Grilled Vegetable Towers Recipes

GRILLED VEGETABLE PLATTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients. Place 3 tablespoons marinade in a large bowl. Add vegetables; turn to coat. Cover; marinate 1-1/2 hours at room temperature., Transfer vegetables to a grilling grid; place grid on grill rack. Grill vegetables, covered, over medium heat until crisp-tender, 8-12 minutes, turning occasionally., Place vegetables on a large serving plate. Drizzle with remaining marinade.

GRILLED VEGETABLE PLATTER WITH YOGURT MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine yogurt with half of the mint, half of the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Transfer to a small serving bowl. Swirl in 1 teaspoon olive oil on top and garnish with more mint.
• Heat the grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. When ready oil the grates.
• Toss the vegetables in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, remaining garlic, zaatar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper, to taste. Grill the vegetables turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 6 to 10 minutes. Arrange on a platter with the mint yogurt sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mint.

GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush the vegetables with 1/4 cup of the oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions. Arrange the vegetables on a platter. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herb mixture over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables, warm or at room temperature.

GRILLED VEGETABLE TOWERS

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the bread on both sides with 1/3 cup oil. Using a 1 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 4 circles from each slice of bread. Grill the bread rounds until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes each side.
• Toss the eggplant rounds with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and season with the salt. Grill until tender, about 3 minutes on each side.
• In a small bowl, mix together the goat cheese and lemon zest until smooth. Spread about 3/4 teaspoon of the mixture on 8 grilled bread rounds. Place an eggplant round on each and top with a sun-dried tomato. Repeat the layers and top with the remaining bread slices. Gently press the layers together. Secure with toothpicks and serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut squash, zucchini and eggplants in half, slicing from top to bottom. Quarter, seed and devein peppers. Trim green feathery part of fennel, then cut in quarter-inch slices, leaving core intact. Using a plastic bag or plastic gloves to protect your hands from the stickiness of the chayote, peel and then cut it into quarter-inch slices.
• Put all the vegetables in a bowl. Pour oil on top and toss.
• To prepare vinaigrette, mix together the vinegars and the oil. Reserve.
• Place vegetables on a grill over a medium fire and cook for 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Turn over and repeat.
• When cooked, put vegetables on a platter, drizzle with vinaigrette and serve with a slice of goat cheese.

GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the tahini dressing: Put tahini, lemon juice, cayenne and garlic in a small mixing bowl, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in olive oil, yogurt and a good pinch of salt.
• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill, or a stovetop grill pan. Heat should be medium-high. Make sure grill racks are clean.
• Cut onions crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Brush lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise. Remove stems and seeds, and discard. Cut each half in two, making eight pieces. Brush lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet or roasting pan.
• Cut zucchini and eggplant lengthwise or at an angle into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush slices with olive oil on both sides, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet or roasting pan.
• Cut tomatoes in half crosswise. Brush lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet or roasting pan.
• Grill onions and peppers (they take longer to cook): Set onion slices carefully on grill so they don't fall apart. Start peppers skin-side up. Peppers and onions should take 4 to 5 minutes per side. As they are done, remove to a serving platter.
• Grill zucchini and eggplant for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes on one side only, until heated through, about 5 to 6 minutes. As they are done, remove to a serving platter.
• Arrange vegetables in rows on the platter (or use two platters). Serve warm or at room temperature. Just before serving, drizzle tahini sauce over the vegetables. Sprinkle with paprika, if using, and shower with green herbs. Serve lemon wedges on the side.

MARINATED GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill for two-zone cooking over medium-high heat by pouring the coals onto one half of the grill. For a gas grill, heat all of the burners to high, then turn one of the end burners off before cooking.
• While the grill is heating, make the marinade: In a medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup oil, vinegar, mustard and shallot. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the vegetables into pieces that are large enough so as to not slip through the grates; for small or slender vegetables, like snap peas or green beans, leave them whole. Pat the vegetables dry, then transfer to a sheet pan, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with enough olive oil to coat.
• When you're ready to grill, take the marinade, vegetables, tongs and a tightly folded paper towel soaked with olive oil to the grill. Clean the grates with a grill brush, then oil the grates with the paper towel. Grill the vegetables over the flame, flipping occasionally, until well browned and tender, 2 to 15 minutes, depending on the density and size of the vegetables. (For a gas grill, close the lid between flips, listening and keeping an eye out for flare-ups.) As the vegetables finish, transfer them to the marinade. Let the vegetables sit in the marinade for at least 5 minutes. Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. Let come to room temperature before serving.