pick up a few skewers from the supermarket.

1. Set up the grill for medium direct heat. If you are using an electric or gas grill, you can simply set it to 350 degrees F. If you are using charcoal, spread the burning coals out on the bottom of the grill and wait for the heat to die out a bit. (When the heat is blazing hot you can cook your meat.)
2. Cut your veggies into large chunks, or, if you are shish kebabing, slice and dice them into smaller pieces then skewer.
3. Cover the vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
4. Toss the vegetables on the grill and cover. Turn them when they start to get slightly charred.

The Variations

That’s a good solid healthy vegetable recipe for your grill, but if you want to change things up a bit, might I suggest these variations:

• Squeeze some lemon juice or pour some vinegar on your veggies along with the olive oil.
• Add some chopped fresh or dried spices such as parsley, thyme, or rosemary to the vegetables for some added flavor.
• Add some soaked wood chips such as mesquite or apple to the grill to add a smokier flavor.

With these variations, you’ll be all set for healthy vegetable recipes for the grill for a long time to come!