Tuscan Grilled Summer Vegetables Recipes

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 SAUSAGES WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place the first 5 ingredients in a blender; if desired, add pepper sauce. Cover and process until blended., Cut peppers lengthwise in half; remove seeds. Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/2-in.-thick slices. Cut zucchini and yellow squash lengthwise into quarters. Place all vegetables in a large bowl; drizzle with 1/2 cup of the sauce and toss to coat., Place vegetables on a greased grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until tender and lightly charred, turning once. Cool slightly. Reduce grill temperature to medium-low heat., Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Toss with additional 1/4 cup sauce; keep warm., Grill sausages, covered, over medium-low heat 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160° for pork sausages (165° for turkey sausages), turning occasionally. Remove sausages from grill; toss with remaining sauce. Serve with vegetables.

GRILLED & MARINATED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Whisk dressing ingredients and some seasoning in a large bowl. Heat a griddle pan. Blacken peppers on all sides. Put in a bowl and cover with a plate until cool to touch.
• Griddle the other veg, without oiling, until charred on each side and softening. As they cook toss them straight into the dressing, separating onions into rings. Peel peppers, reserving the juice in the bowl, deseed and cut into strips. Toss in with the rest of the veg, then strain the juice over. Leave everything to cool, then season. The salad can be kept in the fridge for 2 days, but bring it out a few hrs before serving. Then stir through parsley and garlic.

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.

TUSCAN GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put eggplant, zucchini and squash in a colander. Add salt. Toss and set aside to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry and place in a large, shallow glass or ceramic dish. Add the remaining vegetables and basil. Cover with the Tuscan marinade. Refrigerate for 8 hours, turning once. Grill over hot coals until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes per side.

TUSCAN PASTA SALAD WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Toss the radicchio, fennel wedges and bell peppers in a large bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and grill, turning occasionally, until charred and crisp-tender, about 4 minutes for the peppers and radicchio, 6 minutes for the fennel. Remove from the grill and let cool, then cut into small pieces.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the label directs). Drain and rinse under cool water; shake off the excess. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add the grilled vegetables, cannellini beans, the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, the lemon juice, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; toss. Add the parmesan shavings and fennel fronds and toss gently. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours. (Bring to room temperature before serving.)